silver center pin supplier?

[Ted Sambell]

The so called German silver center pins were actually a higher quality
brass, and were a lighter colour than ordinary brass pins. There is no such
thing as nickel silver pins, only nickel plated brass. If there were it
would soon be evident from the notches in one's center pin nippers. The only
nickel pins I ever saw was in an experimental action from the UK. (during my
tenure in the Heintzman factory). It had nylon flanges with no bushings. The
theory was that the nickel content was such that the hardness was to reach
parity with the nylon so that neither would wear, something like an
irrisistable force meeting an immovable object. The idea failed because
tightening down the flange screws  slightly distorted the prongs, and the
fit had to be so precise that this caused the centers to seize. In any case,
I think that both pin and flange would wear anyway, and the aforementioned
problem of cutting such hard metal would rear its ugly head eventually, to
cause a whole new set of problems. Fortunately, the idea never took flight,
but you can bet your life that some idiot will re-invent it some day. The
value of knowing what has gone before cannot be over emphasized.

Regards to all, Ted Sambell
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Minor" <jminor@uiuc.edu>
To: <caut@ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, March 08, 2002 10:19 AM
Subject: Re: silver center pin supplier?


> The last batch of pins from Pianotek were not quite silver and not quite
> brass. Not sure just what it was. Anyone know?
>
> John Minor
> University of Illinois
>
>
>
> On Fri, 8 Mar 2002, Michael Jorgensen wrote:
>
> ]
> ]
> ]
> ]
> ]> John Minor wrote:
> ]>
> ]> > Just wondering what other techs are using for a source of silver
center
> ]> > pins? Schaff is no longer handling Yamaha parts and Yamaha requires a
> ]> > serial # for each order. (got to protect themselves from the grey
market
> ]> > pianos)
> ]> >
> ]> >  Thanks
> ]> >
> ]
> ]Pianotek, page A 18.
> ]
> ]-Mike
> ]
>
>