<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML xmlns:o = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:v = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:w = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word"><HEAD> <META content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII" http-equiv=Content-Type> <META name=GENERATOR content="MSHTML 8.00.7600.16722"></HEAD> <BODY style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 10pt" id=role_body bottomMargin=7 leftMargin=7 rightMargin=7 topMargin=7><FONT id=role_document color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial> <DIV>  Hello Pat,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>       The reason these hammers are covered with leather is </DIV> <DIV>that when the hammer strikes the string it  blocks and slides </DIV> <DIV>a little this is the " let off ".  It was thought then that the leather</DIV> <DIV>would last longer. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>    If you press the key down very slowly you can easily see it </DIV> <DIV>slide on the string. I have found that most of these pianos were </DIV> <DIV>not and were not intended to be  " loud "  by today's standards.</DIV> <DIV>   Most of these actions were built by ether  "Stein" or "Walther"</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>     If  I ever voiced these hammers up, I would treat the felt without </DIV> <DIV>touching the leather or be prepared to replace the leather. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>   I wish you success </DIV> <DIV>   Jack Wyatt</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> <DIV>In a message dated 3/13/2011 1:55:50 A.M. Central Daylight Time, pcpoulson@sbcglobal.net writes:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px"><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial><o:wrapblock><v:shape style="Z-INDEX: 1; POSITION: absolute; MARGIN-TOP: 54pt; WIDTH: 234pt; HEIGHT: 195.75pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0px; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: page" id=_x0000_s1026 type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata src="cid:image001.jpg@01CBE0B6.4D3A30C0" o:title="P03-10-11_11-06[1]"></v:imagedata><w:wrap type="topAndBottom" anchory="page"></w:wrap></v:shape><v:shape style="Z-INDEX: 2; POSITION: absolute; MARGIN-TOP: 243pt; WIDTH: 189pt; HEIGHT: 153pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: page" id=_x0000_s1027 type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata src="cid:image002.jpg@01CBE0B6.4D3A30C0" o:title="P03-10-11_11-06[2]"></v:imagedata><w:wrap type="topAndBottom" anchory="page"></w:wrap></v:shape></o:wrapblock> <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Hello All: I have taken on the project of bringing a 1910 Ludwig Feigel 6' grand back to playing condition. It is actually in very good condition considering it's age, tuneable with a good soundboard and pinblock. It has what I believe is a Viennese action, with leather covered hammers. I have no idea as to how this would be regulated, or how to voice the hammers. The soft leather gives the piano a very dull tone, so I hope to be able to brighten them up. I don't know if the leather covering is original or not. I will start by easing the keys, which are all tight on their balance pins. Where to go from there? </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Thanks for your help.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Patrick C. Poulson<BR>Registered Piano Technician<BR>530-265-1983</FONT></DIV></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>