<html> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10 (filtered)"> <style>  </style> </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=Section1> Thank you to those who responded to this question.   After looking at the pictures referenced and reading the posts and archives, I am not sure if what I have here is what is being described. I had my brother-in-law take a picture of the hammer shank so that you could see how it is made. The picture is a bit fuzzy (the camera focused on the back wall instead of the hammer shank), but you can see that there is nothing that looks like a knuckle built into the shank as one of the referenced pictures shows. The shank, knuckle core and flange are all one piece of wood over which the leather has been stretched.   Is this what was called a Thayer knuckle in some of the references or is this a “pear” knuckle as Wim suggested?   I was going to ask some questions about the regulation procedures, but think it might be better first to see if we are all on the same page with what is being discussed.   Thanks again.     Rex Roseman Roseman Piano Tuning     </div> </body> </html>