Wee Aeolian Spinet Player

[Terry Beckingham]

Hi Gang,

I just returned from tuning the smallest piano that I have ever seen. It was
an Aeolian Spinet "PIANOLA" with only 63 keys, and a "Ukelano" player
mechanism. The only number available as a possible serial number is 36319,
which according to the Pierce Piano Atlas would make it 1980. The piano was
purchased new in 1984 and has never been tuned until today. After my
experience today, I can see why. The only saving grace was that it had only
two string unisons.

This piano is so small that the player mechanism blocks access to the tuning
pin area. It appears that one has to remove the player mechanism in order to
tune it. With the help of the owner, I was able to remove some of the screws
holding the player and ease it back enough that I could get my tuning hammer
with the shortest head onto the pins. There was also a rinky-tink rail which
was in the way. Only one end of this could be unscrewed and then it was held
out of the way so I could get the tuning hammer on the pins. It was a two
person operation to tune this thing.

Has anyone else ever come across one of these, and if so how did you go
about tuning it? I'd be interested to know as I am supposed to go back in 3
months to do it all over again. The pitch as anywhere from 50 to 100 cents
flat. The piano is badly out of regulation, but I can't do anything about
that without removing the player mechanism.

I'll be going off list tomorrow for the next week, so any replies after
tonight should be sent to me off list.

Thanks in advance

Terry Beckingham
Associate Member PTG