I would appreciate some advice on a most unusual wind motor governor.
(At least it is to me!)  I am restoring an Angelus upright action with
unit valves.  The wind motor governor has the usual spring attached to
a 3.5-inch square gasketed wooden plate mounted on the top board of the
pneumatic at the front (the flexing end).

Beneath this plate in the centre is attached a small leather covered
block.  It seals against the main inlet leading to the suction chamber
upon full closure.

It is the construction of this block that bewilders me.  It comprises
two 1-1/2-inch square by 1/4-inch thick pieces of wood, with corners
cut off.  The two pieces of wood are attached to one another on two
opposite edges with small pieces of pouch leather.  The top piece has
two thin holes drilled from the edge inwards, one at each side of the
edge, and a U-shaped spring is inserted that goes nearly all the way
across.  The whole assembly is wrapped in a piece of thick leather.

My problem is this: the top piece of wood appears to be broken, almost
exactly in the centre, all the way across.  The spring holds it
together after a fashion.  Because the leather encloses it all it does
not fall apart, but flexes upwards at the break.

My question is fairly obvious: is this by design or do I glue it back
together before reassembly?

Many thanks,

Roger Waring - The Pianola Workshop
Solihull, West Midlands, UK
www.pianola.co.uk