[Leica] OT: Cracked Contax T2 Film Plate: Kyocera Ceramic, or...?

[rsphotoimages at comcast.net (rsphoto's email)]

Whilst in the hotel room cleaning my R8 , R9, 28-90, 70-190, G9 and T2  
following a Grand Canyon visit (all language fails me with respect to  
the Grand Canyon), I rewound the film in the T2, opened it to remove  
the cassette and found the film pressure plate to be broken, more or  
less along its length.  Not linear; sort of at a irregular, slight  
lateral angle.

I know that the shutter button is synthetic sapphire.  Is the pressure  
plate ceramic or other?  I think it's ceramic, because of Kyocera's  
use in other cameras (RTS series).

Puzzle:  How did it crack?

No accidents; camera was wrapped in a wool sock in my Domke canvas bag  
with the other cameras and lenses.  No suspicious damage or faults in  
the other cameras or lenses.

   No "memorable moments" with respect to bag handling.  (I NEVER  
check my camera bag; always carry on and keep with me).

Two possibilities:  Barometric pressure or ambient temp.  That's all I  
came up with.

We went from Phoenix airport to Flagstaff (about 6,500-7000 feet) then  
next morning up to the top of Snow Bowl chair lift (11,500 feet).   
Temperatures were mild for the area, 75-80 degrees.

Then to the Grand Canyon, around 7,000 feet plus, temps in the 70's.   
The T2 buzzed away merrily with no apparent problems.

When I loaded the T2 - if the pressure plate was cracked I sure didn't  
see any damage - it loaded automatically, smoothly and the counter  
worked perfectly through 36 frames of Kodak Portra 400.

One clue will be the appearance of the negs when I get them back; a   
linear scratch of the back of the neg or nothing?

So:

Do I Scotch Tape it together (yes, Scotch Tape) until the tape becomes  
a problem, re-tape and use it until the camera finally dies, or what?

It's probably the best, most reliable, amazingly sharp (up to 11x14)  
camera I've ever owned.  Are it's days numbered?

You doesn't has ta be a Contax expert on this one.  Just give me some  
ideas, for which I thank you now.


Cheers to all,

Bob