Removing Hand Strap Retaining Ring

[Stephen Selby]

Is it hard to remove a rectangular strap retaining ring (photo) from the hand bar on an Anglo? Do the end pins go far in? I need to remove rotting hand straps (Lachenal gold stamped livery) so that I can send them intact to a bookbinder who will make new ones. But I find that the straps wont go back through the retaining ring without snapping.

 

Advice, please?

[Jody Kruskal]

I took mine off years ago and replaced them with a lashing of waxed linen cord. The sharp corner was digging into the base of my thumb. They came off easily. Putting them back so the strap passes through (as it should) might not be as easy, but probably not a problem.

[adrian brown]

Stephen,

 

If you take the ends off the instrument, you can loosen the (usually 3) wood screws that retain the handrests from underneath, by just enough to slip the brass retaining ring out, so that you can get the new straps underneath. I would avoid trying to prise the rings out from under the rest, as you might damage them and the rests and make it difficult to get them back securely.

 

Adrian

[Stephen Selby]

Aybee: Ah! Crafty! I had assumed there were independent drilled holes for the ends of the rings and they were crimped in. Now I see that is not the case.

 

Thanks