What Bill Chapman is looking for are the Crescendo punchings that
I have introduced to North America a few years ago.  These punchings
are made from felt, as opposed to felted cloth, made by the Wurzen
felt company in Germany, a company which is the foremost producer
of piano hammer felt.

The Crescendo felt is a cousin to piano hammer felt.  The special
thing about Crescendo felt is this:  through a proprietary method,
Wurzen has succeeded in producing a felt with a very high degree of
wool fiber interlocking.  Normally, the felting process can only be
taken so far, and if the felt needs to be any denser (as for piano
hammers), that is achieved by pressing with great force under
application of heat and steam.  This hot, moist pressing destroys
the natural resilience (springiness) of the wool fiber.  Wurzen can
produce a dense felt which retains its natural resilience.

The Crescendo front rail punchings have several advantages:

 - Key dip and after-touch are more clearly defined.  This makes
regulation faster and easier and more precise, as well as more stable.

 - Key dip and after-touch remain constant regardless of dynamic level
is being played,  Thus, the pianist plays with more confidence because
he/she knows exactly where the key will bottom out.

It is disputed by some, but many others agree there is even a tonal
improvement  with these punchings; the tone seems more focussed and
direct.

For those interested, there is more information here:
http://www.pianofortesupply.com/punchings.html

Here are comments of technicians and pianists who have used these
punchings:  http://www.pianofortesupply.com/cresc.testimonia.html

Jurgen Goering
Piano Forte Supply
(250) 754-2440
info@pianofortesupply.com
http://www.pianofortesupply.com