I received one personal e-mail concerning the ills of using felt in the
valves.  And one other suggesting I do my own leg work concerning
finding out if American Piano Supply had a supply of bulk thin center
rail felt.  In yesterdays MMD here is the statement I made:

> "My problem is finding a supply of the felt.  The felt I need is
> the same type the thin (.050') balance rail punchings are cut from.
> Any suggestions?  I plan on purchasing some of my supplies from
> American Piano Supply, will they have the bulk balance rail cloth?"

The question "will they have the bulk balance rail cloth?" was really
an afterthought.  I never intended anyone to do my leg work.  I was
putting my supply list together at 9 PM and could not call them right
away.  I will be more careful in my future postings.

I called American Piano Supply Co. today and they do not supply this
felt other than in punchings, and the lady I spoke with was as helpful
as a fence post.  I then called Schaff and they suggested "under
stringing felt" which is 3" wide and 18" long and about .050" thick.

I'm looking forward to the other comments concerning the use of felt in
player valves.  I'm not totally sold on the idea but the Autopiano
secondary valve's fiber disk is threaded right to the valve steam and
the fiber disk is shaped in such a way that the felt acts as a spacer.

Without it there will not be an even surface to glue the leather to.
Instead of trying to re-think and re-design the valve I think it would
be just as easy to simply replace the felt.  I suppose something other
than insect attracting felt could be used.  Any suggestions?

Sam Harris
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ranch/9374