Steinway hammers

[RPSPIANO@aol.com]

Hello list

  On the 28th of Jan. I had the pleasure of meeting Nikolaus
Schimmel,  of Schimmel Piano, at an informal gathering.
One of the interesting comments made by Herr Schimmel
was after the reunification of Germany,  it was discovered
that a former East German felt manufacturer was still
making felt the "old " way because they had been unable to
modernize  their equipment.  The company name is Wurzen
I believe that  is correct .
Maybe Andre knows of this company? Or another list member?
It was my understanding that all 8 German piano makers
were producing or getting hammers from this felt, inculding
Hamburg Steinway.  Will this material makes its way into
the U.S. market?  Renner maybe?  Mr. Schimmel stated
that the hammer shaped like a pre- WWII hammer, in a
continuous layer,  not like the fuzzy lint I see in most
hammers.

Mark Ritchie
Cols OH



"The art in hammer making has ever been to obtain a solid,
 firm foundation, graduating in softness and elasticity toward
 the top surface, which latter has to be silky and elastic in
 order to produce a mild, soft tone for pianissimo playing, but
 with sufficient resistace back of it to permit the hard blow of
 fortissimo playing."                 - Alfred Dolge 1911


An interesting note.  A hammer is the felt and the felt is the fiber.  Long
renowned in felt making circles is the wool fiber from South African Merino
Sheep.  The finest, most resilient felt is produced from blends that have a
high percentage of this fiber.

For decades South African wool fiber has been generally absent from piano
hammers produced with felt made by countries who joined in the embargos on
the previously racist regime.  With the uplifting change in politics and the
lifting of embargos, South African Merino Wool Fiber is once again used in
Steinway hammers.  This information is from the president of the Bacon Felt
Co. in Taunton Mass. who produce hammer felt for Stenway, not to far from my
home on Martha's Vineyard.

David C. Stanwood