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<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial>I find some pianos in the area, have had the tapes
replaced, with what I thought was shoelace material.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial>Possibly it was material such as
yours.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial>Would a shoelace manufacturer, possibly be a
source for what you want?</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>John M. Ross<BR>Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada<BR><A
href="mailto:jrpiano@win.eastlink.ca">jrpiano@win.eastlink.ca</A></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=JD@Pianomaker.co.uk href="mailto:JD@Pianomaker.co.uk">John
Delacour</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, September 11, 2007 6:13
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Quality of tie tapes/bridle
straps</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>Ever since I ran out of a 100 metre reel of tie tape and discovered to my
horror that I could get no more, I have been searching in vain for a supplier
of the good stuff. In the picture below from top to bottom are 1. Tape
as used by Schwander in Paris about 1900, 2. Tape from my reel produced in
England (Leicester?) till about 1980, 3. American tape obtained from
Germany. Both 1 and 2 are 0.30 mm thick ( 0.012") and the American is
0.5 mm (0.020"). You will see that in Schwander's the fishbone pattern
is repeated 7 times, in the English tape 8 times and in the American only
4. The only thing good to say of the American tape is that it uses the
right weave, which is mopre than can be said for the rubbish now being
supplied by the English houses.</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>Renner produce a tape of the proper weave but it is far to thick and
heavy and of a grey color, which might be acceptable if its other qualities
were OK, not to speak of the price. The Czechs produce a very white
variety but this too is coarse and comes in lengths suitable only for pianos
that attach them at the balance hammer, not at the butt. I see a Chinese
product advertised on eBay -- 7.5 metres of tape and a packet of ends for you
to stick on, all at an inflated price and looking from the picture no better
than the other inferior tapes I've mentioned. They will not supply in
bulk.</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>Does anyone happen to know the name of this type of weave or have
relations of friends in the trade who might be able to identify it? I am
seriously considering having the tape specially made in China or India to the
proper quality. It could even be made of silk with advantage; indeed a
couple of years ago I rebuilt a fine old 1907 Schiedmayer & Soehne that
did have silk tapes still in perfect condition including the leather.
These were light blue in colour and only 0.18 mm (0.007") in thickness.</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>Some things, in respect of supplies, have improved during my time in the
trade, but generally speaking I find the supply houses ignorant of their
product and unable to insist on the highest quality. The lack of
awareness and sheepishness of most of their customers does not encourage them
to change.</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>In the case of tie tape, there is good reason for using this weave and
for making it light an very deformable, and tape of the quality I'm looking
for was the norm for over 140 years. The old makers would simply not
have accepted the rubbish that is served up today.</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>I hope someone can put me on the right track.</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>JD</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
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