Jim Heyworth wrote in 020821 MMDigest:

> This is typical of a cast-iron bedplate.  Most likely the surface
> is ribbed.  The gold paint was used when they shifted to cast iron
> bedplates to make them resemble brass as had been used in the past.
> This is the norm.  The surface is likely ribbed in an east-west
> direction as well.

Very true.  But to add the confusion, I have a Bremond orchestral
cylinder box with a solid brass bedplate, but it is ribbed like a
cast-iron one.  Now why would a fine maker deliberately make his
genuine brass bedplate look like a cheaper cast iron job?

I can only think that such a large expanse of flat brass would have
looked boring, and would show every speck of dirt and corrosion, so
Bremond ribbed it.  The ribbing is somewhat finer than in most
cast-iron bedplates.

Mike Knudsen