cracked plate

[richard west]

I have a Steinway M that has had a cracked plate for more than twenty
years and has had no problems with tuning stability.  The crack is in
the topmost strut nearest the rim at the treble end.  I have heard
rumors that there were other Steinways built in the '60s that had the
same problem.  Evidently the pinblock was not fit well such that the
plate was actually compressed/stressed at that strut.  The stress
finally had to be relieved, hence the crack.  The piano has been moved
twice, and tuned regularly and the crack has gradually gotten a bit
worse, but still hasn't caused a problem.  The piano is getting to the
point where major action work is going to have to be done.  I've been
thinking about selling the piano for what I could get, but I know I
couldn't get much.  So I wondered if it would be possible to install a
new plate.  I called Steinway to see if I could buy a finished plate.
Steinway, I was told by Gloria, doesn't sell plates.  Does anyone know
if Kelley (or is it Wickham) sells plates that are ready to install.
Is this a project I should consider?  Given the price of new Steinways,
I can't help but think my M could be salvaged and save the price of a new
one.  I will probably contract the work with a rebuilder that has more
skill in this area than I do, but I'm still not sure it's worth doing.


Richard West
University of Nebraska