<html><head><style type="text/css"></style></head><body><div style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt"><DIV></DIV> <DIV>Hi Robert,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>That plate was broken when it was designed.  I have had two of them - well maintained - let loose in a house and in a Church - during a service when no one was even near the piano.  Particleboard laminated with steel was and is a poor way to do things.  It wasn't your fault, it was, and is, the fault with companies that see nothing but the bottom line - and how they can make more money - while putting less quality into the instruments.  IMO !<BR> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#0000ff>Steve Grattan</FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#0000ff>Lost Chord Clinic</FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif"><BR><BR> <DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif">----- Original Message ----<BR>From: Robert Payne <payne@netcommander.com><BR>To: pianotech@ptg.org<BR>Sent: Friday, October 5, 2007 5:05:24 PM<BR>Subject: Broken Plate<BR><BR> <STYLE></STYLE> <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></DIV><BR></DIV></div></body></html>