From an Organbuilder's vantage-point!  In Digest 980523 Jan Kijlstra
writes an excellent treatise on organ pipe metal compositions:

> The search for a correct definition of Hoyt metal did not, up to now,
> come to a solution.  A couple of contributors did suggest that Hoyt
> metal is a two-ply metal, used for organ pipes.

Indeed.  That is as I understand the case to be.  I happen to have
sheets of this material in my stocks!

I suppose the way to solve this once for all is to write to National
Lead and find out from them just what they have to say about this
situation.

I do know that the sources that Jan quotes are probably quite old,
prior to the invention of the Hoyt-Metal as we builders know it.  It
was an invention of the teens and twenties, I believe, made with the
idea of lessening the cost of organ pipes, yet allowing them to still
retain a pleasing appearance.

> One small problem: I was unable to find any multi-ply metal,
> used for organ pipes.  Since metal organ pipes are build by soldering
> together their respective parts, this seems to be quite logical:
> how to pour a sheet with two plies? And how to solder the pipe-parts
> together, if made from this ply-metal?

One needs to recall that the melting temperatures of tin and lead are
rather different.  Since lead melts at a higher temperature than tin,
it _is_ possible to flow molten tin over the lead sheets without melt-
ing them.  I'm not at all sure how the process is done; which is why
I'm going to inquire of National Lead Industries (if they'll tell me!)

Hoyt metal solders just like any other pipe metal.  One "soils" the
metal by applying whiting and then filing where the solder is to flow
only, leaving the rest of the surface masked where the solder is not
wanted.  Of course, some of us who don't want to get into making
batches of whiting (time-consuming, and it goes bad quickly!) "cheat"
by using masking tape with the basically same results!

> Another remark: I think that Hoyt metal indeed is (or: was)
> a zinc-based alloy, used for die casting.

Not the Hoyt metal that I use!  It is a high-lead-content sheet with a
tin "washcoat" to give it a shiny appearance.

> It turns out to be, that a couple of these alloys are specified in
> industry standards (In Germany: DIN 1703).  However, a comment in this
> DIN-standard is stating: if not following these standards, zinc
> alloys products are sold under their brand names.  Like: Hoyt metal?

I don't know how to respond to this particular comment.  Anything is
possible, but in our little narrow circle, zinc is not used with a tin
coating over it, at least, not as Hoyt metal.

If I find out anything more, I'll inform the list!

Faithfully,

Richard Schneider, President
Schneider Pipe Organs, Inc.
Kenney, IL   61749-0137