Hello,  My husband and I are repairing an Aeolian player piano which
was damaged in a flood and sat in about one foot of water.  A pencil
marking under the valve blocks dates the player to 1981.  The upper
parts are fine, but some lower bellows need recovering and the electric
suction box needs replacing.

This is what confuses us: the top of the original suction box has four
valves, a 3/4" diameter tube, a 1/4" elbow tube, and a slide valve rod.
The replacement motor which we have is the Deluxe Suction Box from
Player Piano Co. which includes on-off switch, volume knob and rewind
speed adjustment.  The new suction box only has one 3/4" diameter tube
coming out of the top.

We are inquiring if and how we should take the assembly off of the old
box and fit it onto the new box so the piano can be controlled as it
was originally intended or if the new electronic volume and speed
controls will work better.  Please write in if you have experience
or an opinion on this topic.

We would also appreciate any information on removing the water line
from the cabinet.

Thank you very much in advance for your advice!

Debbie and Tom Owens