<HTML><HEAD> <META charset=US-ASCII http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1106" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff"> <DIV>Greetings, </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>         Is there any way to view exactly how stringing a piano effects the stress on the harp plate? For example, if you had an unstrung plate and only strung the bass would it have any compressive or tensile stress effect/changes on the high treble section of that plate and visa-versa ; stringing only the high treble...effects bass section of plate?  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>          What if you only strung the center, would that have any effect on either bass or treble end or both? How can I get an idea of what are those stresses are and is there any way they can be viewed graphically or measured throughout the casting? </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>           Is the only way we know that the stresses are present is by how the piano behaves during a pitch raise? And how do we separate/differentiate what forces are happening in the plate, as opposed to what stresses are absorbed by the bridges and the force they are either releiving or transferring off the plate to themselves or elsewhere in the instrument, i.e. transfered to the sound board and/or case and/or rim? Do piano companies' R&D have a way of testing these things? If so how?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Thanks in advance,</DIV> <DIV>Julia Gottshall</DIV> <DIV>Reading, PA</DIV><BR><BR><BR><DIV><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">See what's free at <A title="http://www.aol.com?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000503" href="http://www.aol.com?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000503" target="_blank">AOL.com</A>. </FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>