Decomposing key leads

[John Delacour]

At 05:36 -0400 24/9/07, Wimblees at aol.com wrote:

>...SoÊif these leads are oxidizing in just a few years, then 
>wouldn'tÊnew leadsÊdo the same thing in a couple of years, 
>consideringÊwhere the piano is located?

No, unless the new leads were as impure as the originals.  Good lead 
does not oxidize like that.  For over 100 years action makers and 
keymakers have from time to time been sold bad lead and used it 
probably without thinking of the need to have it analysed.  There is 
no excuse nowadays for not making sure the lead is pure.  Only 
certain pianos from certain eras are prone to this problem.  For 
example I was called out to a ca. 1910 Bechestein not long ago where 
the oxidation was so bad that all the keys and damper bodies were 
jammed together.  I have just taken in a 1923 Bechstein that has no 
sign of oxidation.  Both pianos have spent their lives at the 
sea-side, but that is hardly relevant.  I've just removed perfect 
leads from an upright of 1875 which had spent its life in Liverpool, 
one of the most industrialised sea-ports.

JD