Adhesives

When repairing an instrument, it can be very helpful to know the type of adhesives that were used. In piano-making, it is very common to use reversible adhesives to attach consumable parts such as felt. These adhesives can be melted or dissolved, so that the felt can eventually be replaced once it is worn out. Other types of adhesive were intended to be permanent, such as adhesives binding different parts of a wooden cabinet. However, even permanent adhesives can be compromised by certain chemicals. Knowing which adhesives are present informs the chemicals or techniques that should be used in different aspects of repair.

The archive can also be studied in light of the history of adhesives. The availability of certain adhesives at different periods affects the cost and construction of the organ, and different formulations were adopted or abandoned as time passed.

The following pages include drawings for cement, cotton adhesive tape, and plastic adhesives.