<WBR>If I recall, the plate was designed either by a airplane engineer, or someone who knew something about airplane design. It was modeled, I think, after the wings.  I guess they thought if the wings of a plance can hold all that fuel, and still stay up, that same material should be able withhold the tension of all those strings. <div style="CLEAR: both"><br> Willem (Wim) Blees, RPT<br> Piano Tuner/Technician<br> Honolulu, HI<br> Author of <br> The Business of Piano Tuning<br> available from Potter Press<br> www.pianotuning.com</div> <br> <br> -----Original Message-----<br> From: Robert Payne <payne@netcommander.com><br> To: Pianotech List <pianotech@ptg.org><br> Sent: Fri, 5 Oct 2007 2:15 pm<br> Subject: Re: Broken Plate<br> <br> <div id=AOLMsgPart_2_e3c0d20f-c061-4967-a379-f8a438a0bce6> <div><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thanks to all for your quick replies. I'll sleep better tonight. I'm glad to know that this beast has a fancy name. Strataphonic String Panel. Steel and fiber board. What were they smoking? I mean thinking. Anyway, thanks again. I think I found a great name for a '60's garage band. " THE STRATAPHONICS "</FONT></div> <div><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </div> <div><FONT face=Arial size=2>Blessings to all,</FONT></div> <div><FONT face=Arial size=2>Robert Payne</FONT></div> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <div style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </div> <div style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=tomtuner@verizon.net href="mailto:tomtuner@verizon.net">Tom Driscoll</A> </div> <div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech List</A> </div> <div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Friday, October 05, 2007 6:10 PM</div> <div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Broken Plate</div> <div><br> </div> <div><FONT face=Arial size=2>Robert,</FONT></div> <div><FONT face=Arial size=2>    I worked for a dealer that carried Currier just before they dumped. (1980? ) The sales literature mentioned an experimental plate,but I never did get to see one.</FONT></div> <div><FONT face=Arial size=2>    This from Pianoworld and "The Piano Book"</FONT></div> <div><FONT face=Arial size=2>    </FONT></div> <div><FONT face=Arial size=2>    <FONT face=Verdana>According to The Piano Book by Larry fine, in 1981 Currier introduced a Strataphonic String Panel which was laminated steel and medium density fiberboard. This replaced the tradional cast iron plate. </FONT></FONT></div> <div><FONT face=Arial size=2>    </FONT></div> <div><FONT face=Arial size=2>    <A href="http://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=000953;p=0" target=_blank>http://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=000953;p=0</A></FONT></div> <div><FONT face=Arial size=2>    </FONT></div> <div><FONT face=Arial size=2>This link brings you to a thread on pianoworld descibing your problem.</FONT></div> <div><FONT face=Arial size=2>    To your question --In my opinion you did nothing wrong and thank your stars you have an understanding client.</FONT></div> <div><FONT face=Arial size=2>    This design was perhaps a good example of well intentioned "Thinking outside the box" but apparently  a failure on more than just this one instrument.</FONT></div> <div><FONT face=Arial size=2>    Tom Driscoll</FONT></div> <div><FONT face=Arial size=2>    </FONT></div> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <div style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </div> <div style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=payne@netcommander.com href="mailto:payne@netcommander.com">Robert Payne</A> </div> <div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </div> <div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Friday, October 05, 2007 5:05 PM</div> <div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Broken Plate</div> <div><br> </div> <div><FONT face=Arial size=2>Greetings to all,</FONT></div> <div><FONT face=Arial size=2>I am a 30 year veteran of our craft but a newbie to the tech list. I need your help. I have seen broken plates that were already broken when I got there, but for the first time one broke during a tuning, ( following a large pitch raise ). The piano was a 20+ year old Currier Studio that appeared to be in near perfect condition. The customer said that it hadn't been tuned since it was new. It was around 150 cents flat (maybe as much as 200 in spots). First I pulled it to 440 with no overpull. After that it was about 50 to 60 cents low. Next I did a normal pitch raise using the appropriate overpull. After fixing a few strays I was ready to tune. Just as I was setting the A4 to 440 I heard this tremendous BAMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM ! ! ! I  ABOUT HAD A HEART ATTACK. The entire middle section went completely dead.Of course broken plate was the first thing that came to mind, but what I found was really strange to me. The plate appeared to be laminated steel. I have never seen or heard of such a thing. One of the laminates had separated and was pushing out on the strings. What can anyone tell me about these laminated plates ? Was this catastrophe entirely my fault or was there a way to avoid this ? Is it possible or feasible to attempt a repair ? For future reference, what other manufacturers have used this kind of plate ?</FONT></div> <div><FONT face=Arial size=2>The customer was extremely gracious and insisted that it wasn't my fault, but I can't help but feel responsible for not recognizing the potential danger in attempting such a large pitch raise on this particular instrument. ( I have successfully raised pitch by that much many many times during my career.) Anyway, thanks for your input. I'm looking forward to the verdict.</FONT></div> <div><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </div> <div><FONT face=Arial size=2>Robert Payne, Rpt.   Dallas Chapter</FONT></div> </BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></div> <div class="AOLPromoFooter"> <hr style="margin-top:10px;" /> Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free <a href="http://o.aolcdn.com/cdn.webmail.aol.com/mailtour/aol/en-us/index.htm?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000970" target="_blank">AOL Mail</a>!<br/> </div>