| The Instrument Workshop P.O. Box 1060 Ashland, OR 97520 |
Telephone: 541 552 0989 Toll free (US/Canada): 800 442 6038 Fax: 541 488 5846 E-mail: fortepiano@fortepiano.com |
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Index | Ordering Instr |
Order | Discount/Handling
| Air/Express | ekr
Harpsichd Owners | Hammer
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New Items | Specials | Cloth/Felt | Keyboards | Lit | Pins | Plans
| Plectra | Tools | Wire/Strings
This file lists tools and supplies available for owners of early keyboard instruments. Most of the items of interest to owners are located in other files, which are linked to from the menu below. If you are a technician or maker of early keyboard instruments, or are looking for supplies and parts for other non-bowed stringed instruments, go to our homepage.
Top | Menu | Home |
Index | Ordering Instr |
Order | Discount/Handling
| Air/Express | ekr
Harpsichd Owners | Hammer
Dulcimer Parts | Sitar/Harp Strings | Pricelist
New Items | Specials | Cloth/Felt | Keyboards | Pins | Plans | Plectra
| Tools | Wire/Strings
Wire for strings is available in small and large coils, on spools, and as individual strings with a loop at one end (2 per per pack). String diameters are given in thousandths of an inch. Thus 12 refers to a diameter of 0.012". For conversion to other measuring systems, and for the amount of wire on a coil or spool, see the table in the file on strings and wire. When ordering, state the catalog number followed by the diameter like 1633-14 for a small coil of phosphor bronze wire of diameter 0.014". You will find the listings of all available wire in the strings file. In particular, of interest to owners of early keyboard instruments are the following:
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Tinned
Harpsichord Wire - a low tensile, low carbon wire with a tin coating,
diameters 07 to 18 Voss Iron Wire - a low tensile, low carbon wire (no tin), diameters 08 to 18 Rose Iron Wire - a low tensile low carbon wire (no tin), diameters 08 to 14 for harpsichords and 14 to 24 for forte pianos Tinned Music Wire - a general purpose high tensile music wire with a tin coating, diameters 07 to 24 Roeslau Music Wire - a non-coated high tensile music wire, diameters 07 to 18 Yellow Brass Wire - a specialty drawn brass wire for use in historic keyboard instruments, diameters 08 to 26 Red Brass Wire - a brass wire with a higher copper content and lower tensile strength, diameters 14 to 26 for harpsichords and 38 and 40 for fortepiano Phosphor Bronze Wire - grade A phosphor bronze wire used in some modern instruments, diameters 08 to 32 Regular Spring Brass Wire - a higher tensile commercial brass wire used in some modern instruments, diameters 14 to 36 Technical Data for Wire - composition and tensile strength Conversion Table for Wire - size numbers and diameters in inch and mm, amount of wire on coils and spools |
Specialty tools are listed in the tools file. More specifically, you will find there the following tools of interest to owners of early keyboard instruments:
| Tuning Devices - tuning forks and electronic tuners Tuning Hammers - T-type and gooseneck tuning hammers, old style tuning keys Wire Handling Tools - wire cutters, string loopers, micrometers Regulating Tools - screw drivers, capstan screw regulators Voicing and Cutting Tools - scalpels and blades, cutting blocks, rotary cutters and mats |
Plectra are listed in the plectra file. While traditionally plectra were made from birds' quill, the plastic acetal has become the material of choice due to its longevity. Acetal is marketed under brand names like delrin and celcon, of which delrin seems the most durable. We offer natural (whitish) and black (carbon filled) delrin, and black (carbon filled) celcon. Of these the natural delrin is the snappier, while the black delrin is closer to birds' quill in characteristics. We also offer birds' quill and leather plectra for peau de buffle, as well as the hard leather as used in some harpsichords built earlier in this century.
| Thicknesses of Delrin/Celcon - definition of the terms thick, thin etc. Delrin/Celcon in Sheets and Strips - natural and black delrin come in 1/2" strips and 12"x12"sheets. Precut Delrin/Celcon Plectra - available in packages of 100 or 1/2 oz. Leather and Leather Plectra - for peau de buffle stops and modern instruments. Birds' Quill - historic plucking materials. |
Cloth and felts are listed in the cloth file. This file also contains cloths for keyboard and jack rail.
Damper Cloth - Cloth for dampers in several thicknesses, with or without white center