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 2007 > 2007.10.19 > 04Prev  Next


Installing a Player Action in Old Upright Piano
By Steve Bentley

Installing player action in old upright piano appears to be a job of
"nightmare" proportions.  The piano virtually has to be taken apart
and then care taken to get everything perfectly in line.  The tone
may be altered as well.

I made a player action for a non-player console and, unknown at the
time, started my own nightmare.

I drilled the key bed for each of the 88 notes for the push rods.
Two aluminum racks were made each to hold 44 pistons.  Many holes were
drilled in the racks for centering the cylinders and securing them.
They were off-set to achieve the correct spacing, so some push rods
were straight, others offset.

The cylinders were 1-1/2" brass.  The pistons and cylinder head were
made of Delrin (a combination of Teflon and Nylon) with just a "good
fit" for the pistons and grooves made for "O" rings and rod seal, etc.

When machining the Delrin, the last few tool cuts have to be done very
easy, otherwise the material heats up and will shrink on cooling,
giving too much clearance.   The brass tubing is very difficult to cut
accurately without damage.  Not forgetting in all this, there are 88
of them to make!

All the pistons have to be individually installed on the racks, under
the keybed.  If I was making another unit today, this would not be so.
The system operates on around 20 inches H2O vacuum.  The piano, having
little depth, has the roll frame hung under the keybed with the
governor and wind motor behind, all with their respective linkages
to be made.

The second piano I purchased was a "genuine" player!

See some photos on the MMD web site at
http://mmd.foxtail.com/Gallery/Pictures/bentleyPiston.html

Steve Bentley
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada


(Message sent Fri 19 Oct 2007, 22:20:38 GMT, from time zone GMT-0700.)

Key Words in Subject:  Action, Installing, Old, Piano, Player, Upright

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