---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment Hi David, Using the Spurlock sizing cauls right after I steam and remove the old felt, has worked well for me. On both Yamaha's and Steinway's. Roger At 08:01 PM 4/8/2005, you wrote: >Since the kangaroo skin only comes in one thickness how do you get the >control different thicknesses gives you? I believe Bill Spurlock used >and sanding disk? > >David I. > > > > > >---------- >Original message >From: Roger Jolly >To: Pianotech >Received: Fri, 08 Apr 2005 15:25:30 -0600 >Subject: Re: Leather key bushings > > >Hi Ted and Dale, > Ted gave me the Kangaroo hide several years > ago. At least 5 ( tempus fugit) These pianos have been in University use > that long with no problems, and little or no wear. Perfect material for > practice rooms. > >Regards Roger > >At 01:38 PM 4/8/2005, you wrote: >> The following post is a reply to my inquiry to/from MR. Sambel >>Hello Dale! >> >>Delighted to hear from you; I am very well and had a great time in >>Sacramento. Afterwards, I spent a week as a guest of Susan Kline, and >>together we visited Edwin Good, author of "Giraffes, Black Dragons and >>other Pianos' in Eugene, Oregon, and saw the Cristofori reproduction he >>and Anita have recently acquired. And since then I have attended the PNWC >>in Renton, Wa. where I did four classes .Great fun! >>About leather key bushings; I feel exactly as you that cloth is really an >>inadequate material on heavily used pianos. Long before it is worn out >>the touch quality is seriously compromised. When I was a young tuner >>running round London (UK) there were all kinds of German pianos, >>especially Bechsteins and Bluthners with leather key bushings which >>seemingly did not wear and were remarkably trouble free. About ten years >>ago Bill Spurlock advocated the use of kangaroo skin in the Journal and I >>went on a quest to find some, without any luck. So I sent to Renner, >>Germany, not USA and got some calfskin, supposedly intended for key >>bushing. It was much too thick and very stiff, more like a leather belt. >>It was also an awkward width, about 1" so was wasteful and tricky to >>bring to 3/8". Anyway I thinned it down and rebushed a couple of sets, >>one being a practise studio Kawai grand. One year later I inspected them >>and there was no sign of wear whatever. Nonetheless, this was not a >>satisfactory solution, and then, believe it or not the answer was under >>my nose. Kangaroo skin was in the Schaff catalog! I had overlooked it >>because it is listed under player piano supplies on page 143, and I had >>never bothered to look there.Whether they still sell it I don't know, but >>it would be worthwhile to check. As it was I sent for a whole skin which >>cost about $70 at the time. The catalog says it is tan colored, but it >>turned out to be black, which really doesn't matter. It was really >>beautiful and I did several sets with it , using hide glue and putting >>the shiny skin side to the pin. I gave a piece to Roger Jolly to try so >>as to get another opinion, and he liked it. I had heard complaints that >>leather gets noisy, but this was not my experience. The kangaroo skin >>came at the right thickness and is soft and pliable. The easiest way to >>cut it into strips is with a paper cutter of the type found in offices. I >>brushed a little teflon powder into the bushings too.As I retired not too >>long after and left the Banff Centre, I could not check on the long term >>wear, but I hope to visit there next year and see. I had always wondered >>what leather the old German pianos used, then in 1993 I was with the >>!APBT group who went to England and Europe. The UK conference of the >>Piano Tuners Assn, was held in Colchester, sixty miles north of London, >>and Ingbert Bluthner Haessler came fron Germany to give a class on the >>old Bluthner action. He mentioned that the bushings were calfskin.(I >>videotaped the class). So there you have it. Sometimes one has to wait a >>lifetime to find an answer. Well, I hope ths is useful information for >>you, and am very interested to know how it works out for you. And I still >>remember your wonderful piano. >> >>Warmest regards, Ted >>----- Original Message ----- >>From: <mailto:Erwinspiano@aol.com>Erwinspiano@aol.com >>To: <mailto:edward.sambell@sympatico.ca>edward.sambell@sympatico.ca >>Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2005 10:14 PM >>Subject: Leather key bushings >> >> Hi Ted >> Greetings from sunny Calif. >> I was wondering if you could enlighten me about applying leather key >> bushings & what material you use. I'd like to use a material that holds >> up better than felt in hihg use situations. I have had some sets wear >> out in a year which is as you know , unacceptable. >> I really enjoyed our lunch together in Sacramento. Great fun. >> Hope you are well & enjoying life, >> Dale Erwin >> >>Erwins Pianos Restorations >>4721 Parker Rd. >>Modesto, Ca 95357 >>209-577-8397 >>Rebuilt Steinway , Mason &Hamlin Sales >>www.Erwinspiano.com >> ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/47/15/7b/84/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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