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 > May 2017 > 2017.05.31 > 03Prev  Next


Artrio-Angelus Tracker Bar Ports
By Paul Rumpf

I have taken a slight interest in the Artrio Angelus.  The reference
to the US patent 1168691 gives a good insight into the system.  I also
have a roll, no. 8030, "My Baby's Arms", played by R. O. Erlebach.

According to the patent, the allocation of expression ports on the
tracker is uneven.  The only expression on the bass side is the snake
bites, whereas on the treble, there are two ports to the left of the
snake bites, and another ports to the right of the snake bites.

However, examination of the roll shows that there are only four rows
of punchings to the right of the treble snake bites.

I have a Recordo system and this has the 98-hole tracker.  The table
below gives some data using the terminology of counting in from each
end of the tracker to get the numbers.

Port	Recordo  	Themodist	Artrio

B1	Bass Hammer	N/A      	Used singly
B2	N/A      	N/A      	Rewind (with B1)
B3	Loud Pedal	Loud Pedal	Loud pedal
B4	N/A      	Snake bite	Snake bite
B5	Rewind   	Snake bite	Snake bite

T0	N/A      	N/A      	Accomp
T1	Treble Hammer	Hammer Rail?	Accomp
T2	1st Inten	N/A      	Accomp
T3	2nd Inten	N/A      	Accomp
T4	3rd Inten	Snake bite	Snake bite
T5	4th Inten.	Snake bite	Snake bite

From B1 to T1 there are 98 holes on the Recordo.

The scales I have seen in the PPCo 1983/5 catalog give the functions
for the Artrio.  There are 100 functions, but if the snake bites take
up two hole rows, then there should be effectively 102 hole rows punched
on an Artrio roll.

This is too wide.  A roll can take only 100 rows.  The PPCo catalog
says in one part there are 85 playing notes but further on says 84
playing notes.  I think the figure is 84.

In the roll I have, there are only four places through the roll where
hole B1 is punched.  If this is an accompaniment port, then the other
accompaniment ports are not punched on the roll I have.

Without looking too closely at the roll, it appears that extensive use
of the treble snake bites has been used and my guess is that the theme
system has been used to set the treble playing level and the bass level
is set at minimum for the whole roll, except for four small sections
(about 2 inch each).

So is the hole spacing less than 1/9-inch for the treble expression
hole spacing?  Could be, but given the Wilcox and White company used
the Themodist system, it is hard to believe that the hole spacing to
the edges of the snake bite perforations was non-standard.  That would
leave the edge space to have six holes located where the standard
spacing would give only five.

To give the same edge clearance, for six holes to go where five would
go would give a hole spacing of 0.089 inch ((1/9) /5 *4).  To put five
holes where four previously were would give a spacing of 0.083 inch.
Looks like I'm not the only one a bit confused.

I also note that I think it was David Krall who made the Artrio his
specialty.  There was some attempt to find an Artrio collector in
Australia.  I do know of the person referred to and I did contact him
recently to give him the roll I have.  Unfortunately, communication was
difficult and to date not much progress has been had.  It is not clear
if this guy still has the Angelus grand piano.

Paul Rumpf
Melbourne, Australia

 [ The familiar accenting device using "snake bites" in the music roll
 [ was called "Themodist" by Aeolian, "Melodant" by Wilcox & White,
 [ and elsewhere it was called "Solodant".  See image at the link below.

 [ Artrio-Angeles 7512, Verdi-Liszt: Rigoletto Paraphrase, Ethel Leginska
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/17/05/31/170531_211422_AA7512b.png 


(Message sent Wed 31 May 2017, 11:56:03 GMT, from time zone GMT.)

Key Words in Subject:  Artrio-Angelus, Bar, Ports, Tracker

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