It appears as if the Lester player piano valve is really just a
knockoff of the Standard player valve that has already been discussed.

My very late production Welte Licensee from 1930 is alive and well.
Every thing in the stack has been rebuilt with the exception of the
secondary valves inside faces.  Those polished leather surfaces look as
if they were new within the last year.  In this case, looks translate
to performance, as they are extremely air tight.  When I rebuilt the
stack, there was nothing I could possibly do to make these valves any
better.  All aspects of the valve system are totally restored.

But I have wondered what leather could be used if necessary if these
were replaced.  Recent comments on this thread about good leather not
being available are not true.  Several organ leather supply houses
offer fine leathers in many forms.

In recent years I have used "Rib" leather, from Columbia Organ Supply,
to make pump flap valves.  In that application the fuzzy side is used
as the working side.  Normally, Rib leather is used on organ reservoir
"ribs" and forms the joint with the fuzzy side glued.  The newly
re-leathered reservoir looks great with the white, slick, rib leather
showing.

I've wondered if the finely finished side of rib leather could be used
as the Standard valve inside face.  I think it would be ideal, and
would last 50 years or more.  Has anyone tried it?

Bob Taylor
Missouri