Replace Hammer Tips Wurlitzer 200

[klcordero]

Just bought a Wurlitzer 200 and some of the hammer tip felt is compressed and has grooves in it.  I did some searching on this forum and it sounds like they can't be re-felt.  Just making sure that's correct.  Also, the service manual mentions applying a solution to puff up the felt.  Should I try using the solution or just buy replacement hammer tips from Vintage Vibe?

[pianotuner steveo]

If it works fine, there is no need to replace them. They are a pain to replace, and it really only needs to be done if they are broken off, or the felt has completely worn away.
It doesn't matter what Wurlitzer hammers look like, it matters what they sound like.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Any replacement tips you find to buy are USED.

[klcordero]

Ok.  Thanks for the advice!

[DocWurly]

I agree with Steve-o.  If it IS broke, Vintage Vibe hammer tips are good.  They make their own treble tips.  The others, I think, are New Old Stock.

[pianotuner steveo]

No, they are used. Where would they get NOS from?

[pianotuner steveo]

I just looked at their website. I saw NO Wurlitzer hammer tips listed anywhere, new or used.

[sean]

Whole hammer assy:
https://www.vintagevibe.com/collections/wurlitzer-action-parts/products/wurlitzer-200-series-hammer

[JanustheManus]

Would this help?
https://www.vintagevibe.com/products/wurlitzer-140-200-series-hammer-tips

[pianotuner steveo]

Sean, The whole hammer assembly is different from the hammer tips. Yes I saw those.
These are all used parts. I think I bought the last of the NOS hammer assemblies many years ago, and if I remember correctly, the hammer heads (tips) were not included.

JtheM, I did not find those, but I see that you did. Note that they don't have any treble hammers. I am 90% sure that these are used, but I'm sure they are in great condition, or else they would not sell them.

To the O.P.,
I would suggest this: If you have to buy other parts from them, buy a handful of the mid section hammers. (Due to their minimum shipping cost, it would be better to combine with other parts)
Heat the base of the old tips with a soldering iron to loosen them. Reglue some of these carefully,making sure alignment is correct top to bottom and side to side. See if that changes the tone. I would leave a few old ones in place next to some new ones to see if they sound different.

In other words, don't spend a ton of money on these tips until you are sure that they will make a difference. Unless you have seriously defective bass hammers, I don't think it would be cost effective to change those. ( IE, motheaten, broken, etc)

[DocWurly]

VV does make their own treble hammer tips.  If they are out of stock, I'm sure they will make more soon.  (err....I sure hope so!!)

And as for the NOS bass and midrange, I think they probably bought up the lot from Morelocks.  Hey, I just bought up a bunch of them.  They were unused.

Agreed with Steve-O, that any hammer _assemblies_ they are selling on their site are used, taken from a donor Wurli.

[Electrickey]

If the sound and feel are comfortable with the old parts then just go with that. Otherwise the expense and work of changing those parts will undo all the years of the piano settling into a good playing response. Unless you've got a lot of years at your disposal to get the new parts to wear in, I'd just play the thing and make music.

My 200A I had worked on by a trained grand piano tech. He adjusted the action so the keys could be played harder without the reeds getting beat up, but the keys clack a little on the lower end. But when playing the piano, it is amplified and the clacking isn't heard.

Yet this piano is one of those where the lower keys get this warm Wurli sound.

Trade offs on a mechanical device never designed to be perfect in all aspects.

But one can still collect new or used replacement parts while they are still available so that a repair could be made in the future.