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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Rob,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I do plan on returning to the scene to share some
of these responses with the client. I'll try to take some pictures at that time.
Thanks for your response.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Robert </FONT></DIV>
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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=rrg@unlv.nevada.edu href="mailto:rrg@unlv.nevada.edu">Rob & Helen
Goodale</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 9:14
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Broken Plate</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>WOW! That's quite a tale. I'm not
certain what you mean by "laminated". Could you post a few pictures of
this? I'm not certain if there is any tuning proceedure that could have
prevented this. I've restrung many pianos and gone from no tension to
full tension in a day without a hint of trouble. The one thing that
comes to mind right off is perhaps some plate bolts/screws were loose.
Checking for tighness to prevent any shifting may have been a good idea.
In any case make no mistake, it isn't your fault. These things just
happen.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I have discussed plate repairs on this list
several times and don't particularly want to hash it again but I will say that
the "Lock N' Stitch" system works excellent. Check the list archieves on
the topic and also look at <A
href="http://www.locknstitch.com/">http://www.locknstitch.com/</A>
I've used the system and it is very impressive and reliable for piano
plates.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Rob Goodale, RPT</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Las Vegas, NV</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
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<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></BODY></HTML>