I think if I hear another sponge neoprene valve story, I'm going to
scream!

It's a pain in the you-know-what to have to redo _new_ valve blocks,
particularly when you pay high prices for them in the first place!
I am sure that Durrell Armstrong must be aware by now, that sponge
neoprene is useless for valves.  The professionals will not use it,
and now, PPCo is using it in the replacement valve blocks to get rid
of it.  (If it were mine, I'd make a big fire.)

I have been openly critical of Player Piano Company for years.  I have
also taken a lot of heat for it, by the same rebuilders who insist on
perfection, and they themselves will not use sponge neoprene.  Amazing!

D. L. Bullock once gave me some valve material that seems to be really
good, providing that it stays stable once it gets old.  It seems to be
a natural white rubber, and despite it's rather odd look, that stuff is
the tightest material I have ever used for valves.

I agree that Player Piano Company has made very important contributions
in this field. but frankly, I find them less and less credible as time
goes on.  Whenever possible, I find my goods somewhere else.  If I need
valve blocks, I will build a set.  I agree that ready-made valve blocks
may save time, but only if the builder has the good sense to use the
basic proper materials.  It is counter-productive to pay a high price
for something like that, and have to rebuild them as well, because
someone who has been in the field for forty years is unwilling to use
something that works.  It shows a total disregard for the people who
pay the bills.

Who's bright idea was it to use sponge neoprene to begin with?

Andrew Taylor
Tempola Music Rolls