Hamburg Pinblock?

[Sambell, Ted]

Hello Hans!

I'm delighted to hear from you, and sorry you could not get to Arlington.
The Fazioli with adjustable touchweight was there too. Also a Sauter
vertical with the bottom and top notes only one octave apart, and all the
keys in between 1/16th. of a whole tone apart. The Smithsonian exhibit was
really superb too. But I do envy your visit to Italy, a country I would love
to visit. I believe I am being asked to give classes in Reno next year, so I
hope to see you there.

Warmest regards, Ted

-----Original Message-----
From: Hans E. Sanders [mailto:hesand01@louisville.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, August 23, 2000 12:38 PM
To: caut@ptg.org
Subject: RE: Hamburg Pinblock?


Ted,
Good job. Now I know what bubinga is and what it is used for. I might ask
you after a couple of years again, because I forget naturally if I don't use
it.

I couldn't attend this years national PTG convention because of my
responsibilities here at the university the same time. So I made it to the
Europiano Congress 2000 in Valle de Fiemme/Italy instead. We didn't enjoy
the italian hospitality too much (service was terrible in our hotel) but the
technical presentations were great. In particular super slow motion pictures
of action models, hammers, dampers etc. I was very impressed with the new
Fazioli patent of adjustable touch through the means of slightly movable
pairs of attracting and compelling magnets. I used my spy camera and hope to
learn more about that process. At this time I feel very comfortable with
David Stanwoods touchweight metrology. After attending a one week course at
his home on Martha's Vineyard I am one of his agents. There was no time for
playing golf. I hope you are doing fine. Occasionally I see your name
popping up and I thought to write you a note in appreciation of all your
wealth of information you con!
!
tribute to us.
Thank you so very much

Hans   
University of Louisville
School of Music

>>> Ted_Sambell@BanffCentre.AB.CA 08/23/00 12:24PM >>>
Ric,

Perhaps the following tells more than one wants to know about bubinga:

Commercial names: African rosewood, Kevasingo ( when rotary cut).
Other names: Essingang (Camaroon) Kevazingo,Buvenga (Gabon)
Distribution: Chiefly from the Camaroon and Gabon, also from Zaire.
General description: The wood is medium red-brown with lighter red to purple
veining. The grain is straight or interlocked. In some logs the grain is
very irregular, and these are converted  by peeling into rotary cut veneers
called kevasingo. The texture is moderately coarse but even. The weight
averages 55 lbs per cubic foot.

Mechanical properties: The timber has low steambending qualities and
exudation of gum pockets is troublesome.

Seasoning: Dries easily, except for gum exudation, with little degrade, and
is stable in service.

Working properties: The timber works easily with both hand or machine tools,
though gum pockets may cause difficulty. Interlocked and irregular grain
material tends to tear or pick up and a reduced cutting angle of 15 deg. is
necessary for planing or molding. There is a moderate to severe blunting
effect on cutting edges which must be kept sharp. Nailing requires
pre-boring; gluing may be difficult due to gum pockets, but the wood stains
easily and can be brought to an excellent finish.

Durability: It is moderately durable but liable to common furniture beetle
attack. The sapwood is permeable and the heartwood is resistant to
preservative treatment.

Uses:It is an excellent turnery wood, and used for knife handles, brush
backs, fancy goods. The chief use is for sliced decorative veneers for
cabinets and panelling, particularly the rotary cut kevasingo, with a wild,
swirling, veined figure.

My reference is "World Woods in Color" by William A. Lincoln, Linden
Publishing Co. Inc. Fresno, 
CA.

Hope you are not sorry you asked!

Ted Sambell
-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Moody [mailto:remoody@midstatesd.net] 
Sent: Tuesday, August 22, 2000 7:34 PM
To: caut@ptg.org 
Subject: Re: Hamburg Pinblock?




>
> The top and bottom layers of the Hamburg Steinways are bubinga as Rick
said.
> I visited the factory and was told this.
>
> Ted Sambell


OK, what's bubinga? ---ric