Looking for an automat

[Joel Jones]

On 3/8/03 3:52 AM, "Isaac OLEG" <oleg-i@wanadoo.fr> wrote:
Isaac, 
Many years ago I bought a Vorsetzer made by Piano-Corder   The company was
subsequently bought by Yamaha which included the library of tapes.
   The unit had casters and rolled up to the keyboard.   It operated from a
cassette tape to activate push rods covered with felt.    A few adjustments
for height and a clamp under the keybed to hold the unit in place and you
had instant piano playing.
    While there were many students around to do play-in their session
usually lasted only a few hours a day.   I was satisfied with the vorsetzer.
Perhaps there are some of these machines languishing in someone's basement
waiting for a garage sale.  A few ads may be more productive than building
one from scratch. 
    Or, just tune the piano twice a day for a month.
Joel
-- 
Joel A. Jones  RPT
Assistant Director - TEAM 2 00 3
July 2 - 6 Dallas, TX
http://www.ptg.org/conv.htm
jajones2@facstaff.wisc.edu

> Gentle(wo)men,
> 
> I am looking for a good way to build an automat that can play the keys
> of any piano, like the devices used in factories to settle the parts
> before final regulation/voicing.
> 
> I have heard that in the Bechstein factory, pianists are invited (paid
> ?) to play on the new instruments, they are supposed to play in all
> keys, the people from the factory believe with probably good reasons
> that the settling is better when hand made.
> 
> Pianodisk systems seems to push the keys from below, but could they be
> mounted in reverse direction on an adequate support ?
> 
> I've seen a device that works with solenoids, and which is midi
> driven, you install it on a keyboard and it can play, but it is still
> an expansive $3000 or more thing, and I don't even know if it is
> produced yet.
> 
> I've seen a custom made machine that used a sewing machine base, an
> electric motor, and metal pallets that push frankly on a whole bunch
> of keys together, but the system is rather crude as such, and may be
> moved from place to place on the keyboard to have the sharps played
> and all the keys.
> 
> Ach Produktion ...
> 
> Thanks for any idea
> 
> Isaac OLEG
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Isaac OLEG
> 
> Entretien et reparation de pianos.
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