atonal@planet.eon.net wrote: > Greetings Del & Roger, > > Baldwin has been using escaine for leather on the > verticals only since 1984, replacing the use of Corfam. Don't wince, > Yamaha has been using synthetics for years. I have had long > conversations with Kent Webb regarding the durability of this > material, especially since I don't want to be replacing leather > substitute any more than I have to. He is of the opinion that > escaine won't repeat the problems that Corfam presented (Baldwin > certianly doesn't want to go through that again!) and the verticals > I've been working with for the last 7 years seem to be fine, > pseudo-leather wise. > > Warning: *Shameless Plug* > > Check out my Corfam replacement article at > http://www.planet.eon.net/~atonal/atonal/techdoc.html > > The grands have and always have had genuine deer-hide for knuckle > material. > > Regards, > > Rob Kiddell, > Registered Piano Technician, PTG > atonal@planet.eon.net Rob, The material is actually called Ecsaine (not Escaine as it is more commonly spelled on this list) and is made by the Japanese company 'Toray' -- see my previous post on the subject. Or better yet, see the 'Toray' web site. (http://www.toray.co.jp/e/seihin/senij03.html) This is the material that was in use while I worked for the company and I know that at the time it passed all durability tests with flying colors. I have tested the material myself and have found it to outlast leather or buckskin by a considerable margin. I know that under test conditions it does extremely well. It's not the short term I was asking about, however. It's the long-term durability I'm wondering about. In other words, what effect does time and long-term wear have on the material. Remember that Corfam also tested well at first. By the way, Ecsaine is the material used to make "Ultra-suede" clothing. It is also used on upholstered furniture, etc. -- ddf
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC