Beth Ann Carter was wondering what could be wrong with a player piano
that she either cannot pump when using electric, or cannot use electric
when she wants to pump it.  She also mentioned that to pump it she has
to place a piece of cardboard "over" a valve, somewhere.

Not knowing any more than that, I'm going to jump in with both feet and
possibly suggest that the cardboard may be going between the suction
box and the reservoir on the pumps, blocking air for her like the
in-line one-way valve should do.  "Is this the 'valve' you are talking
about?"

If so, why not go down to the local hardware store and buy an in-line
one-way valve used for things in plumbing, like lawn sprinklers and the
like.  They work just great for this application.  There's supposed to
be a one-way valve in the top of some suction boxes, just under the
flanged nipple, but quite often, they don't work.

Now if this isn't the valve you speak of, please let us know by saying
what this valve is supposed to do, like perhaps some kind of a selector
control valve thing(?)

Craig Brougher