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Felt

Felt is normally a non-woven cloth that is produced by matting, condensing and pressing fibers. The fibers form the structure of the fabric. It can be cross-stitched, known as woven felt, to add additional integrity. Felt is used in organbuilding for gaskets, bushing, spacers, lining material for blower boxes, or in racking of pipework. It is also used as small washers, or punchings. Felt can be found in its natural colour, or can be stained in an infinite number of colours. Felt is the oldest form of fabric known to man. It predates weaving and knitting, although there is archaeological evidence from the British museum that the first known thread was made by winding vegetable fibers on the thigh. Felt dates back to at least 6,500 BC where remains were found in Turkey.

     The process of manufacturing felt is complex, involving man and machine. This is a basic explanation of the technique employed to manufacture wool felt. The first stage is to "card" the wool using a machine that comb's and pulls fibers into a fluffy mass, not dissimilar to cotton wool. The second stage is the actual felting process which uses steam and pressure to bind the wool fibers together, the next that happens, is that the felt is rolled to consolidate and continue the felting process, the last act is carried out by a bumping machine to finally consolidate the fibers in the wool, although this machine is not always used. At the end of these processes the wool fibers have fully bonded to each other with amazing strength.

     Felt was used in Northern Asia for clothing and tents, and the felt hats were known in ancient Greece and Rome. The invention (1846) of a machine for making felt sped up the process.

     Felt in organbuilding is used in a variety of applications including: sound deadening, muffler box lining bumper blocks, expression shutters, chest valves and pallets, metal pipe caps and bushings. Felt punching are used in numerous applications including washers in primary valve assemblies spring guides and keyboard bushings.

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