Stodart/Pitch raising

Two bits of good news:

First, the Stodart did not explode, implode, or otherwise self-destruct after the first pitch raising.

The wrestplank insert, tubes, rails and pressure bars seem to be secure.

So far.

Second, the instrument sang for the first time tonight in many, many years.

My educated guess is that this instrument has been in a state of disrepair for at least 100 years, silent and unplayable.

There remains a great deal more work to be done, specifically, on the action and damper system, however, no words can express the degree of gratification I experienced by playing little more than a few arpeggios and chords on this fascinating piece of musical history.