In response to Tim Baxter's problem motor in a Duo-Art Steinway:

Your restorer is probably not a motor expert and could not see that the
starter was not long for the world.  The sound could also be from dry
worn bearings.  Did he repack the wadding in the ends?

> There are several shops here in Atlanta who advertise rebuilds of
> electric motors, including re-wrapping the wiring, etc.  This does
> not seem like a complicated piece of machinery.  Couldn't someone
> like this recondition the ailing motor?

If the shop works on very old motors you might be fine.  If they can
get it done in less than a month, fine.  One shop I used to use would
take six months to two years to do it.

> Would heavy use cause the motor to fail?  I play it 3 hours a day,
> minimum.

Yes, definitely, if the motor was not brand new to begin with, and
it wasn't.

> Are there quieter, more modern options?

Absolutely not!

> Assuming a new motor had sufficient strength, wouldn't it need
> to run at the same RPM (or, if the pulley was slightly bigger
> or smaller, at the proper RPM to turn the pump at the same RPM).

A new motor would have to be specially made to run exactly the same
speed and it would need to be specially built to spend its life sitting
on its nose like the old ones were, with the shaft vertical.

I have run about six motors through my local motor shop which I told
about a week or two ago here on MMD.  Two of them had the starter
switch problem and they had worn a groove into the starter disk.  One
other had worn a groove into the shaft, and two of them had to have new
bearings milled.

These piano motors are older now than they were twenty years ago when
you did not have to worry about them.  This company was originally
Century Electric and made such motors across the river in East St.
Louis, Illinois.  If you need their services they are accustomed to
shipping motors all over the country.  I am taking two more over there
myself next week.

Just tell them you want the motor serviced just like the ones they do for
Piano World.  A motor costs between $125. and $400. unless the coils are
burned out and need rewinding which will cost more.  That is seldom needed,
luckily enough.  Several of you MMD'ers have asked me for their number so I
quote it here.  I don't make any money from them and they certainly don't
cut down any of my prices for any referrals I may send them.

  Bradford Electric, East St. Louis, IL
  tel 314-436-7000

D. L. Bullock    Piano World    St. Louis, MO