broken plate

[Stuart & Aimee Balsillie]

Christopher,
A thought on the broken plate problem, does this model use a wedge between
the plate and the subframe assy below the soundboard? if so maybe the wedge
was not inserted or is the flange screwed into the subframe assy? if so the
fit here is very important.Just some ideas.

Stuart Balsillie
Piano Technician
Australia
piano@iaa.com.au

----- Original Message -----
From: Christopher D. Purdy <purdy@oak.cats.ohiou.edu>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 07, 2000 10:08 AM
Subject: broken plate


>
> Hi everyone,
>
> My former student called today to tell me that the plate broke on an older
> Steinway B he is rebuilding.  I talked with him about it and I am positive
> that he was doing things correctly.  I gave him Bob Beck's number in NJ
and
> Bob sez it can't be welded.  Bob is very familiar with these birds and
said
> that it is very common for S&S B's to break like this.  (I can't describe
> the crack accurately.  It's in the webbing starting on the treble side of
> the over-stringing break)
>
> My student, Paul, just had a rebuilder do the soundboard, plate, pinblock
> stuff.  Paul did the action work and the break happened when he was
> chipping/tuning it.  (Again I do not know this rebuilder.  Supposed to
have
> a good reputation).  Either it just happened or the plate was installed
> incorrectly.
>
> So here's the question, who's gonna pay for it?  Paul has insurance so his
> butt is covered.  I just wonder what experiences some of you have had with
> this.  Do S&S B's break plates often?  (I've been tuning twenty years and
> this is a first for me)  Should the rebuilder take responsibility?  Is
Paul
> in the hot seat?  What about the customer?  It belongs to a church and I
> can imagine some very un-church-like language from them.  And finally,
> would anyone like to buy a fourty thousand dollar dining room table?
>
> I think in the end the church will end up with a new B courtesy of the
> insurance company.  I am curious to hear your input though.
>
> chris
>
> -Christopher D. Purdy R.P.T.   School of Music  Ohio University  Athens OH
>
> -purdy@oak.cats.ohiou.edu   (740) 593-1656    fax# (740) 593-1429
>
>
>