Hi Simon,
I think I’ve come to the same conclusion. Last night I ordered brass 300 x 19 x 1.6 mm. I was thinking of bending and attaching as you suggested. With that length and width I might even be able to attach an undercarriage strip to anchor the string ends. It won’t take long to arrive so I’ll think about it some more when I see what l am dealing with.
PS I’ve been unable to source a brass hinge thick enough for the job.