Here is a link to the "stitching" process that I spoke of in yester-
day's MMD: http://www.locknstitch.com/

The finished repair is truly ugly, but I'd be inclined to trust these
guys.  Cast-iron welding is more a matter of faith than it ought to be.

I suspect that it might be possible to repair the cracked harp plate
without removing it from the instrument by using the stitching method.
You would use a trick drill jig, and then hammer in the staples.  I'd
like to see it tried sometime.

Mark Kinsler
Lancaster, Ohio