Chapter 36 - Tools and Supplies ( Page 1 of 4)
Notes on The Instrument Workshop
As you will notice on the next three pages, our main parts supplier was once the Instrument Workshop. For almost half a century this business provided
parts, guidance, knowledge, and encouragement to veteran and beginning builders alike. Unfortunately, its founder and owner, Lutz Bungart, passed away in
June of 2014, much to the chagrin of those of us who have come to rely on his expertise and friendship.
The Instrument Workshop, despite the efforts of some folks to keep it going, is no longer in business.
There are a few alternate vendors for parts and supplies
On the domestic scene we have
Hubbard Harpsichords,
Zuckermann Harpsichords, and
Howard Piano Industries.
For European and Asian builders, parts can be obtained through
Marc Vogel.
Notes on Harpsichord Jacks
Harpsichord jacks are propriety - that is, their design is owned and controlled by the individual builder or supplier, whether they are made of plastic or wood. As there is no standardization of
dimensions from builder to builder, jacks are almost always not interchangeable. While the Harpsichord Project describes the use of plastic jacks made by the
Instrument Workshop, that is no longer an option. Any plastic jack, and any wooden jack up to 1/2" in width will work. The instruction provided can still be used
with a few common seense modifications due to differences in dimensions. One word of caution:
You must have the jacks you choose to use in your possession before building your registers. Dimensions will vary, and the construction of registers is totally dependant on
the dimensions of the jacks you use.
While I've always believed, and still believe, that making wooden jacks is quite challenging for most novice builders, market place circumstances have made it necessary for me to include
a chapter describing their construction in the
Harpsichord Project. Before deciding to make your own jacks, please study this chapter carefully. Should you decide to purchase my wooden
jacks, there is information and an order form on
page 44 in chapter 38.