In 1987 I removed a cracked three-quarter size plate from a Gulbransen
for repair.  My brother welded the crack and I restrung the piano, only
for it to crack again.  My brother made a second attempt at welding the
plate with a different type of welding rod for cast iron.  The second
weld has been successful for thirteen years now.

Before installing another plate in your Autopiano, perhaps you should
enquire as to what kind of welding technique was used and if there are
any alternatives.

Ian Sanderson

 [ Hal Davis wrote to me that he never tunes an Autopiano higher than
 [ A=432 Hz.  Maybe it has an inherent weakness in the casting, as
 [ does the Mills Violano piano.  -- Robbie