At 16:22 +0100 15/2/09, andré oorebeek wrote: >On Feb 14, 2009, at 8:16 PM, David C. Stanwood wrote: > >>I know that at least one big European hammer maker, namely Abel, is >>now providing cold pressed hammers as a stock item - with their >>Natural Felt. > >For many years I did not want to buy Abel hammers because he is/was >making hammers with VFG felt. In the piano industry, I 'grew up' >with VFG felt because the Weickert felt was not anymore available. >I got to know 'Wurzen felt' around the end of the 1980's, and with a >sigh of relief because voicing finally became a pleasure (again). >If Mr Abel now makes hammers with Wurzen felt, warm pressed or cold >pressed, I think it is to his and our advantage. I can assure you now, as I already informed you off-list before you wrote this, that Abel make hammers using the Wurzen felt and I have had from them several sets, including re-covered sets, made with the AA quality felt. The only felt that Abel do not have at present is the experimental 'Weikert' quality, which is still in development. No doubt when the experimentation is completed Abel will also give this option. >>This is a new trend... is Renner cold pressing for you? > >No, but they do not kill their hammers because they always sound good. >Moreover, they have a fully automated press (I think they are the >only hammer maker with such a very modern machine) which ensures >great evenness and stability. There have been automated presses since Dolge's day at the beginning of 20th century. How does Renner's press differ significantly from others? What makes you think that Abel does not have automated presses for production work? It would seem very strange to me if they did not, since the level of automation I saw at their factory over 20 years ago was quite high and they have not exactly moved backwards since then. >On the other hand, it would be very healthy for the market if there >are other hammer makers who also make very good hammers. >I live in Europe, and because of the VFG felt, I chose for Renner. I repeat that Abel make hammers using a variety of felts and are constantly testing felt from various makers. In my time I know for certain that they have used Whitehead's 'Royal George' felt (now no longer inexistence but once the world leader), felt from Naish, felt from Laoureux, VFG and Wurzen and probably many more. I have recently ordered more sets of Wurzen than of VFG, but that is because I have been restoring certain pianos. For many pianos I ask for the VFG felt. Are you saying that VFG make only one quality of felt and that it is no good? If so then you will find most of Abel's vast customer base disagree with you. >If I would live in the USA, I would probably do business with Renner >and certainly Ray Negron. I know Ray makes very good hammers. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I am pretty sure I've read on this list that Ray uses primitive screw presses. So you are saying that at least one hammer maker makes good hammers without any automation at all. Never having seen his hammers I can't judge. JD
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