<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.6000.16587" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY id=role_body style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Arial" bottomMargin=7 leftMargin=7 topMargin=7 rightMargin=7><FONT id=role_document face=Arial color=#000000 size=2> <DIV>Hi, Ron, et al -</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I've encountered failures of those Baldwin string supports (counter bearing bars) in at least four pianos in as many decades.  To be fair, I've also seen several that had not failed, yet.  Since my first one failed just after I'd restrung it, I've made it my practice to replace them with solid brass half-round (0.5" x 0.25") whenever restringing one of those pianos.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The failing parts are original, I'm quite sure.  Their shape, an inverted V in cross section stamped out of brass plate about 0.1" thick, would be difficult to replicate.  And who would want to replicate the bad idea anyway?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I took some digital photos of the last one of those that came through the shop about a year ago.  But I can't remember where I filed them!  If I come to them, I'll post.  The half-round replacements are easy to make, look very nice and work beautifully.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT lang=0 face=Arial size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10">~ Tom McNeil ~<BR>Vermont Piano Restorations<BR>VermontPiano.com<BR><BR>346 Camp Street<BR>Barre, VT 05641<BR>(802) 476-7072</FONT></DIV></FONT><BR><BR><BR><DIV><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">See AOL's <A title="http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004" href="http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004" target="_blank">top rated recipes</A> and <A title="http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aoltop00030000000003" href="http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aoltop00030000000003" target="_blank">easy ways to stay in shape</A> for winter.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>