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MMD > Archives > June 2004 > 2004.06.03 > 05Prev  Next


Grand Piano With Player Action Above the Keys
By Diane deTar

Hi All.  We just had an early ex-player brought into the shop for
a Pianomation retrofit.  The piano is a 1911 Knabe grand and the
entire player stack sat on the keyboard with capstans on the middle
of the keys for the player fingers to depress.  These keys are the
longest ones I've ever seen.  The top spool shelf opened like a Duo-Art
for roll insertion.

Does anyone know what the make of the player would have been?  I'm
just curious.  I worked on a Broadwood Player from England in 1977 and
it was similar; I think that the stack was a Standard.  It was only a
65-note and all I did was retube it and make it an 88-note.  Other than
that I really don't remember too much about it.  Also, I think that it
was a foot-pump, as all of the lyre and pedal rods are new.

Thanks,

Diane DeTar
San Diego, CA


(Message sent Thu 3 Jun 2004, 23:59:15 GMT, from time zone GMT-0700.)

Key Words in Subject:  Above, Action, Grand, Keys, Piano, Player

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