Player Piano Problems

[Robin Stevens]

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 Justin...The Player wants a full overhaul or nothing at all. This is a j=
ob
for a experienced Player mechanic who knows all the pit falls in jobs lik=
e
this....DEFINATELY, not a project for a "Newbie"=0D
=0D
If you want to start with Players, cut your teeth on a couple of "Standar=
d
actions"=0D
=0D
Regards=0D
Robin Stevens=0D
 =0D
-------Original Message-------=0D
 =0D
From: Justin Hill=0D
Date: 01/13/06 23:43:10=0D
To: pianotech@ptg.org=0D
Subject: Player Piano Problems=0D
 =0D
I went to visit a player piano today; I'm not a player piano tech but=0D
the owner couldn't find anyone better to look at it.  I went just to=0D
inspect it and get an idea of the condition, warning the owner that=0D
repair work might require a specialist.=0D
 =0D
Right away, I've got a mystery to solve, and a player-piano-newbie=0D
question to ask.  I've uploaded some interior shots of the piano at=0D
http://www.classic-keyboard.com/pages/playerp/html to explain my=0D
mystery.=0D
 =0D
If you take a look at these pictures, you'll see that there are two=0D
pipes exiting at the left of the main chamber in picture 4.  The=0D
upper of these two pipes is disconnected at the other end (picture=0D
5).  Now, not being prepared to dismantle anything at this point I=0D
could only try and push my hand up in that corner and 'feel' for the=0D
place that pipe is supposed to be connected - but I can't find=0D
anything.  The problem is I'm not sure what I should be looking for.=0D
 =0D
Here's the newbie bit; the set of bellows to the right of the roll=0D
mechanism (picture 8): do they drive the roll mechanism, or the other=0D
way around?  And if they drive the roll, is it possible that the=0D
disconnected pipe is why the roll doesn't move at this time?=0D
 =0D
Leaving the pipe as is, the pedals have very little resistance.=0D
Inserting a bung into the pipe, the pedals get up a reasonable-=0D
feeling resistance - but the roll doesn't move.  I've checked the=0D
obvious things like being in play rather than re-roll etc.=0D
 =0D
By the way, the 'control panel' (picture 2) includes two unmarked=0D
buttons at the far left.  I'd like to know what they're for.=0D
 =0D
I'm assuming this is a 'straight' pianola rather than a reproducing=0D
piano and isn't worth a huge amount of money.  Of course I'm probably=0D
wrong.=0D
 =0D
The owner (an old lady) said that the piano was purchased from a=0D
dealer in the early 1960s along with a huge chest of rolls and=0D
played regularly (as a player piano) up to about 15-20 years ago when=0D
it fell out of use.  It hasn't been moved since and is still played=0D
occasionally (manually).  The fault as described to me was 'the roll=0D
doesn't go round any more'.=0D
 =0D
How great would it be if the problem was this disconnected pipe and I=0D
could stick it back in for her?  Obviously the piano is old and=0D
unmaintained and would benefit from a (non-economic) rebuild.=0D
However, she'd be happy if the thing just worked at all.=0D
 =0D
Can anyone shed any light?=0D
 =0D
Thanks,=0D
Justin=0D
_______________________________________________=0D
Pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives=0D
=20
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