•I need information on how to adjust the reroll brake system in the drawer of an Ampico B. The problem is that the music roll stops when the snubber is activated but it does not continue to reroll unless momentarily hand assisted. Lester Wolff [ The brake is described on page 49 of the Ampico Servic...

•In regard to the Ampico Model B reroll adjustment, if you value your rolls, you will disconnect the brake entirely, and tighten them by hand. I learned this from an Ampico technician who worked at the factory. You might also check the lubrication of the take-up spool bearings. If it does not start ...

•In MMD 150429, Lester Wolff seeks advice on adjusting the Ampico B reroll brake. From his description, it sounds as if the actual brake (accurately described by Robbie in reference to the 1929 Service Manual, page 49 as a "snubber type band brake") is operating correctly. The likely problem is on t...

•[ Ref. Tom Binnall in 160304 MMDigest: Stop the production -- do not use aluminum! Ampico had a brass band around the drum for a reason: aluminum grabs the brake band and brass does not. That is a simple way to put it. Don Teach Shreveport, Louisiana

•Too late -- the brake drums are all finished. I'm puzzled that Bob Streicher (my sincere apology for the incorrect spelling in my previous email) used aluminum for one drum, but made the other solid brass. If anyone sprays silicone around pianos, say on a caster, it will wind up in the pin block. I...

•Don Teach wrote in 160305 MMDigest: > Ampico had a brass band around the drum for a reason: > aluminum grabs the brake band and brass does not. The Ampico "B" brake drums are described on pages 46 and 47 of the Ampico 1929 Service Manual: "The music roll brake is a fabric band engaging a brake-drum...

•I believe the issue with the Ampico B brake drums may be more with the finish of the material and not the material itself. Many years ago I commissioned several "play brakes" (the ones on the supply spool axle) make from aluminum, but with an anodized black finish, which is very hard and smooth. Th...

•Robbie's picture shows the brake drum before the fracture occurs: [ Music roll brake drum in Ampico B drawer [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/16/03/06/160306_205130_Music_Roll_Brake_Drum.jpg Here are two drums after fracture: [ Ampico B drag brake drum, brass split due to pot metal expansion [...

•Hi All, Here's a diagram and a 'see-through' picture of the forward roll brake drums that I'm having manufactured. They are being made out of brass. The depth of the hollowed out section is 0.720". The samples of the rewind brake drum are being shipped to me today. I estimate that the cost for a se...

•Nickel, aluminum and brass have virtually identical coefficients of sliding friction. I did some research _before_ I made the brake drums. Opinions are fine -- everyone has one -- I prefer facts. The drums I made are machined on a Monarch EE tool room lathe, in such a manner as to insure concentric...

•Hi All, Even though I've worked on literally thousands of player pianos and read every service manual I could get my hands on, I have never yet come up with or read an accurately descriptive explanation of how to adjust the forward roll or rewind friction brakes. The question is: How Tight Is Just ...

•I had a piano many years ago with a pneumatic rewind friction brake. When you shifted to rewind a little pneumatic collapsed, pressing a pad against the take up spool. Such a fancy mechanism for a simple task. If I recall correctly, the action was a Kindler and Collins. The piano was a Needham. Eri...

•It does not really matter how many numbers you can read on the tension of friction brakes. What the factory did does not matter, either. It is not the same today after 80 years of playing, or even 80 years of sitting there not being played. Also, you certainly do not want the factory's tension on t...

•An old player rebuilder back in New Jersey once told me to adjust the brake so that it's "tight enough to be loose, and loose enough to be tight". I got the idea. Arthur Marino

•Hi All. Well, on the brake tension thing, I repeat myself: In 40 years of having upright players I _always_ remove the lower brake and I never tear a roll. Unless you rewind very slowly, any friction from a lower brake, unless you rewind very slowly, will tear a brittle roll. You can tighten the ro...

•I have an Ampico B piano that is missing the music roll brake control valve assembly, mounted at the right rear corner of the spoolbox. This is the device that "feels" the thickness of the top spool. As the paper diameter on the top spool gets smaller, a needle valve gradually leaks more atmosphere...

•Tom Ahearn has succeeded in causing me to make a production run of 20 sets of brake drums for the Ampico B drawer. They will be aluminum, and fashioned as if having been made by Bob Striker, to his specs. The cost per set is $165.00, including shipping within the USA, with additional actual charges...

•Hi All, As mentioned a few weeks ago, I now have the Ampico 'B' Forward Roll and Reroll Brake Drums in stock. They are available for $99.00 for the set plus $6.95 USPS Priority shipping. The Reroll Brake Drum is made out of aluminum. The Forward Roll Brake Drum is made out of brass. See http://www...

•I too have Ampico B brake drums for sale. Mine are both aluminum, and include brass tipped set screws so as not to mar the shaft on which they are installed. Also an Allen wrench to install them is included. The price is $48 for both, shipping included. Tom Binnall Seattle, Washington, USA tomwa007...

•Brake loosened, problem solved. Thank you. This is what makes this group great! Donald Cochrane