plate miscasting (was "Fixing Plates"

[centipod at mac.com]

While we're on the subject of plates: I showed this on the Piano  
Forum list, but thought I'd throw it into the mix here for more  
feedback. Below is a Hamburg Model M ca. 1927 in our shop on which  
(according to feedback from the Hamburg factory) the plate was  
miscast "O 170" instead of (as it should read) "M 170". The factory  
had apparently heard of this before. It's 5' 7" or 170 cm, so most  
definitely an M. 

Would the model and length designation would be a separate part of  
the pattern in the moulding process? Or is a plate pattern simply two  
large plate-sized pieces, top and bottom? (I don't know much about  
the mechanics of plate casting). I would assume that a certain number  
of plates like this one were produced before the goof was noticed and  
the pattern re-carved.

I'm curious if anyone has ever seen a plate casting flaw as  
fundamental as this on a NY Steinway (or any other model, for that  
matter)? Imagine what the piano might be worth if it were a coin or a  
stamp  : ) It's hard to imagine there would be a lot of these kinds  
of plate anomalies floating around - plates seem like something so  
carved in, well... iron! 

Sorting out the mystery of this contradictory and confusing plate  
designation has made me more curious about plate casting in general.  
Any observations or insights are welcome.

Allen Wright, RPT
London, UK

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Allen Wright
6 Clay Court, 219 Long Lane
London SE1 4PB
United Kingdom
020 7378 8265 
0780-688-1325 (mobile)


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