Newer rolls are more tolerant of "out of adjustment" roll carriage
systems than the older delicate rolls. The things to look for in the
rewind sequence are --
1. Some but "minimal" tension on the take up spool controlled by a
friction device applied to the take up spool at the rewind initiation.
2. The tracking system is disabled during rewind by cutting off vacuum
to the tracking control box.
3. With the piano at rest, no vacuum at all, the roll when started with
a few turns on the take up spool, should be relatively centered on the
tracker bar. This ensures the paper is centered on the supply spool
relieving stress to the paper edge. Or, another way is to remove the
wind motor drive chain and move the paper manually to see if the
tracking system is in "the mechanical center" of its operational range
when the paper is centered on the tracker bar, and adjust the mechanics
as necessary.
4. The take up spool, piano at rest, should be centered on the paper
with the paper centered on the tracker bar. This is a mechanical
adjustment to the bearing supports of the take up spool. The take up
spool is slightly larger than the paper roll and the space at the roll
edges should be equal.
5. To adjust the Tempo, mark any roll at 4 foot intervals a least four
times in sequence. Play the roll and adjust the Tempo control so the
time between marks equals 15 seconds. Turn off the piano an note what
the Tempo indicator reads. It should be on Tempo 40, or 4 feet per
minute. Holding the Tempo lever in place, adjust the mechanical slide
as necessary and retest.
Walt Gerber
|