Damper underlevers

[Jeff Stickney]

     I am rebuilding a 1920's Steinway A which does not have the metal
sockets in the underlevers - the screws that hold the damper wire are
threaded in the wood. It was suggested to me that it would be advisable
to install the sockets to avoid the possibility of the wood splitting
out.  Does anyone have experience installing these sockets ( or problems
with not having istalled them?), and if so, any advice on the details.  I
assume the hole drilled in the flange should slightly smaller than the
socket in order to keep it from rotating or otherwise moving in or out -
so how much smaller?  Thanks for any input on procedure.

Jeff Stickney, RPT
University of Montana
jpage@selway.umt.edu