Plate Crosspiece

[Jim]

Again Joel:

I have never heard of any serious damage occurring when the cross peice
was removed.  However the explanation I have heard for its existence is
that it helps give support for the much heavier portion of the plate on
the curved side when the piano is on its side and being moved.  When
one considersd the jolts that a piano experiences during a move, this
must help some.

One time some eager show people moved the Steinway D across stage over a
fold in a rug.  The rear leg plate chipped loose and the piano tail came
crashing down.  The tuning went out horribly.  There was enough of the
matching leg plates left to support the piano if it was not moved. But,I
had to tune it twice to stabilize it before Show that night. This
showed me what a sudden jolt could do to a piano.  It could have been
much worse.  I suppose the cross bar does something toward keeping the
plate from shifting a little sideways while in transit.

Jim Coleman, Sr.


On Thu, 26 Sep 1996, Joel Rappaport wrote:

> Here is a question for anyone about the crossbar or crosspiece on a 9'
> grand - specifically a Steinway, but it could be other designs, also.
> In the PianoTech Archives are several mentions about this removable
> piece of the Steinway plate, but no mention about cracking plates
> because of removal.  Has anyone had specific damage from taking this
> piece out for an extended time?  Does anyone at Steinway have any horror
> stories to relate?
> --Joel
>
>
>