Hello All,  I just wanted to clarify my motivation and reason on my
posting about the subject of sealing pouches [13.12.03 MMDigest].
If this was a forum talking exclusively about Ampico or Aeolian there
would have been no mention about sealing pouches, as they require
this procedure.

For those who are newcomers or novices to restoring pneumatic
instruments, simply reading the many posts about using everything
imaginable under the sun to seal pouches leaves the impression that
all pouches must be sealed, which in general is not true.  I was just
bringing forward that there is a reason that Ampico and a few others
seal pouches, the same as there is a reason that zephyr is used, etc.

In my opinion, sealing pouches is the exception to the rule and should
not be done to an instrument just trying to emulate a process done to
another.  Again, if _all_ of the posts were mentioning sealing pouches
on Ampicos then you can ignore the posts on not sealing.  But as it
turns out my initial observation was correct being that some have
stated to seal _all_ pouches which I just wanted to bring forward that,
through many tests and results that I have gotten in restorations,
this statement is not true.  I am most known for my restorations to
have extremely good reiteration.  Some can be seen and heard on YouTube
in which none have sealed pouches and in doing so would have hampered
the reiteration.

So in conclusion, some instruments require sealing and some don't.
Some require zephyr and some don't.  If you feel the need to seal
pouches and it's not required, you might be hampering the operation
instead of helping it, simply said.

That's it for me on this subject -- back to restorations.

Wishing everyone the best for 2014!

Musically,
Robert Loeffler - Roberts Musical Restorations
Deland, Florida