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
MMD > Archives > January 2004 > 2004.01.30 > 05Prev  Next


"Easy To Pump" Player Piano
By Douglas Henderson

Hello MMD readers,  I agree that "easy to pump" is a misnomer.
What the pianolist wants is a responsive reaction from the player,
and all such instruments when restored will be harder to pedal when
compared to the typical large equalizer actions.  Players which react
to the operator usually have small equalizers, such as the Simplex
and Aeolian models.

However, if you are accenting with impulses and playing to the rhythm
of the music, the result is a responsive player and, admittedly, this
can be a strain when tackling complex music.  When I perform my rolls
of Linmannia-Marseillaise, Mephisto Waltz or Blue Monday on the '29
Reprotone in public concerts, the rapid hammer rail graduation,
accent pedal strokes and the 'coasting' in-between the triplets (etc.),
will make for a lot of pushing on the part of the roll interpreter.
By the same token, an electric reproducing player with lever controls
can accomplish all of this with mere finger manipulations.  However,
the Duo-Art grand stays home, and I get the same musical results from
a pedal instrument when on the road.

When pedaled in relation to the musical rhythm, a responsive player
requires less foot strokes than what I call "King Kong at the Pianola".

A "pumper" is an antique fire engine, by the way.  True, you "pump" the
pedals for a Player-Piano, but you are really operating exhausters for
the equalizer(s).  This is true for a vacuum instrument like the Pianola.
A pipe organ, on the other hand, runs on compressed air, so has
bellows and a reservoir.

You have to "push" a responsive player to achieve what the levers will
do on a good Licensee, Artrio-Angelus or the ubiquitous Duo-Art player,
electrically-powered with a vacuum rotary pump.

Regards,
Douglas Henderson - Artcraft Music Rolls
Wiscasset, Maine
http://wiscasset.nnei.net/artcraft/


(Message sent Fri 30 Jan 2004, 16:47:26 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  Easy, Piano, Player, Pump

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