I had an interesting experience with the Telectric mechanism about 18
years ago. A friend of mine offered the roll playing unit to me for a
very reasonable price. It came with about 10 brass rolls loaded in
cartridges. Unfortunately, the piano nor the keyboard solenoids were
available. I purchased it with the thought of connecting it to my
5-rank pipe organ.
After cleaning and inspecting the unit I discovered that the motor
which drove the music roll was burned out. So, knowing that I had to
either repair it or throw it out, I dug into the motor and found the
problem. A commutator wire was burned. I respliced the wire,
assembled the motor, and powered it up. It ran well. The
electro/mechanical governor did its digital on/off thing to keep the
motor in speed.
I connected the 65 contacts to the relay of my organ and inserted a
roll. I think it was called Maurillo. What a sound! It made my organ
sing. I then tried "Pretty Baby," "King Cotton", and some Faust tunes
I can't seem to find anywhere else. What an experience. Whenever
"March of the Ulhans" played my three-year old daughter would dance up
and down. Quite enjoyable.
The rolls were of different lengths so I became proficient at splicing
the thin brass and soldering two small rolls together to make a
longer-lasting roll. The rolls were protected by a cylindrical case.
Even way back then they knew that the software would have to be
protected.
I used the machine a few years and decided to sell it to someone in
Buffalo, NY. It was a well-built machine and will last a long time, I
am sure.
Andy LaTorre
LaTorre Orgue Mecanique
PO Box 1479
Cullowhee, NC 28723
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