I saw a mention of a Deagan Unifon yesterday, and It brought back
memories of my restoration of one of these instruments.  This
particular one did not have the keyboard, but was connected to a
piano/band organ.  I don't remember what kind of band organ it was,
but I remember it had flute pipes and some percussion.

The previous owner had used some switch leaves, (probably military
surplus, from the look of them) which were operated by the piano
abstracts, as I remember.  These switches were well deteriorated and
nonfunctional.  I got a good price on Cherry Micro Switches, and used
these mounted on a board just in front of the abstracts and operated in
the same way as the others.  The board was small enough so that the
fall board and its associated parts would fit.


I remember that one of the songs on the roll with that band organ was
"The Old Oaken Bucket", and it was loud!  If I remember correctly, the
strikers were ordinary door bells of that time period with the bell and
its mount cut off.  This left the magnets, the switch and the striker.
I suspect that a modern day door or alarm bell mechanism could be used.

I remember that the arcing at the switch contacts was very intense, and
it sent out radio noise like crazy!  I fitted each bell with a 100 volt
3 amp diode reverse biased, and that greatly reduced the arcing.  I
would suggest to anyone with a Unifon to do so.  It greatly increases
the life of the switch contacts, and also makes it easier on the
keyboard switches.

I could also get into a side-by-side comparison of a Knabe Ampico B and
and a Steinway Duo-Art.  The Duo-Art, when properly regulated, could
hold its own with the best of them, in my never-to-be-humble opinion.

Well, I talk too much.  Best to all of you.

Jim Cook

 [ Is it "Unifon" or Unafon"?  -- Robbie