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 > June 1997 > 1997.06.03 > 16Prev  Next


Marlowe Player Piano
By Terry Smythe

This morning, I had a look at a Marlowe (Chicago) player piano, serial
#7700.  First impression is a low-end instrument.  The tracker bar has
the standard 88 square ports, and a single horizontally elongated
sustain port, suggesting it may have been equipped with a transposer
which is no longer there.  No theme or soft ports.  A patent date within
the otherwise unmarked spool box suggests the piano was built on or after
1919.  The lower foot pump action is very simple with 2 exhausters and
single full width reservoir across the top, otherwise lots of empty
space.

This is my first exposure to a Marlowe.  Both my Michel and Pierce Piano
Atlas provide very little data.  According to the PPC catalog, it may be
equipped with a Simplex action, but the tracker bar does not have the
trapezoid ports.  Can Simplex actions sometimes have conventional square
hole tracker bars?  I was unable to remove the upper mechanism, so was
unable to verify if the action is a 3-tier unit valve system.

What is the probability this is a Simplex action?  Any risk it might have
unpleasant surprises such as a Shultz action?

I have no interest in this piano for myself.  A friend found it and has
asked for my advice, which in this case seems to be quite limited.

Regards,

Terry

Terry Smythe                   smythe@mts.net
55 Rowand Avenue               smythe@freenet.mb.ca
Winnipeg, MB, Canada  R3J 2N6  (204) 832-3982 (voice/fax)
http://www.winnipeg.freenet.mb.ca/~smythe


(Message sent Tue 3 Jun 1997, 18:34:05 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  Marlowe, Piano, Player

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