Hello all,  I repaired a 1926 Steck Duo-Art grand piano on-site for
someone.  It had lots of tubing errors and other problems.  All were
resolved.

Problem 1, the main question: Can the Duo-Art play 3-note chords at
Accompaniment 0 level?  On the customer's 1970s "Clair De Lune" roll
there are two important chords on the roll that do not play.  They are
in the lower bass.  Both are played at 0 Accomp. level.  The pedal is
released just before they play and re-activated after they have just
played.  Both chords have 3 notes.

Personally, I don't think these can ever play as I am not aware that
the Duo-Art can play 3-note chords on the '0' Accomp. level.  I thought
it can only play one note, and even then only when the pedal is on.

In desperation, I have increased the 0 level (now too loud at 5.5"
vacuum) but the two chords still do not play.  They will only barely
play if I blank the third note of the chord and even then only if I
press the sustain pedal with my foot.

Is this a coding error or am I going crazy?


Problem 2:  The stack vacuum pressure seems to drop off, instead of
increasing, on Accompaniment level 15.

When I run the increasing volume chords on the test roll (just before
the play / no play section), the following happens: volume and pressure
increase for each chord as expected, but on the last chord (loudest
level 15) the pressure drops and the chord actually sounds softer than
the previous.  When I manually cycle through the levels, the pressure
seems good and I get 34" at level 15.  When I run it through the chord
test, is reaches 26" on the second last chord but does not go to 34"
for the last one; instead it drops back to 24".

The theme levels and chords do not have this problem -- they operate
correctly.  I have tested the accordion gaps, valves, etc., and all
seems fine and works good.  It then became too late and I had to give
it up.

I concluded that the problem is expression box related somehow.  Does
anyone know what could be causing this problem?

Kind regards
Bernt Damm