Old Steinway wippens

[A440A@AOL.COM]

<<  The problem  is the lack of jack adjustment.  only a piece
of felt  ,  no screw to adjust the fore and aft position.  Does anyone have a 
suggestion for rebuilding these wippens? 
Right now, he sees his options as 1) total replacement, or 2)
painstakingly trimming new felt to position the jack in the correct
position. >>

Greetings, 
   There are other alternatives.  One is to shim the old felt.  I  use a 
chisel of the appropriate width to break the glue joint holding the felt , 
and then place a shim of veneer with glue, fore and aft.  behind the felt.  
This will usually place the jack perfectly or slightly too far, which can 
easily be remedied by pulling a little felt off the pad. 
   Another approach is to drill the jacks for a screw,  the support for a 
spoon, and spend a bunch of time retro fitting the adjustment.  
  New parts are now available that have changed the entire economic balance 
of doing this job.   I have had success with both, but the second way takes 
about six times  longer.  
Good luck, 
Ed Foote RPT