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OK OK OK....
Just got it...
PIANOPHILE INC.....a supply house....interesting.....

Wow you guys are harsh!
Valiant means brave, and I think anyone trying to fix their own piano is just that! It seems like some would prefer to think of this person as stupid.


I guess I've made so many stupid mistakes in my life I can't help but feel a little sympathetic.

I think youall missed the big picture. As the piano is played, the let off screw is slowly rotated by the pull of the tie. This will automatically fine tune the let off over time, compensating for wear.
The type of tie and location on the let off eye are critical.
Anyway, who needs bridal tapes unless you want to replace the action after removal? Pianos function just fine without them.
More than likely the person who did this realized that something was really wrong after he pulled the action and removed what was left of the originals and then tried to replace the action - creative at least.

Haha, Funny Gene!

I Dunno about actions functioning just fine without straps. More than once I've used straps to help hammers return on worn or poorly designed actions. The picture is a hoot, though.

Actually, I have an upright action model and just tried the twist tie repair. Believe it or not it kinda worked! (emphasis on kinda)

Gene: The bridle tapes *do* make a difference in the feel of repetition. Jim Ellis published his in-depth look at bridle tapes in the journal years ago and proved that they have an effect on repetition. Also, the action will feel sloppier without them.

There was a time when people were claiming that the only function of the tape was to hold up the wippens during action removal. This was even taught at some convention classes.

Well Bob, maybe you would like to have a look at this very strange and wonderful set-up by Schwander –Herrburger in 1868……

No bridal tape and a horizontal back check…… ha……. really something,……. and it plays well too…….. light and fast. There are about 15 pictures total there.

http://picasaweb.google.com/silverwoodpianos/HerrburrgerSchwanderRareAction#5194077692926526834

it is the only one I have ever seen in 37 yrs. of piano work...... a rare one for sure……

www.silverwoodpianos.com

Well, I certainly can't be TO serious now, can I Bob?

Another action with no bridal strap (I understand it was designed for player pianos): http://www.ptgcolumbus.org/files/page_pics_Staib.html

Check the article in this journal about that design: http://www.ptgcolumbus.org/files/Buckeye Backcheck June 2006.pdf

And there was apparently a grand action created by these people: http://www.ptgcolumbus.org/files/page_pics_StaibG.html

Back to normal actions...

Why do modern upright actions have bridle straps? For easier action removal? Were they added to assist putting the hammer back in place for better repetition?

An error in the matrix... please carry on

Does the Fandrich action have bridals?

I asked google, apparently that action has no bridals:

http://www.dreams.org/staff/composer/music/piano/fandrich-action/

I have seen an action that just had a rail behind the jacks instead of bridle straps. When the action came out, the jacks were held forward at a point where they would go over the butt felt when the action was replaced.

If the bridle straps have a noticeable effect on repetition, it would be noticed on all the pianos that have broken straps.

It does have a noticeable affect. It is more noticeable under certain playing situations such as playing slowly and during certain types of repetitious playing.

The repetition spring that connects the top of the jack to the catcher shank prevents the jack tops from dropping under the hammer butts. It also keeps a continuous mechanical connection between the player and the hammer.

If you can diagnose a broken bridle strap by playing, without removing the front board, more power to you. I cannot, and I do nor know anyone who can.

Do this experiment:

1. Unhook one of the bridle tapes.
2. Move that hammer and a neighbor to the strings
3. Release the hammers
4. See which one gets back to rest position more quickly.

They also keep the hammers from getting as far ahead of the jacks as would occur if there were no tape.

Sorry, I cannot do that without looking at the action, so it does not count. Besides, there is too much crud on top of my upright.

Sounds like MY piano!

There are many adjustments that would be difficult to diagnose on a grand action just by playing, but that does not mean they are not important or relevent.