The first time I fitted (or had fitted) new bumpers, they were cork. I was advised that rubber was too hard and could cause some kind of wear in the long term due to the non-shock absorbing properties - it is too abrupt a stop at the end of travel for the rotor or lever mechanism. My teacher (Arthur Bevan) sold me some cork rounds already the right size for the mounting and his advice to make it malleable enough to fit easily, was place the cork edge up on a table and with the back of a penknife, roll it back and forth and eventually it becomes warm and therefore soft. Like magic, the new cork slides into its home and does the job. My first set disintegrated due to over-zealous oiling and they got soaked and split. I did buy a small sheet of cork and tried cutting my own, but - well, life's too short and the pre-cut is cheap enough.
(I imagine you can buy neoprene in lengths as 'rod' configuration without having to buy rings and cut them - also, a ring will have a tendency to to curl back when straightened out even in short pieces for horn stops.) There is a company I go near in Nottingham called Industrial Rubber Supplies. Next time I'm there I'll check in to see what they can supply and post details. When I had my trusty Weltklang serviced I did have rubber ones fitted and they have lasted - though I don't know what, if any, damage has befallen the mechanics. I have a borrowed Alex 103 and they have clear - perhaps neoprene - ones fitted and they are a lot softer than the black ones on my Weltklang. I have done a lot of work on player pianos and there used both black and clear neoprene tubing - the black was harder than the clear and the clear was for use in beer pumps.. (Plenty there for you to work on Cabbage!) Cheers! Paul UK _______________________________________________ post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] set your options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
