humidifying tube

[John Ross]

Hi Dorothy,
This unit is called a Hydracell. I believe it is used more in Europe, than
here.
It also can attract moisture in the summer. So you put it out in the sun
periodically to dry out, then replace it in the piano.
I don't know how well it works in the summer, but it seems that it can add
moisture to the piano cavity in the dry season. It says to soak it in water
for ten minutes, dry it off and put it in the piano.
It is available from Pianophile up here in Canada.
Regards,
John M. Ross
Windsor, Nova Scotia.
jrpiano@win.eastlink.ca
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dorothy A. Bell" <dabell58@earthlink.net>
To: <caut@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2002 4:21 PM
Subject: humidifying tube


> Dear Friends,
> Recently I have seen, in an institutional and in a private piano, a
> device which was new to me. It is a plastic tube, white, about 3' long,
> small long slits in the side, yellow end caps, filled with
> I-don't-know-what absorbent material. The piano owners tell me that they
> soak the tube in the bathtub till it is heavy, wipe off the outside, and
> put it in the piano on the plate; they believe this provides needed
> "humidity" for the piano. When the tube feels light (about one week)
> they repeat the process.
> Has any of you ever heard of this approach? Does it help the piano? harm
> it? have no effect? I was a little alarmed when one customer said she
> didn't remember the name of the person she bought it from but he also
> sold clarinets.
> Thanks for any input.
> Dorrie Bell
>