older Steinway whippens

[A440A@aol.com]

Tom writes:
> I suspect that in most cases, Steinway would NOT keep the
>original action parts, opting instead to replace them with new Steinway
>parts,

    This is true.   A case in point is Horowitz's piano, which was kept just
as he wanted it, old hard hammers and all.  After his death, the piano was
returned to the factory, and the action components were replaced.  
    According to Dave Grossi, (head of restoration at the time), the
distinction was made between old, worn-out parts, or new good ones.  I told
David that was akin to finding a box of Van Gogh's paint brushes and
immediately cleaning them up, trimming the bristles, etc.    There was no
attempt at conservatorship, and when I asked about the old parts, was told
that they had been thrown away.
   I haven't yet seen a set of the older whippens work at 100% with newer
shanks and hammers.  I have seen verdigris slow an action down that had been
repinned two years before.  

Regards, 
Ed Foote