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 > October 2011 > 2011.10.20 > 03Prev  Next


Welte Licensee Player Action Problem
By David Perry

I am writing to ask for constructive advice regarding the Welte
(Licensee) player action.  This particular type of player is
relatively rare here in the UK, although I believe somewhat more
common in the USA and perhaps elsewhere.  Hence there are few
player-owners in this country to whom I can turn for first-hand
practical knowledge and advice of this system, and I am hoping that
there will be MMDers, perhaps in the USA, who will be able to comment
from their own first-hand knowledge and practical experience.

My Welte (Licensee) action is the upright version, housed in a
relatively modest Waddington piano.  It was overhauled by a previous
owner and has been playing reasonably well until recently when, after
finishing and re-winding a roll, it then simply refused to play.

Testing the pump shows some 30" of vacuum being produced, which
seems adequate to me.  "Play" and "Re-roll" both work perfectly from
a mechanical viewpoint and all is well with the wind motor and its
governor.  However, none of the notes respond at all as the roll
unwinds and testing shows the entire expression mechanism plus the
stack itself to be bereft of vacuum, although the two modulator
pneumatics (supplied directly from the gate box) respond when actuated
by allowing air into their control line.

The failure has the characteristics of a faulty main action cut-off
valve but, having pored over the official technical service manual and
its associated tubing diagram, I cannot seem to find evidence of the
existence of such a valve (though there must surely be one).

I would appreciate advice from anyone who can confirm the existence of
a cut-off valve in the Licensee action and its precise location -- or,
alternatively, any other practical advice on what may be the fault and
how I might best approach its rectification.

With thanks in advance, and with apologies for what I am sure will be
seen by many as a naive enquiry.

David Perry, UK


(Message sent Thu 20 Oct 2011, 12:02:45 GMT, from time zone GMT-0700.)

Key Words in Subject:  Action, Licensee, Player, Problem, Welte

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