[CAUT] saving hammers

[Dale Erwin]

I would love to do this or for someone to.  Can I get a grant? 
  The Canadian upright I couldn't remember is a Nordheimer.  A fine piano

 

 

Dale S. Erwin
www.Erwinspiano.com
Custom restoration
Ronsen Piano hammers
Join the Weickert felt Revolution
209-577-8397
209-985-0990



 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Laurence Libin <lelibin at optonline.net>
To: caut at ptg.org; bill shull <bdshull at aol.com>
Sent: Sun, Feb 20, 2011 8:34 am
Subject: [CAUT] saving hammers


 
I would like to suggest that when a set of interesting hammers is replaced, a representative sample (at least highest and lowest and middle C, preferably more) be saved, identified as to source and characteristics, and sent to a museum where they can be preserved for future study. The loss of old hammers (and other parts) seriously impedes understanding of historical voicing trends. Old, worn-out hammers might seem like junk, but such junk from the 19th century and earlier offers priceless tangible evidence, for example as a guide to replication.
Thank you for considering this effort.
Laurence
 
----- Original Message ----- 
  
From:   Dale Erwin   
  
To: caut at ptg.org 
  
Sent: Sunday, February 20, 2011 10:53   AM
  
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Fwd: Lacquered   hammers
  


  
  
  
  
  
Many times   I will find  a set of pre-war hammers that are almost intact. Thinking   perhaps I can use these,... only to find upon inserting a needle that the felt   grabs the needle and the felt gets harder and grabbier the deeper I push. This   is not the characteristic I expect in an untreated/un-hardened pre-war   Weickert felt hammer. 
  AS David L. said...the virgin ones are quite   different. I agree. 
     One virgin set I encountered 2   years ago was on an all original 1920s Steinway M in a catholic church. It was   lined with much marble with acoustics resembling a stairwell.     These hammers were grossly worn out & quite flat with huge long string   grooves....yet... I was surprised that the piano sounded amazingly musical and   sweet. Pulling the action I inserted/pushed the needles into a variety of   hammers to test density & they went in so easy. No grabbing. It was   effortless. I shaped one as best I could and the sound became a bit more   focused and not harsh or gnarly as would be expected from many hammers on the   planet. I was hoping to rebuild the action and save the hammers for   demonstrations. Still waiting.
 My Wifes cousin in Vancouver has a   Canadian upright. The name I can't recall. Same experience.  He is a   professional musician and has played this upright hard  and the thing   still sounds amazing. The action looks like its in a time warp. I can't be   sure what the felt is but Jurgen tells me this brand most likely employed   Weickert felt.



For whatever the reason, our experience is   different. 
Dale




  If one is exposed to enough   original sets of pre -war Steinway hammers and tried to get needles into the   suckers then the odds are greater that you can't because there too D_ _ _ hard   due to lacquer/shellac/or magic crystals.  When that solution was applied   of course is anybodys guess but it was obviously done for a reason. SO   lets extrapolate! ok?Somebody wanted a change in tone. 
  
 
  
Odd. I’ve   been exposed to quite a few pre-war Steinway hammers and have rarely found   evidence of chemical hardeners. 
  
 
  
ddf




 
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