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<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 2:05
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></BODY></HTML>