puzzler (bellyrail angle)

[Newton Hunt]

Well, while sitting upon the throne I remembered seeing pictures of
clavichords, harpsichords and early pianos that had strings going about
45 degrees to the keyboard.  

		Newton

> Well, there was once a good reason, but it no longer applies. Even the
> historical instrument people don't really understand this and come up with
> exactly the wrong reasoning (ass-backwards) when they try to explain it.
> As someone very sensible said (HL Mencken) "For every complex problem,
> there is a solution that is simple, neat and wrong." 
> 
> Anyway, use the opportunity to challenge the grey cells. Why angle the 
> bellyrail? Clue: The reason for this little habit goes back a couple of 
> centuries, and ceased to apply early in the 19th Century. [can't expect 
> the piano industry to have caught up yet though]
> 
> Stephen