Nicely written, JimJack! While I have yet to read the Ellis article, I think that as long as the term 'ancillary' is used, other things will "fall" into perspective. Sorry for play on words. Whether it be cars or pianos, we know that various components and methods are not included for -our- benefit; they are there either because they are required, or, they make a difference in efficiency at the -factory- level. In The Beginning: Picture the first vertical action intended for production instead of prototype. At the factory level, actions are not built in the pianos. At some point in production, the back, sides, keys/frame and other components come together. Suppose for a moment there were no bridle/bridal straps, action tapes, or martingale ribbons. Getting a total or partially assembled action into the piano would be time-consuming, and likely result in many broken parts -- even at the hands of experienced workers. Even transporting actions (often not in the same building, or even same town/country) to the piano would pose damage potential. If vertical actions began originally began life without straps, I propose that it wouldn't take long for someone to come up with an idea to make things more efficient. Enter bridle straps to save the day. This thought could be continued to the other recent thread, the felt strip ahead on the balance rail in S&S. However, I haven't thought it through, therefore offer no comments. At 11:07 AM 10/3/99 -0400, JimRPT wrote: > One of the ancillary beenfits from bridle straps is that the repetition of a >given hammer will be more 'positive' with bridle strap, properly regulated, >attached. That having been said the main 'design function' of the bridle is >simply to keep the jacks from falling under the butt felts and making >reinstallation of an upright action problematical. [cut] Jim Harvey, RPT Greenwood, SC harvey@greenwood.net ________________________ -- someone who's been in the field too long.
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