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MMD > Archives > December 2019 > 2019.12.06 > 09Prev  Next


Most Responsive Foot-pumped Player Pianos
By John Grant

In MMD 19.12.02, Ken Snowden inquires about most responsive pumpers.
A _lot_ depends on the quality of the restoration, but assuming an
optimum rebuild, I think it's a toss-up between the Aeolians that have
the very small reservoir and the double valve Standards that have the
so-called "crash valve" built into the (usually) bass-end reservoir.

The spring in this accenting unit is less powerful than the one in
the treble-end reservoir.  Under "normal" (steady) pumping, both
reservoirs "give and take" with the alternating foot strokes.  When
you give either pedal a sharp "kick", the crash valve, which can be
described as an in-line, flow-dependent choker valve, closes and
momentarily isolates that reservoir from the pneumatic "circuit",
keeping it from collapsing further, while allowing the full power of
the power stroke to be passed to the stack and the more powerfully
sprung reservoir, resulting in a sharply accented note or chord.

Best results require close "eye-foot" coordination, but the best
pianolists have mastered it.

John Grant


(Message sent Fri 6 Dec 2019, 07:00:00 GMT, from time zone GMT-0800.)

Key Words in Subject:  Foot-pumped, Most, Pianos, Player, Responsive

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