Roll Tracking Problem
By Karl Ellison
I'm cross posting this from the PIPORG-L list. It might be neighborly of us to provide them with a name of a restorer in Nevada, or further advice than what I've proffered.
> Date: Mon, 2 Dec 1996 18:44:41 -0800
> From: "Mark S. Towne" <mstowne@ix.netcom.com>
> Subject: Lauter-Humane Player Piano (non-organic)
>
> I have a quick question regarding a player piano question.
>
> A neighbor of mine obtained a 1914 Lauter-Humane Player Piano recently.
> The piano is not tracking the roll properly, and the roll shifts to the
> right. There is a narrow metal bar connected to a bellows on the left
> side of the roll mechanism. Pushing the bar to the left re-aligns the
> roll over the correct vacuum-holes.
>
> Can anyone help with a solution to this, or perhaps know of somebody
> that can respond to me with some help.
>
> Thanks and regards,
>
> Mark Towne
> Las Vegas, NV
Your neighbor may need to have a _player piano_ technician or rebuilder take a look at the Tracker mechanism. The problem may be in the tracker unit: the thing that detects the four side tracker holes and realigns (tracks) the paper in the opposite direction to keep it centered.
Check the simple stuff first:
1) Does it work with some rolls but not others? Old rolls with soft, damaged edges will cause false signals to the tracker unit.
2) Is the top spool's brake adjusted tight enough such that there's enough tension on the roll when it's played to hold it against the tracker bar firmly? To fix this only requires a small screw driver, and should be obvious to see.
3) Are the tubes which run from the tracker bar to the tracker unit bad? Be suspicious of lead tubing, and be careful -- they crack if you look at them the wrong way, causing false signals sent to the unit.
4) Can you see any obstructions or binding in the simple linkage between the tracker and the spoolbox mechanics?
There's probably more I can't think of now, but if these items are solid, something's possibly let go in the tracker, which is not terribly complicated to have fixed. Check your phone book, or call around to good piano stores for names of rebuilders in your area.
K a r l B. E l l i s o n
Ashland, Massachusetts U.S.A.
KBEllison@aol.com
http://members.aol.com/kbellison/kbe.html |
(Message sent Tue 3 Dec 1996, 13:11:32 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.) |
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