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<DIV>In a message dated 12/7/03 11:09:18 PM Eastern Standard Time, Cramer@Br=
andonU.CA writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue =
2px solid"><FONT face=Arial>Here is a crack in the frame of the 1912 "B" I=
mentioned some time ago.<BR> <BR>You will notice it runs from the scre=
w-hole along the strut on one <BR>side, and to the first tuning-pin of F2 on=
the other.</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
<DIV>Hi, Mark, and colleagues -</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>First of all, thanks for a very nice photo file!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The crack you describe and show is nearly identical with one in a 'B' i=
n my care from the same vintage. This might indicate something a bit a=
miss with the castings at that point in time. (However, I can't recall=
other examples from my 35 years of rebuilding experience.) The one in=
my care is due for a rebuild some time soon, but it is remarkably well pres=
erved for its age. It is perfectly stable as is. I, like you, ho=
pe it will not be worsened by the rebuilding process. I have a few exp=
eriences with broken plates, all of which ended happily. And this type=
of break seems less worrisome than any of the others I've encountered.</DIV=
>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Do please keep us informed as to your progress and outcome!</DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 face="Lucida Handwriting" size=5 FAMILY="SCRIPT" P=
TSIZE="16"></FONT><FONT lang=0 face="Lucida Handwriting" color=#0000=
00 size=3 FAMILY="SCRIPT" PTSIZE="11">- Tom McNeil -</FONT><FONT lang=
=0 face="Lucida Handwriting" color=#000000 size=5 FAMILY="SCRIPT" =
PTSIZE="16"><BR></FONT><FONT lang=0 face=Castellar color=#008080 siz=
e=5 FAMILY="SERIF" PTSIZE="16">V</FONT><FONT lang=0 face=Castellar=
color=#008080 size=4 FAMILY="SERIF" PTSIZE="14">ermont </FONT><FONT=
lang=0 face=Castellar color=#008080 size=5 FAMILY="SERIF" PTSIZE=
="16">P</FONT><FONT lang=0 face=Castellar color=#008080 size=4 FAM=
ILY="SERIF" PTSIZE="14">iano </FONT><FONT lang=0 face=Castellar colo=
r=#008080 size=5 FAMILY="SERIF" PTSIZE="16">R</FONT><FONT lang=0 f=
ace=Castellar color=#008080 size=4 FAMILY="SERIF" PTSIZE="14">esto=
rations</FONT><FONT lang=0 face=Arial color=#008080 size=2 FAMILY=
="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"><BR></FONT><FONT lang=0 face=Arial color=
=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"><BR><I>"To the intell=
igent man or woman, life appears infinitely mysterious, but the stupid have =
an answer for every question." </I>- Edward Abbey<BR><BR><BR></FONT></DIV></=
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