Cracked Plate in Steinway B

[David Skolnik]

List-

In response to my previous question regarding a Steinway B with a cracked 
plate, Jack Wyatt asked about its age.  It's from between 1961 and 1917.

Also, Jim Bryant said:

>David;
>  In my opinion the "gap" has nada to do with any crack in the plate.
>'B's have a pinblock which is angled from side to side as well as front to
>back..the most common configuration that I have seen.... With the crack
>radiating from a screw hole I would tend to say that the most probable 
>cause would be
>from trying to pull the plate up to the block with the block screws rather
>than a careful fitting of the plate/block interface which would have 
>resulted in
>a much less stressful fit..
>Jim Bryant (FL)


Jim, what you say makes sense, except I think you mean pulling the block up 
to the plate, or else the plate down to the block, don't you? When I looked 
at it, I wondered if the screw could have been over tightened in some 
way.  It would still leave open the questions as to what, if any effect, 
the gap between the block and flange WOULD  have, upon the distribution of 
stress in the plate, the greater propensity for movement of the block, and 
the advisability or inadvisability of shimming said gap.


David Skolnik