Piano 'tapes'

[Mattpred]

This is my first post on here and I'm new to pianos so excuse any ignorance or stupidity I show in regards to pianos
but here's my question:
what are the 'tapes' in a piano?
I'm not sure if it's specific to uprights or what, but I've recently bought a grey market and the dealer said he was 'changing the tapes because they were a bit worn'.
So thankyou for any of your help

[Gill the Piano]

He means 'bridle tapes'; they comprise a strip of linen with a plastic tag on the end and their purpose is to assist the hammer back to its resting position after the blow. The linen often gets brittle and snaps in older pianos, not usually in newer ones.

[Barrie Heaton]

I'm not sure if it's specific to uprights or what, but I've recently bought a grey market and the dealer said he was 'changing the tapes because they were a bit worn'.

I would also ask the dealer what state the loops are in, as the piano is a "grey market" (Yamaha I assume ) one, if the tapes are going then the loops will not be far behind. That is more expensive to fix down the road.

Barrie,

[vernon]

On older ones the leather tape ends PERISH AND disintegrate.
To replace a set of tape ends is a minor job done with no dismantling of the mechanism.. To replace a set of tapes is more complex ( and expensive) as it involves dismantling the action

[Mattpred]

Thanks for the info.
I'm pretty sure he means tapes (not just ends) because he has sent pictures of mine (U3) and the hammers were being taken off? Unless that's just something that happens with the ends being done. As i said, i'm pretty new to all this so i'm sorry if i sound vague and stupid
The dealer is a reputable one- i'm in australia- and he is giving me a 10 year Parts & labour warranty so hopefully that's decent.
Also, not expecting the best piano money can buy because were getting it for $2395AUD which is about 1222 pounds? Not sure which currency you guys are working with, sorry.
But yes, this is really just a starting piano for me so my mum bought it for my birthday

Thanks again for all the info and is their anything else i should ask him about condition?