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 > August 2003 > 2003.08.05 > 10Prev  Next


Leather for Bellows
By Bruce Clark

I mentioned earlier that I used kangaroo hide leather back in the
1960s to recover two Ampico pumps.  The reason for this: rubber cloth
of that era was not of good quality and wore out within a very short
time -- within a year it was full of holes.  We did not have much
choice and decided to use leather on the Ampico pumps.  The pumps we
recovered in leather in the 1960's are still in excellent condition
and are still in use today.

I also noticed that Wurlitzer used leather in many of its pumps on
band organs and nickelodeons.

In 1994 when we restored another Ampico we used new rubber cloth
because we could not obtain kangaroo leather.  Again we found that
the rubber cloth was failing within a year and a half.

The pump in our 1920 Seeburg is still working with its original rubber
bellows cloth, with no signs of leaks or wear.  Hopefully bellows cloth
made today is of the same quality?

Bruce Clark


(Message sent Tue 5 Aug 2003, 13:26:02 GMT, from time zone GMT-0700.)

Key Words in Subject:  Bellows, Leather

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