---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment Hi Ted and Dale, Ted gave me the Kangaroo hide several years ago. At least 5 ( tempus fugit) These pianos have been in University use that long with no problems, and little or no wear. Perfect material for practice rooms. Regards Roger At 01:38 PM 4/8/2005, you wrote: > The following post is a reply to my inquiry to/from MR. Sambel >Hello Dale! > >Delighted to hear from you; I am very well and had a great time in >Sacramento. Afterwards, I spent a week as a guest of Susan Kline, and >together we visited Edwin Good, author of "Giraffes, Black Dragons and >other Pianos' in Eugene, Oregon, and saw the Cristofori reproduction he >and Anita have recently acquired. And since then I have attended the PNWC >in Renton, Wa. where I did four classes .Great fun! >About leather key bushings; I feel exactly as you that cloth is really an >inadequate material on heavily used pianos. Long before it is worn out the >touch quality is seriously compromised. When I was a young tuner running >round London (UK) there were all kinds of German pianos, especially >Bechsteins and Bluthners with leather key bushings which seemingly did not >wear and were remarkably trouble free. About ten years ago Bill Spurlock >advocated the use of kangaroo skin in the Journal and I went on a quest to >find some, without any luck. So I sent to Renner, Germany, not USA and got >some calfskin, supposedly intended for key bushing. It was much too thick >and very stiff, more like a leather belt. It was also an awkward width, >about 1" so was wasteful and tricky to bring to 3/8". Anyway I thinned it >down and rebushed a couple of sets, one being a practise studio Kawai >grand. One year later I inspected them and there was no sign of wear >whatever. Nonetheless, this was not a satisfactory solution, and then, >believe it or not the answer was under my nose. Kangaroo skin was in the >Schaff catalog! I had overlooked it because it is listed under player >piano supplies on page 143, and I had never bothered to look there.Whether >they still sell it I don't know, but it would be worthwhile to check. As >it was I sent for a whole skin which cost about $70 at the time. The >catalog says it is tan colored, but it turned out to be black, which >really doesn't matter. It was really beautiful and I did several sets with >it , using hide glue and putting the shiny skin side to the pin. I gave a >piece to Roger Jolly to try so as to get another opinion, and he liked it. >I had heard complaints that leather gets noisy, but this was not my >experience. The kangaroo skin came at the right thickness and is soft and >pliable. The easiest way to cut it into strips is with a paper cutter of >the type found in offices. I brushed a little teflon powder into the >bushings too.As I retired not too long after and left the Banff Centre, I >could not check on the long term wear, but I hope to visit there next year >and see. I had always wondered what leather the old German pianos used, >then in 1993 I was with the !APBT group who went to England and Europe. >The UK conference of the Piano Tuners Assn, was held in Colchester, sixty >miles north of London, and Ingbert Bluthner Haessler came fron Germany to >give a class on the old Bluthner action. He mentioned that the bushings >were calfskin.(I videotaped the class). So there you have it. Sometimes >one has to wait a lifetime to find an answer. Well, I hope ths is useful >information for you, and am very interested to know how it works out for >you. And I still remember your wonderful piano. > >Warmest regards, Ted >----- Original Message ----- >From: <mailto:Erwinspiano@aol.com>Erwinspiano@aol.com >To: <mailto:edward.sambell@sympatico.ca>edward.sambell@sympatico.ca >Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2005 10:14 PM >Subject: Leather key bushings > > Hi Ted > Greetings from sunny Calif. > I was wondering if you could enlighten me about applying leather key > bushings & what material you use. I'd like to use a material that holds > up better than felt in hihg use situations. I have had some sets wear out > in a year which is as you know , unacceptable. > I really enjoyed our lunch together in Sacramento. Great fun. > Hope you are well & enjoying life, > Dale Erwin > >Erwins Pianos Restorations >4721 Parker Rd. >Modesto, Ca 95357 >209-577-8397 >Rebuilt Steinway , Mason &Hamlin Sales >www.Erwinspiano.com > > ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/d7/54/6a/10/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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