Steven Lewis wrote: > noticed that after the hammer has checked, if you hold the hammer > with your hand in position so it won't fall back and release the key, and the wippen > falls all the way back down, if there is slack still in the bridle strap, then the > strap does no good at all in regards to helping the hammer come back to position... The bridle wire is bent so the strap is taught when the hammer is half way to the string, 24 mm or 7/8". Checking should be at 15 mm or 5/8". The bridle strap functions to give the hammer a tug when the shank is near vertical and it is the fall of the wippen that provides the tug. Actions will function without the strap but rapid repetition will be adversely effected. Try doing without it on a good well regulated instrument like a Yamaha or Steinway and yo will find performance degradation. Some of us don't see as well as most people and find the tacks nearly impossible to handle easily. Newton
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