Pianotech

The attached pictures are of the bridge of a 1923 S&S model O. Instead of having root and cap, the bass and long bridges appear to be  solid maple right through. What's the best way to renew the bridge top? I am not equipped to remove the plate. 

Do you have false beats?  If not leave be, if so repair with epoxy or remove strings and recap. Yes you can recap without removing the plate in some cases.

To renew the existing bridge, I will typically remove the pins, sand the bridge surface down until the string marks just remain visible, re-carve the notches and repin.  I have usually used Bill Spurlock's "Bridge Repairs for Better Tone" method, which involves seating the pins in epoxy, but next time around I am inclined to coat the pins with McLube, insert them, and then apply thin CA to get as much stability as possible, particularly near the surface of the bridge.  This way the removal of the pins at some point in the future will not be somebody's headache.  Even with the McLube, I would anticipate real stability in terms of bridge performance.

Spurlock's protocol, which can be found in the Journal archives, has much to teach about this process, and I would encourage you to read it.  Conversations in the Journal and in the forums subsequent to the first appearing of Spurlock's article are also helpful, as are more recent online discussions right here in Pianotech.