that would be the point of the brass rod... to reinforce the wood. gotta be some reason it broke at that spot. wood getting old maybe a slight ammount of rot, or something like that in the area. just because that spot it broke is now stronger than the wood surrounding it.. what is the strondest part of a chain.. its weakest link, so if the wood surrounding the glue is still weak, its still going to break close to it, the brass pins will reinforce that area going through good wood to reinforce the weaker.