Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info

Spring Fundraising Drive In Progress. Please visit our home page to see this and other announcements: https://www.mmdigest.com     Thank you. --Jody

MMD > Archives > May 1999 > 1999.05.30 > 05Prev  Next


Chein PianoLodeon on 50 Hz
By Mike Knudsen

Jody is right.  The Piano Lodeon motor is a simple induction "phono"
shaded-pole type and will indeed run hot and slow.  You can probably
play a whole roll without overheating, and the reduced tempo (by factor
of 5/6) won't spoil the musical rendition by much.

However, the same motor also spins the centrifugal vacuum pump for the
player action, and the suction will be reduced by at least the same
fraction of 5/6, or quite possibly by its square (25/36, around 36%
loss).  And the Lodeon action doesn't have much reserve for reduced
suction power, to put it mildly.

But go ahead, borrow a step-down transformer and try it, with the back
off so you can monitor the motor temperature.  Then sell it to someone
in the Western Hemisphere!

Oops, I just remembered, with the back removed you get no sound
(music?) -- so replace it once you know how long you can safely run
the motor.

Best wishes, Mike Knudsen


(Message sent Mon 31 May 1999, 02:34:46 GMT, from time zone GMT-0400.)

Key Words in Subject:  50, Chein, Hz, PianoLodeon

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page