Leather key bushings

[Roger Jolly]

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Hi David,
                  Using the Spurlock sizing cauls right after I steam and 
remove the old felt, has worked well for me. On both Yamaha's and Steinway's.
Roger


At 08:01 PM 4/8/2005, you wrote:
>Since the kangaroo skin only comes in one thickness how do you get the 
>control different thicknesses gives you?   I believe Bill Spurlock used 
>and sanding disk?
>
>David I.
>
>
>
>
>
>----------
>Original message
>From: Roger Jolly
>To: Pianotech
>Received: Fri, 08 Apr 2005 15:25:30 -0600
>Subject: Re: Leather key bushings
>
>
>Hi Ted and Dale,
>                              Ted gave me the Kangaroo hide several years 
> ago. At least 5 ( tempus fugit)  These pianos have been in University use 
> that long with no problems, and little or no wear. Perfect material for 
> practice rooms.
>
>Regards Roger
>
>At 01:38 PM 4/8/2005, you wrote:
>>    The following post is a  reply to my inquiry to/from MR. Sambel
>>Hello Dale!
>>
>>Delighted to hear from you; I am very well and had a great time in 
>>Sacramento. Afterwards, I spent a week as a guest of Susan Kline, and 
>>together we visited Edwin Good, author of "Giraffes, Black Dragons and 
>>other Pianos' in Eugene, Oregon, and saw the Cristofori reproduction he 
>>and Anita have recently acquired. And since then I have attended the PNWC 
>>in Renton, Wa. where I did four classes .Great fun!
>>About leather key bushings; I feel exactly as you that cloth is really an 
>>inadequate material on heavily used pianos. Long before it is worn out 
>>the touch quality is  seriously compromised. When I was a young tuner 
>>running round London (UK) there were all kinds of German pianos, 
>>especially Bechsteins and Bluthners with leather key bushings which 
>>seemingly did not wear and were remarkably trouble free. About ten years 
>>ago Bill Spurlock advocated the use of kangaroo skin in the Journal and I 
>>went on a quest to find some, without any luck. So I sent to Renner, 
>>Germany, not USA and got some calfskin, supposedly intended for key 
>>bushing. It was much too thick and very stiff, more like a leather belt. 
>>It was also an awkward width, about 1" so was wasteful and tricky to 
>>bring to 3/8". Anyway I thinned it down and rebushed a couple of sets, 
>>one being a practise studio Kawai grand. One year later I inspected them 
>>and there was no sign of wear whatever. Nonetheless, this was not a 
>>satisfactory solution, and then, believe it or not the answer was under 
>>my nose. Kangaroo skin was in the Schaff catalog! I had overlooked it 
>>because it is listed under player piano supplies on page 143, and I had 
>>never bothered to look there.Whether they still sell it I don't know, but 
>>it would be worthwhile to check. As it was I sent for a whole skin which 
>>cost about $70 at the time. The catalog says it is tan colored, but it 
>>turned out to be black, which really doesn't matter. It was really 
>>beautiful and I did several sets with it , using hide glue and putting 
>>the shiny skin side to the pin. I gave a piece to Roger Jolly to try so 
>>as to get another opinion, and he liked it. I had heard complaints that 
>>leather gets noisy, but this was not my experience. The kangaroo skin 
>>came at the right thickness and is soft and pliable. The easiest way to 
>>cut it into strips is with a paper cutter of the type found in offices. I 
>>brushed a little teflon powder into the bushings too.As I retired not too 
>>long after and left the Banff Centre, I could not check on the long term 
>>wear, but I hope to visit there next year and see. I had always wondered 
>>what leather the old German pianos used, then in 1993 I was with the 
>>!APBT group who went to England and Europe. The UK conference of the 
>>Piano Tuners Assn, was held in Colchester, sixty miles north of London, 
>>and Ingbert Bluthner Haessler came fron Germany to give a class on the 
>>old Bluthner action. He mentioned that the bushings were calfskin.(I 
>>videotaped the class). So there you have it. Sometimes one has to wait a 
>>lifetime to find an answer. Well, I hope ths is useful information for 
>>you, and am very interested to know how it works out for you. And I still 
>>remember your wonderful piano.
>>
>>Warmest regards, Ted
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: <mailto:Erwinspiano@aol.com>Erwinspiano@aol.com
>>To: <mailto:edward.sambell@sympatico.ca>edward.sambell@sympatico.ca
>>Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2005 10:14 PM
>>Subject: Leather key bushings
>>
>>  Hi Ted
>>   Greetings from sunny Calif.
>>   I was wondering if you could enlighten me about applying leather key 
>> bushings & what material you use. I'd like to use a material that holds 
>> up better than felt in hihg use situations. I have had some sets wear 
>> out in a year which is as you know , unacceptable.
>>    I really enjoyed our lunch together in Sacramento. Great fun.
>>    Hope you are well & enjoying life,
>>    Dale Erwin
>>
>>Erwins Pianos Restorations
>>4721 Parker Rd.
>>Modesto, Ca 95357
>>209-577-8397
>>Rebuilt Steinway , Mason &Hamlin Sales
>>www.Erwinspiano.com
>>

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