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Hamburg Steinway Model "O" Welte-Mignon
By Mark Reinhart

In answer to Herb Lindahl's questions in 090507 MMDigest:

> 1. What type of Welte music rolls would this system have
> originally used?  (Green, Red, etc.)

1. If the piano was built after 1922/3 it could have played either
T-100 red rolls or T-98 green rolls.  Before that time it would have
been T-100 red rolls only.  You can probably determine which it
originally played if the tracker box is original except the Ampico
tracker bar then it was T-98 green rolls.  If the tracker box was
significantly altered -- since red rolls paper width was just over
12-3/4 inches -- then it was originally for T-100 red rolls.


> 2. Does a tubing schematic exist for this early Welte system?

2. There is no tubing schematic for either system.  If the original
tubing is present it should be either brass if early or lead if later.
The routing is thus prefixed.


> 3. Are these pianos desirable from a collector's standpoint?

3. Yes indeed, there are many that admire the playing of T-100 red
or T-98 green rolls.

> 4. Does anyone have an interest in this piano, or better yet,
> does anyone have experience with servicing or rebuilding one?

4. I know there is interest in these pianos. There are few restorers
that have tackled either red or green pianos but those that have are
pleased with the results.

Not asked but the original remote pump should be restored and used
since they run much more quietly than the newer turbine pumps.

I wish you well with your wonderful piano, the tone and scale of
those Steinway-Welte pianos makes them a pleasure when they play.
The library of recorded music is exceptional.

Good luck,
Mark Reinhart - from West Virginia, living with two Steinway-Welte
grands, a Steinway-Welte Kabinett piano, and a Welte-Mignon Vorsetzer.


(Message sent Tue 12 May 2009, 01:09:25 GMT, from time zone GMT-0400.)

Key Words in Subject:  Hamburg, Model, O, Steinway, Welte-Mignon

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