Steinway hammer shape

[A440A@aol.com]

<<  I thought I'd ask if anyone 
knows what the "Steinway" shape is supposed to be.<<

    Not a round, "billard ball" shape, but more of a point.  It is not unlike 
the shape of an egg. 

>>Also, the highest hammers have deep grooves in them and I didn't want 
to file them too much in order to remove the grooves, but soft pedal 
usage makes the tone "disappear" (the un-grooved spots are soft). How 
much filing can be done on those highest hammers? >>

     You can file them all the way to the wood, but that wouldn't serve any 
purpose.  There is nothing to be lost by filing them down until only the very 
slightest remnant of the groove is left.  Well, maybe a little weight, but 
tonally, they are near the end of their service life, so remove the "dead" felt 
that is between the grooves by filing them to an "egg" shaped profile and see if 
you don't get better sound. 
Good luck,  

Ed Foote RPT 
http://www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/index.html
www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/well_tempered_piano.html