I was tuning a Lester player piano shortly after 9/11 when the plate
exploded in the high treble area.  It was a pitch raise tuning and
I was on my third go 'round in tuning it.

It turned out that the metal strut (the one even with the keyframe)
had broken.  There would have been no way to see this as the piano
action was in the piano and the strut was in a place that wasn't
visible.  I have run across another Lester with the same problem.
Also, I have come across several Gulbransens that have had broken
plates in the area right behind the pedals on the bottom of the plate.

The only other broken plate that I have seen was in a Western Electric.
I know that Violanos have a problem with plates breaking and saw one
for sale two years ago with a big crack down the center.

Anyway, the reason for writing to the MMD is that I don't know as
I would want another Lester plate to replace the broken one.

Diane DeTar
La Mesa, California