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MMD > Archives > October 2021 > 2021.10.21 > 03Prev  Next


The Tushinsky Vorsetzers & Their Fates, Part 6
By Jim Miller

The ever-continuing series now continues ...

Only a day-or-so previously it was that I'd posted a continued item
titled "Joseph Tushinsky's Welte-Mignon Roll Changer." Dutifully and
helpfully, our Editor included as clarifying reference, a link leading
to MMD reader/contributor Richard Stibbons' submission, it titled
"Joseph Tushinsky's Vorsetzer" dated Oct. 17, 2002.

Of it, the first paragraph repeats much of what is known already to
many here and, yes, it's present maker does agree with his opinion,
that it was a "remarkable machine." In the second paragraph matters
become a bit-more dicey, as to ultimate accuracy and correctness of
opinionation.

Yes, the thing was conceived and begun in the 'Sixties -- late in 1969,
to be and was delivered two years later. And, also that as regarding
this statement: "... I recall another MMD contributor who was involved
in the project reported that they couldn't find the necessary Ampico
control levers so they cast replicas from solid gold."

By this one, this writer finds himself completely baffled! There were no
'others' involved whatsoever, and no "Ampico control levers" to be found
anywhere in or on it plus, if there had been, they certainly would not
have been fashioned of such a precious metal. The only thing I can
conclude is that Mr. Stibbons got my project and instrument conflated
with some other equally interesting one. Really, we would like to know
which "MMD contributor involved" this might have been.

Then we have: "It would be very interesting to learn how the problems
of building this complicated, multi-standard pneumatic instrument were
tackled. Can anyone provide further information or maybe even some
pictures?" It would be, would it not? So, why not ask the very one who
was actually responsible for the advent of the Tri-re-enacting chimera?

In defense of Mr. Stibbons, though, it might be that he never knew who
it was, although Tom Steuer in his various discussions of/and activities
with it, did not exactly play coy about making clarity of this
nformational bit.

As additive still-more was our appended Editor's contribution, which
I'll firm-up some factually for The Record:

[ Steuer's Vorsetzer shared a common Duo-Art action stack and pump
[ amongst separate Ampico, Duo-Art and Welte expression modules.
[ The pneumatic switches were a big challenge! -- Robbie

Yes, "Steuer's Vorsetzer" was and did just as described however, the
original cross-valve stack of three was to be replaced later by another,
it featuring only two tiers and having the later German style of
long-and-narrow key pneumatics. The secondary valves were novelly
horizontal; the primaries not winded by separately-regulated vacuum
supplies. Said primaries were operated by narrow on-scale 'puffer' type
lifters; so that any one might be replaced sans tear-down, directly from
any uncovered front.

The then-orphaned cross-valve stack was repurposed as the valve
stack for "Opus 2", the heretofore unspoken-of "Press-board Vorsetzer"
(It never ends!) which fate, directly after myself, was to be owned by
bevies of succeeding attorneys, with but one mere unattorning owner
sandwiched in-between, who also happens to be an MMD reader/contributor
active here.

To finish, yes, the three-position sliding manifold which controlled
all aspects of the chimerical creation, was "a big challenge" but, it
and all else got done, J.S.T. paid J.M.M., and thus relative matters
were set to prove but pleasantest, heavenly contentment thereafter,
then-to-now!

That should do it. If I've left anything out or, made inadvertent
misstatements of fact, I'm sure I'll be hearing about it.

To close this number I'll add that I am thinking of creating a
flow-chart of The Tushinsky Vorsetzers' advents, dates and known
present locations, such for inclusion here so that no mistakes in some
future research project, say as might be conducted a century from now
as relating thereto, could possibly be made -- The Record demanding
_no less!_

Jim Miller
Las Vegas, Nevada

 [ Previous MMDigest articles in this series are indexed at
 [ https://www.mmdigest.com/Archives/KWIC/T/tushinsky.html 
 [ -- Robbie


(Message sent Wed 20 Oct 2021, 22:51:45 GMT, from time zone GMT-0700.)

Key Words in Subject:  6, Fates, Part, Their, Tushinsky, Vorsetzers

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