Softening hard 1980 Sohmer hammer advice requested.

[A440A at aol.com]

Thump writes: 
<<  But would prefer specific advice from someone who has already worked with 
this hammer type,
in a similar  predicament. >>

     A 3/4" wide strip of flannel, about 4 feet long, soaked in water, 
squeezed into as hard a ball as the hand will do, stretched back out, laid on the 
sides of the hammerline with its upper edge just about where the string grooves 
ended, and a scalding hot iron passed over it moving fast enough to cover two 
octaves in about 5 seconds.  
  Repeat on other side of hammer line. Listen, repeat once more if necessary. 
 
  If no effect, take the slightly dryer cloth from the last pass, lay on top 
of hammers, and move iron slightly slower over the strike points.  
   If still no effect, single needle 13mm deep, up and over the crown until 
you think you have ruined the hammer, return the job, caution customer that the 
hammers may need replacement after another 300 hours of play,(or two months, 
or a lifetime, or something, just that they will need to be replaced at some 
point in the future. 
drink heavily, dream of firm, resilient, fresh felt on piano of one's dreams. 
 Die in peace.  
Regards,  
Ed Foote RPT 
http://www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/index.html
www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/well_tempered_piano.html