shreddy fake buckskin, etc.

[Dave Nereson]

Re:  fake buckskin (?) (if that's what it is):
<I have one of these Kohler & Campbells in my studio.  One major repair that
you will have to do is replace the faux buckskin on the backchecks (my guess
would be within 6 years) the felt that they use will shred and fly all over
the piano, leading the customer to ask "What's that yellow stuff all over my
hammers and in my piano?"  >
    Yes, I've seen the same stuff in Kawai verticals, I think -- after a few
years, there's this yellow fuzz all over the catchers, backchecks, &
regulating rail.

Re:  fractions to decimal:
<Divide the bottom number by the top number. I.e. 4/3 = .75>
    No, you divide the top number by the bottom number.  3/4 = .75  ;  4/3 =
1.33

Re:  <'d like to get the list's recommendations on which "coil maker" I
should
use. >
    Make your own from a chunk of hardwood or pinblock material, a tuning
pin, and a small wood screw.  The piece of wood can be approximately 1 1/2 x
2 x 2.  Just drill a hole slightly undersize for the tuning pin, drive it
in, then install the small wood screw about a quarter inch from the tuning
pin, but let it stick up a half inch or so.  This is what the piano wire
bears against while you're winding the coil.  Then just buy the crank handle
from a supply house.  Small, hand-held, cheap, works great.

Thanks, everyone,  for the opinions on the Mason & Hamlin vs. other options.
I do everything short of installing new soundboards, so I'm not going to
rebuild it even if she buys it.  She found a slightly smaller Yamaha for
about the same price and will probably go with that.

--Dave Nereson, RPT