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MMD > Archives > February 2019 > 2019.02.11 > 01Prev  Next


The Tushinsky Vorsetzers & Their Fates, Part 5
By Jim Miller

Yes, yet another part, this time concerning the No. 3 Tushinsky
Vorsetzer (mine) now up-for-sale on eBay.  After inspecting carefully
the five images allowed us by the seller of the instrument, I've
tentatively concluded certain things.  As relating directly to these
as well as a bit more, I sent through eBay Messaging the following to
the seller, which encapsulates all.

Begin ----

  It is "the brilliant technician Jim Miller" himself writing.  (Thank
you for that nice compliment.  Truly, I wish that I were up to it.)  We,
out here, observe that your/my old instrument is up to "44 Watchers",
presently.  Promising!

  Really though, this writer does not know how any of these might desire
to expend serious sums, for what now must be but a mega-unknown to them,
essentially.  I say this because the lower area and it's contents are
not to be seen in any of the photos provided.  For instance, as a key
question, how much of what was present there originally remains and, of
that, in what condition might it be: playing or inoperable?

  In the image views that are available, the sharper inquiring eye might
perceive that at least five fingers (and likely their linkages, too) are
there _found missing_ in that bass area!  What about those?  (Not good!
Of course, from this source now writing, original replacements might be
had.  From where else might such?)

  Views two and three reveal the tracker bar and spool box area to be
intact, that is excepting for the _two precision adapters_ (see included
photos at the links below) that make possible T-100 roll playback,
without which it being a practical impossibility.  (This writer retains
a pair of remaining originals and again, from where else might
equivalents be found?)

  View four shows all there to be copacetic, except that the tracking
pneumatic (the red one) might now be suffering some leaking/binding
grief; don't know.  View five demonstrates some latter-day tinkering,
"better knowing" little mouse additions, so I suspect, these all being
questionable here as to utility and value.

  These, possibly, as Steuer-Era rebuilding, personage-generated?  And
worse still, some of the lower interior too, as conveyed to me by expert
witness reportage of that time, as having to be altered or re-designed
post determinations of 'defectiveness' (or, some-such similar).  If so
actually, as reported said, then how might such an instrument have
played well enough so as to satisfy task-master Tushinsky, as well as
it's creator and, two gatherings of critical-eared, demanding AMICAns,
way back in those heady, early 'Seventies years?

  Originally, an Operation/Service Manual this writer had created
for Mr. Tushinsky, along with a complete tubing diagram, all serving
to explain and make clear it's various "mysteries of operation."  As
seller, are you offering this too along with the instrument, or no?

  Minus it, any attempting to understand the whole comprehensively,
will surely run-aground fast and hard!  Underneath the most forward
cover panel in the pictured spool box of two views, lays "the brain"
of the thing - a mindbogglingly complex pneumatic circuit changer
(technically, a tri-positioning manifold), upon which the entire
re-performing proposition depends.  So be warned: two switched tubes
and pneumatic "musical" hell might well chime-forth!

  If desiring to obtain the highest price possible for "IT," I suggest
that a bit more explanation be provided to any prospective buyers, these
as to the machine's present completeness or it's lack and, as well,
any future possibilities.  (Of course just as has been done to-date
consistently, simply asking ANY piano technician about these various
matters, surely shall achieve the very needed trick, for as is famously
known and practiced roundly in these modern and improved days, 'penny
foolish' always beats-out 'pound wiseness,' does it not?)

  For improved historical/technical context, one might care to gander at
this following link, there for some deep-treatment information regarding
the Tushinsky Vorsetzers generally and, old No.3 (yours) specifically.
Of course preceding it, are three others of interest too:

  http://www.mmdigest.com/Archives/Digests/201812/2018.12.26.01.html 

  Best of luck to you for a good sale.  (Truly, I hope the Vorsetzer
swallowing dumpster does not claim "IT", along with the two others of
thus far, and counting?)

  Cheers!
  J.M.

End ----

After that, there's really not much more to be added except that I have
included a nice shot of my own, of the two precision machined universal
adapters mentioned, for T-100 Welte roll use.  These are splendidly
designed creatures, and masterfully made by Joe Gaide himself of the
former Cee-Jay Machining Co. long, long ago.

They utilize three pairs of spiral self centering spring wire coils,
made to achieve precise centering of all rolls' cores.  At the dead
end is a nice heavy-duty bearing, and at the right, a special active
coupling requiring of no sighting whatever to engage.  If inspected
carefully, in the spool box view of the photos 1 and 2 on-line, can
be seen it's inserting male part in anodized black, complete with
a friction wheel for ease of turning all past the leader, up to the
start.

Here are handy links going to all of these:

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/OOYAAOSwBfhcIFzH/s-l1600.jpg 
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/jRMAAOSwGD1cIFzT/s-l1600.jpg 
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/sDkAAOSwIS9cIFze/s-l1600.jpg 
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/FFUAAOSwKphcIFzr/s-l1600.jpg 
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/IuQAAOSwg05cIFz3/s-l1600.jpg 

Jim Miller
Las Vegas, Nevada

 [ Precision self-centering T-100 Welte universal roll ends
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/19/02/11/190211_020042_DSCF1160.JPG 


(Message sent Mon 11 Feb 2019, 10:00:42 GMT, from time zone GMT-0800.)

Key Words in Subject:  5, Fates, Part, Their, Tushinsky, Vorsetzers

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