Hi Robbie,  What a pleasure it has been to start my day reading the MMD
the last week!  Thanks for including me.

We were given our Angelus player by my wife's parents when they moved
from their home about twenty years ago.  At the time we spent $500 (a
lot of dough for us at the time) to get it to play.  But you know how
good a repair of this nature is, and as a result, unless we were
feeling pretty energetic, the player was quiet.

Feeling the pressure of the nineties last fall, my wife and I decided
to adopt a simpler lifestyle.  Our first step to simpler living was to
sell the things we were not using.  First to go would be the player
piano.

After placing an ad, we were lucky in that no one phoned.  You see
while cleaning the piano we dug out some old rolls and gave it another
try -- and had the best time we've had in a long time.  Val and I soon
rationalized that this was kind of like a horizontal stepper exercise
machine and I realized that this was the perfect device to fit a
simpler lifestyle in that one could fix it themselves.  Therefore with
the health benefits and new lifestyle fit we would be foolish to sell
it.

Hmm, along with a simpler lifestyle, we have also taken to watching old
movies and listening to current affairs on the radio.  Does this mean
that our two teenagers are correct, that we are over the hill?

All this leaves me with a rebuilding project, which I am finding really
interesting.  I have purchased both of Arthur Reblitz's books and
reading these has given me the confidence to tackle this project.  That
and the Internet resources I have discovered -- including MMD.

So far I have dismantled the Angelus player and made a list of all the
parts I need.

This unit is not well-documented in the Reblitz book, except that it
is rare and he suggests one choose another make as a first project.
This pumper uses pouches attached to a wire "action" rather then
pneumatics.  For these Reblitz suggests on page 147 that these pouches
be sealed with rubber cement, yet on page 83 he states that pouches
with small bleeds are not sealed.  The bleeds on the primary valves are
.0142 (#79 drill).  On page 85 it is recommended that one replace
celluloid bleeds with brass bleeds.  Looking in the Player Piano Co.
catalogue I noticed that the smallest bleeds are .0310 (#68 drill).

I was wondering if anyone would be kind enough to provide me with some
advice.  Do I seal the pouches and increase the bleeds to #68 drill
size, or should I not seal the pouches and try and salvage the
celluloid bleeds (as I don't know where to buy replacements).  The
approximately 3 x 3 1/2" pouch is backed up on the inside with a  1/8"
thick 2 1/8 x 2 1/2 piece of maple which only leaves about 1/4 to 3/8"
of exposed leather to "leak".

Also, is sealing with mink oil as opposed to rubber cement recommended
for all pouches?

With thanks,
Dana Harrold

 [ Welcome To MMD, Dana.  I think the experienced techs at MMD will
 [ give you encouragement -- the pouch pneumatics are just "different",
 [ that's all!  Do read the MMD Archives about pouch leather and
 [ sealants.  Sometimes not everyone agrees on the methods of rebuild-
 [ ing, so you'll want to experiment cautiously for yourself.  Good
 [ luck with your project!  -- Robbie