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 2000 > 2000.01.06 > 09Prev  Next


Seeburg Mandolin Rail Attachment
By Brian Smith

Robbie,  you mentioned a Seeburg mandolin attachment that used copper
cylinders suspended on stiff fabric.  This is one I haven't seen.  How
does it work?   Do the copper cylinders have to drop below the hammers
every time or does it somehow come up from underneath?

Brian Smith

 [ Like most of the mandolin attachments installed in vertical pianos,
 [ the assembly is a long rod ("rail") of wood or metal located just
 [ above the hammers.  When the device is switched "on" (by a hand-
 [ lever or a small pneumatic bellows) the rod drops so that the
 [ dangling metal pieces are struck by the hammer (not a good idea!)
 [ or are otherwise moved by the hammer.
 [
 [ The best designs minimize the added thickness between the hammer
 [ and string, so that the jack can let off normally.  Otherwise the
 [ hammer and the action really get a beating!
 [
 [ In the Seeburg piano the total thickness of the two fabric supporting
 [ strips which the hammer strikes is 0.030".  Since it wrinkles
 [ slightly it actually diminishes the hammer throw by about 0.050".
 [ The letoff of the piano action has been adjusted accordingly.  The
 [ copper cylinder is attached by a loop of thin copper wire to the
 [ loop of supporting fabric.  Dangling below the hammer strike line,
 [ it hits the strings only once, so the sound is not really like a
 [ reiterating mandolin.  (Maybe it should be called the "banjo
 [ effect".)  It's much like the common assembly with metal tabs,
 [ except it's much heavier, and hence louder.
 [
 [ I'll photograph the Seeburg assembly and place a description at the
 [ MMD Tech site, http://mmd.foxtail.com/Tech/  Send your photos, folks!
 [
 [ -- Robbie


(Message sent Thu 6 Jan 2000, 18:06:37 GMT, from time zone GMT-0800.)

Key Words in Subject:  Attachment, Mandolin, Rail, Seeburg

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