First of all, one should always consider whether a piano repair is worth the investment. In this case, one should consider whether this piano is worth putting a new set of hammers on it (and I presume a good $$ regulation $$ would be in order also). I have not seen many (read: ANY), M&H consoles of this vintage worth that level of investment. Secondly, one should also consider whether the piano will meet the needs of the player. Bottom line: Ideally, IMHO, a piano teacher would have a better quality piano for his/her work.
If the conclusion is that the piano in question is worth putting hammer-replacement-kind of money into and that it will meet the professional needs of the teacher, then (I guess - gulp) go for it.
If not, then either repair the hammers (oh man, just replace the piano!!! - these things are generally quite nasty!) or replace the piano. Good grief, one can pick up a nice, very clean, much newer Yamaha, Kawai, Samick or Young Chang console (much, much nicer pianos!!!) for under $1K in a private sale!
If repair option is chosen, gluing hammer felt to their moldings on a piano like this is best done with thick CA glue - no need for string reinforcement. Secondly, IMHO, much of whatever original tension the intact hammers might still have on a 43-year-old Aeolian console will be present on the repaired hammers. Do the intact hammers sound any different than the hammers that are repaired now? My experience has been that a well CA-repaired hammer sounds the same as intact hammers (especially among those lovely Green Monsters!). I'm not saying the repaired hammers sound good, but they don't sound any different than the other hammers..... :-(
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Terry Farrell
Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
Brandon, Florida
terry@farrellpiano.com813-684-3505
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Original Message:
Sent: 07-19-2021 10:36
From: James Kelly
Subject: New Hammer Felts- Mason & Hamlin MFP Console
I tuned a Mason & Hamlin MFP console on Friday that I had last tuned in 2013 when it was in a home on the Intercoastal Waterway. Amazingly it was just 2 cents sharp, the bass end was solid as a rock . The serial number is from 1976. The hammer felts have separated from the moldings due to glue failure many on the underside of the hammers. Someone previous had glued the felt back and tied the repair down with string-in fact 21 hammers had been repaired this way. There are now about 20 more that I could see that are banana peeled and some starting to peel away. I think repair is a waste of time and money so I am looking for suggestions on what hammer felt would work as well as sources. The action parts are in good condition and I believe I can use the exisiting shanks by softening the glue and popping off the hammers. The owner is a piano teacher who wants to start teaching again so I think its wise to refelt/replace the hammers.
I know that hammer felts get glued back down however I am not so sure a repair can return the tension that was once introduced by a hammer making press.
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James Kelly
Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
Pawleys Island SC
843-325-4357
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