Player Pump Installation

[kenneth.gerler]

My two cents worth.

I have been working with a gentleman that rebuilds Players for 30 years.  IF
this player has not been rebuilt and has had a vacuum cleaner attached to
make it play, BEFORE investing anything, using the vacuum OR the "pumper"
pedals, see if the piano will play a test roll. If you don't have a test
roll, see if a tech near you has one to lend. If you have to "pump like mad"
on the pedals to get just a "little bit of operation" out of the roll, the
customer may not be happy AFTER you install the "proper" vacuum motor.

Automatic re-roll requires a bit of work in addition and would definitely be
something considered so rolls are not destroyed.

Ken Gerler

Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2003 19:45:02 -0800
From: "Patrick C.Poulson" <pcpoulso@pacbell.net>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Subject: Player Pump Installation
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Good evening all: I will be going out to inspect a player piano tomorrow =
with the prospect of installing a motor on the player action. The piano =
currently has an Electrolux vacuum cleaner connected to the player =
system. Yikes! Some unknown "genius" installed this Electrolux, =
oblivious to the fact that when it is running you can hardly hear the =
piano! I also suspect that a vacuum cleaner does not create the proper =
level of vacuum, and may be overworking the system.  In any event, the =
client wants me to look over the piano and possibly install the correct =
motor, the one that Schaff sells.  I would appreciate any pointers on =
this job - the kit comes with installation directions, of course, but it =
would be nice to know of any potential difficulties in advance. Also, =
what about the automatic reroll unit? Do you usually install both =
together?=20
Thanks,=20
Patrick C. Poulson
Registered Piano Technician
Piano Technicians Guild