<HTML style="FONT-SIZE: medium; FONT-FAMILY: AGaramond Bold"><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=windows-1251"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1522" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY> <P> <DIV>Israel said: "<FONT size=+0>The Cristofori action does not even remotely resemble the modern piano action. It is really flimsy, uses a parchment hammer, has an intermediate lever as part of the (single) escapement mechanism, I believe that there is no provision for checking... "</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>Israel,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>On the contrary, if you study Cristofori's design, you will note that is has many similarities to a modern action. It DID have a mechanism, (of sorts), for checking. And, he only used the parchment for a very short time and then went to other materials. Although, his action was a "single escapement", it responded far better than later actions that were of the same ilk. He, IMO, was a century ahead of his time, just as Mathuschek was.<G></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>Regards,</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Joe Garrett, R.P.T. (Oregon)</DIV> <DIV>Captain, Tool Police</DIV> <DIV>Squares R I</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <P></P></BODY></HTML>