Tom Reefer recently suggested [on the PIPORG-L list]an interesting movie
plot about Perflex (the synthetic leather substitute from the 1970s that
showed much promise but then failed miserably after a dozen years in
use).  Some (long) time ago, we had a posting here on PIPORG-L about how
Perflex's formula got changed by the chemical company that produced it.
The original batch is *still* in use in some instruments today.  The
production batches, however, were modified (to cut costs) and that
formulation was a disaster.  Sadly, the material worked well for about 12
years and then would suddenly disintegrate. We also were told that Austin
(and other organ builders) lost a great deal of money replacing failed
Perflex pneumatics, even beyond the normal warranty periods.  In such a
case, it might be unfair for the movie to portray "evil organists and
Austin collaborationists"; "evil chemists" would be ok, however!

Larry Chace (RLC1@cornell.edu)

Probably "evil marketing squeezers" who got the chemists to dumb-down the
recipe. The manufacturer has changed the name of the material and sold
off the division, and I could not even find the "good" replacement
material this year! But then, who would ever let me try to use it in
anything they wanted to keep?

Karl Petersen¶
kap@dragon.micron.net