Research:leather covered hammers

[Murray Seminuk]

Hi  Diane
Why do you say that the deerskin is the best ?What others have you tried?Has
the leather been put on with the rough side in or out.?It should be out.When
glueing the leather on it has to be done in 2 steps.It is not glued onto the
entire hammer but only at the base of the hammer felt and hammer molding

Regards
Murray
----- Original Message -----
From: "Diane Hofstetter" <dianepianotuner@hotmail.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, December 17, 2000 2:36 PM
Subject: Re: Research:leather covered hammers


> Dave,
>
>   I am fortunate to  live in a town with a tannery.  If I could understand
> better what to ask for, I could probably drive over one afternoon and get
it
> rather than start up a new account with Jahn in Germany and wait and
wait...
>
>   I have tried several different kinds of leather from that tannery so far
> and so far the deerskin has been the best, but it's very mellow.  Perhaps
if
> I can get some of the leather made by Herzog, the folks at the tannery
would
> know what it is.
>
>   The ideas I put forth on pianotech as a research arm can best be
> illustrated by this.  If we collectively can find what the best material
is
> and even find a domestic source, then anyone who has the need of
maintaining
> instruments at a higher level with less effort can benefit from all our
> efforts.
>
>   Thank you for your information!
>
>   Diane
>
>
> >From: Dave Doremus <algiers_piano@bellsouth.net>
> >Reply-To: pianotech@ptg.org
> >To: pianotech@ptg.org
> >CC: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> >Subject: Re: Research:leather covered hammers
> >Date: Sun, 17 Dec 2000 13:16:14 -0600
> >
> >At 9:49 AM -0700 12/17/00, Murray Seminuk wrote:
> >
> >
> >>The original leather on the hammers was European
> >>doeskin........etc.
> >
> >
> >Murray is right, and the best leather I've used is from Herzog in
> >Germany, I believe called hirsch and elsch, correct me if I'm wrong.
> >Stretch and thickness are important as is consistency in flesh vs
> >skin side. Do not use American supply house buckskin, it's too coarse
> >and heavy. I think that Jahn will supply what they call hammer
> >leather which comes from Herzog and should be better than the
> >American stuff. I dont think anything currently made (and there are
> >those much more knowledgable than me who can add to this Im sure) is
> >even close to what you actually find on old pianos, the whole leather
> >making process is so different now. It is fairly easy to  use, just
> >common sense, consistency and a careful hand. Malcolm Bilson had a
> >blue suede on his piano hammers for some time that was very
> >successful, so experimenting can be fun. Just use hide glue so you
> >can recover from any mistakes.
> >
> >--
> >Dave
> >
> >
> >-----------------------------
> >Dave Doremus RPT
> >New Orleans
> >algiers_piano@bellsouth.net
> >------------------------------
>
>
> Diane Hofstetter
> 245-M Mount Hermon Rd.#343
> Scotts Valley, CA 95066
> ph  831-438-6222
> fax 831-430-9741
> dianepianotuner@hotmail.com
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
>
>