Hello All.  I have recently gotten some more supplies from Player Piano
Company.  It was rather disappointing, _again_.

Out of a box of pre-punched valve facings, many had the center hole
way off, and some were cut off in a half moon shape.  I had to order
_two_ boxes of these things just to pick out a usable set.  In
addition, the facings looked and felt rather old.  Serves me right --
I should have punched them out myself!

Back in the early 'Eighties, everything I ordered from PPCo was really
nice and fresh.  Here in the past three years or so, the stuff is old,
improperly punched, or it seems like it is always something that makes
you have a bad rebuilding day.

Another thing:  The novice rebuilder can quickly become confused
with the PPCo Catalog; for example: Standard valves.  Just because the
catalogue lists "parts" for Standard valves, doesn't mean that it will
work correctly.  The novice takes the catalogue at face value, orders
the parts and installs them.  The action works for a while, until the
sponge neoprene outer facing "takes a set", compressing and increasing
the valve travel, and leaking.  Another leaky player piano!

The suction-side valve they supply can really cause problems if it
is old.  This facing has a plastic material on the side that faces the
valve seat.  These will seat very well if they are _flat_, but most of
the time they are not.  PPCo just throws them in a bottle, and they
become concave.  I don't know if it is due to the way they are stored,
or if it is the way they age.

When you try to install these valves the concave shape really causes
problems.  For one, it decreases valve travel.  If you try to flatten
the facing by squeezing the collars together the valve will not have
enough room to wobble and seat properly.  if you leave them in the
concave shape, they won't seat and it becomes impossible to set the
travel properly due to the edges of the facing flexing.  It is enough
to make you throw the action up in the attic!

Such things as this has forced me to either make replacements or buy
from another source.  The Player Piano Co. staff as told me that I am
way too critical, or I don't know what I am talking about.  It does me
no good to bring it to Durrell, either.

In conclusion, I was just wondering if it was just me expecting too
much or if other people here have had the same problems?

Best Regards
Andy & Chris Taylor
Tempola Music Rolls
http://home.swbell.net/tempola/index.htm