felt knuckles???? (revisited from 9/00)

[Newton Hunt]

I remember those days.  The felt was a substitute for leather because
Nixon boycotted the importation of leather from Brazil, piano industry
source, and at the same time suede skirts came into fashion.  Guess
who had the purchasing power.  Aeolian use woven cloth and Steinway
used felt, and Baldwin used Corfam, all were not good substitutes for
leather.

A couple of years later cork wedgies (shoes not tricks) were in
fashion.  The wine industry had to pay ten cents each more for corks
because the garment industry out bid the wine growers.

Makes you wonder where societies priorities lie.

		Newton

kam544@flash.net wrote:
> 
> >>...I have been unable to find a
> >documented
> >> reference to date as to its existence, let alone it's
> introduction and
> >> demise.
> >>
> >> Keith McGavern
> -------------------------------------
> >
> >Ditto.  Only random actions have shown up and there is no
> documentation
> >about them whatsoever. At least not public...
> >Del
> 
> Del, LIst,
> 
> There is a short article in the March 2001 issue of the Piano
> Technicians
> Journal, p8, by James M. Reeder, RPT concerning these felt knuckles.
> This
> article offers some historical perspective that explains how these
> knuckles
> came into being, and why they were used when they were.
> 
> In brief, and according to John Steinway via James, the felt was
> used
> during a time when quality leather from South America was not
> available,
> and this lack of leather just happened to occur during the same time
> period
> when Aeolian used felt instead of leather for vertical hammer butts
> and
> catchers.  Orders had to be filled and this is what they came up
> with.
> 
> I feel very satisfied with this explanation.  Much appreciation to
> James
> for his contribution.
> 
> Keith McGavern
> Registered Piano Technician
> Oklahoma Chapter 731
> Piano Technicians Guild
> USA