David Zitzmann was interested in knowing more about mink oil.  Many
years ago there was a group of men in the Washington State peninsula
who were making rolls of classical pieces for their small organs.
They had built their own organs, some with two or three ranks of pipes.

One man used mink oil on pouches that resulted in a major problem.
The pouches became so stiff that they would no longer respond to
ordinary pressure.  These pouches were much larger than those used in
pianos, slightly less than 2" across.  The man had to replace all the
pouches.

There was a leather preservative made by Dow-Corning.  It was a light
liquid which came in a 1-quart can.  I used it on the Reproduco pipe
valves (simply a pouch with a light spring under it).  Ten years later
there was no problem.  I haven't had to open the chest to check on the
leather.

Bill Chapman, in La Quinta, Calif. -- 70 degrees F. and overcast today.