hammers

[Joe & Penny Goss]

Jim, I once heard that in the old days there was a standard container that
was used to measure the density of the wool. If the container held 12 lbs.
then it was 12 lb felt in density. The finer felt was usually the heavier
weight. Or so an old Tuner once told me.
Joe

----------
> From: JIMRPT@aol.com
> To: aa9pz@juno.com; owner-pianotech@ptg.org; pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: Re:  hammers
> Date: Tuesday, August 25, 1998 6:49 PM
> 
> 
> In a message dated 8/25/98 8:11:17 PM, aa9pz@juno.com wrote:
> 
> <<I have several questions about hammers.  First, looking in the catalog
I
> see different weights.  What are those weights of?  Certainly not the
> weight of the entire set. >>
> 
> David;
>  From Merles book.....
> Hammer weight--A hammer is made from a sheet of felt approximately
36.5wide
> ,by 38.5 to 42 inches in length. The weight of the sheet gives the weight
> ascribed to the individual hammer, e.g., a hammer bearing the weight
number of
> 15 lbs. has been cut from a sheet of felt weighing that many pounds; or
the
> whole set may carry that number...........
> 
>    Of course numerous sets may be cut from one sheet and no individual
set
> weighs 15 lbs.  :-)  14, 15, or 16 lbs gives you 'some' idea of a hammers
> characteristics but it is not quite that easy I'm afraid.  Other factors
such
> as felt density, cold press, hot press, reinforced, non reinforced, etc.,
> effect the tonal quality/possibilities of any individual hammer and one
can't
> just say, for instance, that a 16 lb hammer "should" be used on grands
above 6
> foot in length. There are many generalities that may be stated but what
holds
> true for, say a hammer from Renner, will not needfully hold true with a
hammer
> from Issac or Ronson.
> 
>  This subject gets much more confusing as you learn more and more but it
is
> worth the effort to study...........unfortunately experience is what it
will
> boil down too :-(
> Hope this helps somewhat.
>  Jim Bryant (FL)