Jody,  I found your web site by searching on orchestrion.  I have had
plans in the works to build a "G" scale electronic orchestrion for a
few years now, the circuitry is designed, but I have not been able to
get back to it due to other activities and the loss of my workshop.
I will be moving into a new house with a much larger garage and intend
to resume work on it in about 6 months.

I have a new "G" spool frame, miles of trackerbar tubing, and was last
working on a "quiet" suction box.  The trackerbar tubing terminates at
small vacuum switches.  I don't need much airflow, just a steady 10-12
inch of water vacuum source.

Since this will use an electronic synthesizer, much the same as the
early transistorized home organs of the 70's, and I don't plan on
playing it above normal indoor listening levels, vacuum pump noise must
be inaudible.  A vacuum cleaner type motor with an adjustable voltage
source is where I left off and seems to be the quietest so far.  If you
have any ideas on this, I would appreciate hearing them.

I wanted to use optical detection of the holes instead of vacuum
detection, but I was concerned about the note timing being different
if I do, and the fact that the paper used for music rolls not being
very opaque.  Using optical detection would also require making a new
tracker bar, but would eliminate the vacuum motor noise problem.

Regards,

Peter Noeth

 [ Welcome aboard, Peter.  Other MMDers are also building roll
 [ readers like you describe, and I hope you can make contact
 [ with them.  You might be able use a rebuilt air-motor as a
 [ vacuum pump, instead of a turbine.  -- Robbie