Hi Dale, I understand from Bob Marinelli that Pianotek is selling a special cold or maybe warm pressed hammer made by Abel which uses a special "natural" felt. The felt sheets are made as a special project with funding from the European Union. Abel is tight lipped about it (even though public money was spent on the project.) I'm guessing that it is made with less harsh chemicals than felts are made with these days... possible mild soap fulling instead of acid as is the norm. I'm all for that... wool fibers are complex in structure and chemically delicate in some respects. The less you do to them the freer they are do do what they do best which is to keep bouncing back for many many many many decades. As an example... I've seen original flat damper felts on a 110 year old Pleyel upright that were still flexing and working with out an "Oink" in the bunch. I'm sure this felt was treated gently when it was made back then... it's a remarkable and magical material and plays a big role in the "Magic" of piano. If anyone has more information on the natural felt project please come forth! So if Pianotek as well as Wally Brooks, are stocking this hammer as a regular item it would be the first time a major European hammer maker has made stock cold pressed hammers at least since I've been in the business.... (30years) It's an encouraging trend! Best, David > Hi JD./Andre/David S. > Can I clear up a few thoughts here? > >At 16:22 +0100 15/2/09, andré oorebeek wrote: > >>On Feb 14, 2009, at 8:16 PM, David C. Stanwood wrote: >> > >>I know that at least one big European hammer >maker, namely Abel, is >>now providing cold >pressed hammers as a stock item - with >their >>Natural Felt. > I haven't heard this confirmed
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