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MMD > Archives > September 1998 > 1998.09.06 > 07Prev  Next


Old Players That Still Play
By Andy Taylor

Hi...

I picked up another old Foster player last week. Today I decided to
look at it.  The case was average looking, so I thought I would look
inside to see what condition it was in.

I found a nice set of hammers, shiny hardware, very good felts and tight
pins...  not one crack in the soundboard!  Even the old bass strings
were still alive.  Nice old piano!

I then proceeded to look over the player action,  a standard.  It was
original. I put a roll over the tracker bar and pumped... the valves
seated and it felt fairly tight... tighter than some "rebuilt" ones I
have seen.

I then put on the missing chain and then slowly moved the tempo lever
forward...  there was a jerk, and the motor broke free the old piano
did play really well. I was shocked!

I know the player action will not  play very long in this condition,
but I was _very_ surprised that it would work at all after all these
years. I usually have to spend hours of work before they will fire a
note!

Best Regards
Andy & Chris Taylor
"The Lone Arranger"
Tempola Music Rolls
"Taylor Made" Just For You
http://home.swbell.net/tempola/index.htm


(Message sent Sun 6 Sep 1998, 21:26:52 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  Old, Play, Players, Still, That

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