Orchestrion Lamps etc.
By Philip Jamison
I noted Ron Yost's comments on his Philips orchestrion. The motors often seem missing on the european machines, maybe because they're 220 volts, 50-cycle and have been replaced with American types. Such is the case with my Popper. I plan to use an 1120 rpm motor, 1/8 hp from another piano. Mike Kitner recalled seeing a european motor reading around 1300 rpm, but varying pulley size should compensate.
You are certainly right about the engineering (over) and the weight of the stack (leaden). In short, the German machines are great.
Regarding lamps, I wrote to Siegfried Wendel in Germany (he copied the Hupfeld Phonolist Violina) about copies, but he said he couldn't help, so I placed a notice in an upcoming M.B.S. bulletin for the loan of a light to copy. I located a foundry that can do the job for $100 to $150 each (minus beaded shade). I would be happy to work with anyone else seeking lamps. I believe they were purchased by the German manufacturers from lamp companies out of stock, and could fit on many machines interchangeably.
Philip Jamison
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(Message sent Fri 10 May 1996, 01:48:46 GMT, from time zone GMT.) |
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