<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" = http-equiv=Content-Type> <META content="MSHTML 5.00.2314.1000" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#b8b8b8> <DIV><FONT size=4>Willem,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>The String coil, (for lack of a better term), is = normal. Back then, they didn't use "straightened" wire. Every one of that vintage, = that I have done, had this same phenomana(?). As to why you can't get the plate = out is PROBABLY because the case was built AROUND the plate, to add = stability and strength. Chickering did that a lot in the 1850-70 squares. Big can of = worms! If you would like a detailed discourse, call me on a land = line.</FONT></DIV> <DIV>Best regards, </DIV> <DIV>Joe Garrett, R.P.T. (aka "Square")</DIV> <DIV>P.S. I will be discussing the foibles of Square Grand Rebuilding at = Reno. See ya there.</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: = 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A href="mailto:Wimblees@AOL.COM" = title=Wimblees@AOL.COM>Wimblees@AOL.COM</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = href="mailto:Pianotech@ptg.org" title=Pianotech@ptg.org>Pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Friday, April 27, 2001 = 3:29 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> removing plate on = S&S Square</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT size=2>I am = restringing a S&S Steinway Square grand, circa 1860. When I took of the <BR>bass = strings, they coiled up as if they were brand new. I figured someone = had <BR>twisted these babies several times, and that is why they still had = a lot of <BR>coil in them. But then today I took the rest of the strings = off, and the same <BR>thing happened The longest strings had an enormous amount = of coil left in <BR>them. I have never seen this before, even in 1900's = Steinway, or any other <BR>piano. Any one know why this might be? <BR><BR>I am = having a problem getting the plate out. All the screws out, but it seems <BR>to = be stuck, especially on the right side. I did get a wood shim out from <BR>underneath the rim, where the plate recesses under the rim. There = is another <BR>shim I have to try to get out. But other than that, I = can't see what's <BR>holding the plate down. <BR><BR>Anyone with some helpful = advice? <BR><BR>Willem </FONT></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>