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 [ cmorgan wrote in 040521 MMDigest:


>> I just purchased a nickelodeon with a metal xylophone in it.
>> When it goes to play the notes on the xylophone, instead of the
>> ball striking it once and then letting the sound resonate, the
>> ball strikes it many times very rapidly in succession.  That is
>> not right, is it?  What might be the problem?  Thanks,  Charlie


Your nickelodeon is playing a reiterating xylophone.  In my opinion,
a glockenspiel sounds far better on a piano.  Xylophones were usually
reserved for band organs.

My "A" roll Seeburg nickelodeon has a single-stoke glockenspiel.
The reiterating effect is caused by the valves that activate your
xylophone.  Most people would find the constant reiterating effect
very hard to listen to.

The single stroke glockenspiel (or xylophone) achieves the reiterating
effect only when notes on the roll are punched in rapid succession.
Therefore, you have much more variety in the music, and it is more
pleasing to hear.

It is possible to re-do the valves so that your nickelodeon xylophone
beaters strike the bars only once.  This would require a complete
change-over in the valves -- a job that is not hard to do, but better
left to someone who knows what he is doing.  Good luck.

George Karpel
Vancouver, B.C., Canada