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 > September 2006 > 2006.09.09 > 06Prev  Next


Player Piano Notes That Barely Play
By Pete Knobloch

I wanted to say that I agree with Jim Jelinek about the state of the
cloth on the newer Aeolian players.  These players can still give many
years of enjoyment if the cloth is replaced, even though they are not
the best.

Well, Niels, I guess we aren't thinking about the same player.  When
you talk about a late Aeolian, I think about the 1960-1975 player.
I wasn't able to view the pictures but with your comment about the
stacks sealed with pneumatic cloth and the stack above the keys, you
must have an older Aeolian 1925-1935 I guess.  That is great.

Something that worries me is that it has been rebuilt.  I have seen
cases where the customer said it was completely rebuilt.  Further
investigation indicates that it surly was, but it would have been best
if portions of the player were never touched.  I am talking about the
pouches and valves.  You talked about four of the valves that didn't
work.  Put a hose on the nipples of these valves and use your mouth
and see if the bleed is more than the other valves that work.  If it
is, you have a leak and will probably need to open up the stack.
Maybe a portion of the pouch wasn't glued down properly or is torn.

As far as the motor slowing down, I don't know.  It isn't your motor
since it is hard to turn when sealing the exhaust line.  Like you
said, it could be the regulator collapsing completely while pumping.
I wonder if the spring on the tempo regulator is missing or too loose?
I have no other suggestions.

I would like to say that as a larger load is put on the air motor,
the regulator pneumatic will close more.  This seems backward if you
are thinking about the air moving in the regulator.  What you should
be thinking about is the spring tension against the pneumatic as it
closes.  The spring exerts more tension as it is elongated and this
happens when the pneumatic closes and causes more power to be exerted
on the motor.

It sounds like you have an aptitude for mechanical things so with
enough investigation and elimination, you will solve the problem.

Pete Knobloch
Tempe, Arizona


(Message sent Sat 9 Sep 2006, 16:58:25 GMT, from time zone GMT-0700.)

Key Words in Subject:  Barely, Notes, Piano, Play, Player, That

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