Baldwin/Hamilton bridle straps

[Jim]

Hi Dianne:

Old hardened bridle tabs can make noise, especially on the old type
bridle wires which did not have the pigtail configuration. A drop of
polyvinyl glue will stop the noise, and will chip off when the time
comes to replace.

You can also get noise from the bridle wire touching the backcheck
wire.

The underfelt color varies according to manufacturer and sometimes
will designate the type of hammer this is.  There may be no
correlation in the meaning of the color from decade to decade. Some
may have used color to designate the hammer density, but this is not
always the case.  Vincent hammers used to always have green
underfelt. Purple or maroon have been used by several hammer makers.

Jim Coleman, Sr.

On Tue, 22 Apr 1997, Dianne Salem wrote:

> Has anyone run into the problem of a Baldwin / Hamilton upright having a
> clicking noise when notes are played -- coming from the bridle strap /
> bridle strap wire connection.  I have been able to eliminate the clicking
> (coming from many notes), but wanted your opinion on exactly what causes it
> at the end of the bridle strap.  You could "flick" the top of the bridle
> strap wire and hear the clicking -- but the wire is firmly grounded. Is it
> that the end of the bridle strap is too stiff??
>
> Also, can anybody tell me what make of Grand Hammers have a light green
> underfelt?  Appreciate it...
>
> Thanks!
> Dianne R. Salem
> Cal State Fullerton
>
>
>