Young Chang started doing this in the mid 90s, don't know if they still do. They used a brass rod instead of steel. Music wire on brass is self lubricating. Dean Dean May cell 812.239.3359 PianoRebuilders.com 812.235.5272 Terre Haute IN 47802 -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Richard Brekne Sent: Thursday, March 05, 2009 4:30 AM To: pianotech at ptg.org Subject: Re: [pianotech] Capo Bars Good question... and I'm looking forward to reading the replies. FTR, Bohemia pianos, a spinoff of Petrof after the splitup of Czechoslavakia actually did do this for a while... I'm unsure if they still do. They used some kind of bronze alloy I believe. Perhaps its a question of tooling and expense ? RicB Why do manufacturers harden capo bars rather than cast (or grind) the underside of the strut flat, rout out a groove to receive a steel rod of proper radius, shape and hardness and insert it there where it could, when it's worn, be easily changed and where the consistency would be more easily controlled. Is there a compelling reason not to do it that way?
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