<html> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10 (filtered)"> <style>  </style> </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=blue> <div class=Section1> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I wonder too if the problem isn’t so much the type of press but the level of production that the large suppliers have to maintain and the need for a quicker way to set glues (read heat) on the hammers which changes the consistency of the felt. Like throwing that wool sweater in the dryer, it’s never really quite the same. Since wool is a very good natural insulator, the heat required to quick set the glue must be quite high (I would imagine) and this can only change the inner tension of the hammer, it seems to me. Of course, I am not a hammer maker and don’t claim to know the ins and outs of hammer production nor the methods or compromises that high production rates would require. Perhaps someone can enlighten me as to the details and differences between the high and low production shops and how this might account for differences in the consistency of the felt in the finished product. </span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p> <div> <p><font size=2 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt; color:navy'>David</span></font><font size=2 color=navy><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'> Love</span></font><font size=2 color=navy><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'><br> davidlovepianos@comcast.net<br> www.davidlovepianos.com</span></font><font color=navy><span style='color:navy'> </span></font></p> </div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>-----Original Message-----<br> <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>From:</span></b> pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Serge Harel<br> <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Friday, October 17, 2008 5:54 AM<br> <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> </span></font><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>Pianotech List</span></font><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'><br> <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Re: The all new Weickert felt hammer by Ronsen</span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p> <div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Hi Dale</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Of course this a very sensitive topic with too much of emotional reaction sometime.</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>All the big hammer maker try to please piano factory first at the best price so the industrial process is the priority.</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Some felt like Wurzen AA work well if the hammer as a lot of tension, heat and too much pressure broke the tension and kill the live inside the felt. In China they are hand presses but too much heat to cure the glue and they heat again before they slice the felt tube in individual hammer. They deep the felt strip in some special juice before pressing all this injury a high quality felt.</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The better the felt the more sensitive the are that why Ray and me has good result with our old fashion way to make hammer. </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The hydraulic could not make tension hammer like l do on the picture.</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Thank to André to make me know about the Wurzen felt six years ago, I bring myself to Ray is first wurzen sheet(22 pound) four years ago and he doing good think with it.</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>There is big competition between felt maker and it's very good to all of use Abel got nice natural felt and Wurzen got this new Weickert</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>thing go for a better future for the sound of the grand piano.</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Serge</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><br>  </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>2008/10/15 <<a href="mailto:erwinspiano@aol.com">erwinspiano@aol.com</a>></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>  </span></font><font face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>Hi Serge<br>   Good to hear from you. So, this means I must recant on the <strong><b><font face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>Only one the Planet</span></font></b></strong> part.   I humbly do so.<br>   The salient point I was making  was Ray is our only source who provides these hammers readily and commercially and, that they are made with a  Dolge type screw press. He's the only one I/we are familiar with.  If there are others that provide product like this we should surely be informed of it.<br>    I know you are  Rays friend & I knew you made hammers for your own use.  How incredibly valuable is your mutual association.<br>     To my defense...I'm  probably not the only one who hasn't ever heard of the Paris firm.  As for the Chinese I hear the results are  very inconsistent,  apparently no matter what press they use. However that could change being the quick and bright students of any craft that they are. <br>   Anyway for the last 40 years Ray & his family have & continue to be our reliable, and dependable  supply of this type of hammer in the states & his expertise is surely unparalleled.<br>  In my book he is a true Master Hammer maker. Tom..I like the Golden hammer winner idea!<br>   Kindest regards<br> <br>   Dale Erwin</span></font></p> <div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left: .5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><br> <br> </span></font></p> <div> <div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Dear Dale</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Sorry Dale but Ray is just the only one in USA not on the PLANET. </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The majority of the hammer head from China are hand screw press.</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>And there is a French maker in Paris: Desfougere that use hand presses</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>And I'm the only one to use the real Alfred Dolge presses</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>I do agree with all you said about the felt and how to press it and Ray do good jog for sure.</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Serge Harel</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Canada</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><br>  </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>2008/10/15 <<a href="mailto:erwinspiano@aol.com" target="_blank">erwinspiano@aol.com</a>></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><br> <br> </span></font><font face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'> David L. David A.<br>   I thank you for this post.<strong><b><u><font face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'> Ray is the only guy on the planet providing hammers commercially using the hand screw press</span></font></u></b></strong>. It is this fact, which allows for his artisan approach to hammer making., that and 40 years of experience and dedication. Truly impressive. He'd be blushing to hear me go on. He deserves it.<br>  As Will Truit said hammers and felt vary, it's the real world, get over it. Felt making is absolutely an art form and yet densities in a felt sheet can vary from sheet to sheet. The beauty of the Dolge screw press is that the operator can feel how much pressure each uniquely made strip of felt requires to achieve a narrow spectrum of density in the final product. This so important because hydraulic presses can literally squash the life out of felt especially when coupled with too much heat. Rays hands can feel this pressure. I've been there I've turned the screws. It's an acquired skill to be sure. Hey it keeps him in shape.<br>   <br>   Dale Erwin</span></font> </p> <div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left: .5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p> <div> <div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Yes it is.  And I hope people appreciate Ray and what he is doing delivering a custom made hammer and responding to the needs and input from the techs.  Not to diminish the commitments of the other suppliers like Abel and Renner who deliver a very high quality product but it tends to be more of a one style fits all approach.  Ray is really trying to respond to the variety of tonal requirements that are part of our daily bread.  There isn't anyone else doing this with hammers right now and he should be applauded and supported!  </span></font></p> </div> <div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>David Love<br> <a href="mailto:davidlovepianos@comcast.net" target="_blank">davidlovepianos@comcast.net</a><br> <a href="http://www.davidlovepianos.com/" target="_blank">www.davidlovepianos.com</a></span></font><font color=navy><span style='color:navy'> </span></font></p> </div> </div> <div> <div style='margin-left:.5in'> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>. I guess that's the beauty of dealing with a custom artisan like Ray Negron at Ronsen---he can do it for us.</span></font></p> </div> </div> <div> <div style='margin-left:.5in'> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p> </div> </div> <div> <div style='margin-left:.5in'> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>DA</span></font></p> </div> </div> <div style='margin-left:.5in'> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left: .5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><br> <br clear=all> <br> -- <br> <br> phone 514-750-4522<br> cel 514-569-4414<br> <br> Piano Perfecto<br> 5932 rue Viau<br> Montreal Qc Canada H1T 2Y4<br> <br> Piano Shop <br> 17 Ronald Drive<br> Montreal West, Qc<br> Canada H4X 1M9 <br> <br> <br> </span></font></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></font></p> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center'><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial; color:black'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center> </span></font></div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in; margin-bottom:.0001pt'><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>McCain or Obama? 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