Broken plastic elbows in older spinets are a very common occurrence as these pianos age. However, sometimes when we are called upon to make these repairs we encounter missing drop wires. Drop wires are getting harder to obtain, and I personally have nearly expended all my inventory. The wires also came in different lengths and often the replacement wires that I do still have are too short for the needed application. In these situations I have found that an older, heavy-gauge metal coat hanger can be used as a substitute. Cut the desired length of wire from the hanger (which can be determined from the existing wires), leaving a little extra which can easily be cut off when the repair is complete. Rough both ends of the wire for about an inch using a coarse file or heavy-grit sandpaper. Fill the hole in the new elbow with heavy viscosity CA glue (green label) and fully insert one end of the wire. Spray with the accelerant, ensuring a secure bond. With the new elbow mounted in the wippen and the wire rising through the slot at the end of the keystick, slide the drop-button down the wire into the key recess to the point of minimum acceptable lost motion. Mark the wire for the correct position of the button, and remove it from the slot. CA glue the button onto the wire in the indicated location. If the button is a bit too loose on the wire, you can wrap the wire with a bit of tape or paper before insertion and gluing. Cut off any excess wire length so that the replacement is the same height as the originals; hanger wire is quite soft and needle nose pliers are all that is needed to snip. If at all possible you may try to use only original wires in the heavily played middle areas of the piano, and install the substitutes in the less used extremes.