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Re: Bladder pads?

Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2006-07-18 13:56

Bladder pads are the standard ones made from a disk of felt, with cardboard backing, all covered with a membrane resembling sausage skin.

As opposed to "leather" pads (i.e. leather covered instead of membrane-covered), or (solid) cork pads, or solid pads of synthetic material (of a variety of different sorts).

The membrane is from the gut of an animal, usually bovine, and has traditionally been called "goldbeaters skin" because it was interleaved with thin sheets of gold, and then beaten, in order to make gold leaf.

The membrane has also been somewhat mysteriously called "fish skin" About 40 years ago I bought "goldbeaters skin" for repadding flutes, and was told by the now-defunct local supplier that it was processed (locally) from the air bladder of a certain fish. If this was indeed another source for the membrane, then it could explain the term "bladder" pad, and also the term "fish skin". I note that Sturgeon have a significant air (or "swim") bladder.

I'd be interested any further information on the possible connection between fish and bladder pads.

Post Edited (2006-07-18 13:59)

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