Introduction
By Dave Keates
Hello,
I would like to introduce myself as a new subscriber to the Mechanical Music Digest! I will have a lot of questions at first, but hope to contribute as well.
First, I am a novice when it comes to piano repair and have a lot to learn. I learn quickly and have a good understanding of mechanics and electronics (I work as an electronics engineering tech.) and wish to repair my Chickering and Sons piano including the Stoddard Ampico expression player within. Through the advice of a piano technician, I have started with repairs on the piano and action. I feel I have a good understanding of the action after having replaced the brittle and broken brass flange rails (I had to take the whole thing apart and put it back together). Well, it works much better now, and I even have it regulated! I feel that a player will not do much good without a properly working piano action.
The Stoddard Ampico player and related parts is another story. A well meaning previous owner decided to do some work on the player, and well, I received the piano and player along with a few boxes of extra parts... some broken. I think all the major stuff is there, (wind motor, stack, tracker bar...etc), but I am not sure what parts, if any, I am missing. And what about the parts in the box? I am not sure what they are or where they go. I believe I could figure out where they go if only knew what their function was for. So this is my first quest, to ask someone to perhaps give me an idea of what major parts that make up a Stoddard Ampico expression player piano, and where these parts are placed in the piano (i.e. by the left side of stack, lower left of pump to control....). Perhaps I could post what I have and someone tell me what's missing? The last thing I want to do is to tear apart more pieces before I know what I have. I have purchased some books from the Vestal Press as well as Mr. Reblitz "Player Piano Servicing and Rebuilding". Both are very good books and have given me a start.
The piano sounds great. I would love to restore my family heirloom back to its original condition so my family may enjoy it as my grandparents did.
Any suggestions? Words of encouragement are always welcome!
Dave Keates
Pollock Pines, CA |
(Message sent Sat 26 Oct 1996, 02:21:00 GMT, from time zone GMT-0700.) |
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