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MMD > Archives > February 2018 > 2018.02.21 > 02Prev  Next


Rebuilding Pratt-Read 6-point Wind Motor
By Doug Vensel

I am trying to rebuild my Pratt & Read player action, Model F,
Style 52, Serial # 58413, but I'm having a heck of a time with
the 6-point wind motor.  It was rebuilt once several years ago by
a local technician who has since passed away.

It's an odd motor with 6 pneumatics that are 3" by 3-1/2" each,
and pairs opposite each other are joined by a thin board that is
screwed on to each opposing pneumatic.  They sort of "teeter-totter"
back and forth to work.

Anyway, I tried doing it myself but evidently something was changed
at some point because nothing lines up.  I'm perplexed because it
doesn't make sense that each pneumatic has a hinge when there's this
board connecting the opposing pneumatics and with a pivoting point
mounted to the center of the main motor block.  You can imagine that
this center point acts as the center of the teeter totter.

But I can't get things to line up after I recovered the pneumatics.
I suspect there is no hinge and that the moveable board is actually
floating on the larger thin board.  It's the only way it would work.

Does anyone have a profile view of this motor or has anyone rebuilt one
before and can give me a few pointers?  I can send a drawing of the
thing.

Thanks so much, folks.  I can do the regular motors just fine but this
one's got me in a tizzy!  The wooden block is not equal angles either.
I wish I could figure this out.  Maybe someone has pictures of one they
could send?  Or notes on how to do it?

Doug Vensel

 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/18/02/21/180221_153709_Motor.jpg 
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/18/02/21/180221_153709_20180221_183046.jpg 
 [   View from the side showing how they pivot.
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/18/02/21/180221_153709_20180221_183022.jpg 
 [   Pivots with temporary caulk to test block.
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/18/02/21/180221_153709_20180221_182929.jpg 

 [ MMD articles about the Pratt-Read player system are indexed at
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Archives/KWIC/P/pratt.html  and
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Archives/KWIC/P/pratt_read.html  -- Robbie


(Message sent Wed 21 Feb 2018, 23:37:09 GMT, from time zone GMT-0800.)

Key Words in Subject:  6-point, Motor, Pratt-Read, Rebuilding, Wind

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