Ed Chaban wrote:

> Are Welte turbine pumps rebuildable?  Were the original
> Welte turbine pumps as noisy as the PPCo units?

I've had 3 of these Welte Original instruments pass through my area
with these turbine pumps.  Following restoration of the player
mechanism, the pump was exceedingly quiet, assuming a "tight" system.
As age took its toll on tightness, the pump gradually became more
audible.

One failed completely, literally tore itself apart.  At the time, the
owner was unable to find an equal replacement and elected to have it
rebuilt locally.  He never did reveal what the rebuild cost, other than
to comment, "An insane amount of money".

I recall that one of them had a tiny tube of lubricant attached to the
pump along with an instruction sheet.  The lubricant had the appearance
of thinned white petroleum jelly (Vaseline).  On page 150 of the
March/April 1995 AMICA Bulletin, there is an article by Ken Snowden
along with a reprint of the instruction sheet.  The instructions
clearly say, "The bearings should be lubricated once a year".  If
anybody needs copies of these pages, let me know.

The other two pianos had tack holes in the pump where such a tube of
lubricant was supplied, but long since gone.  I currently have a spare
turbine pump from such a piano, specs as follows; it too has the tack
holes, but no lubricant.  If somebody is in need of this pump, let me
know.

  Motor Player Corp.
  Electric Vacuum Pump for Player Piano
  Type G, Serial #G1602
  110 VAC & DC, 290 Watts

Page 95 of the same issue of the AMICA Bulletin contains a photo of the
underside of a Welte Original grand with a turbine pump.  On the bottom
of the pump is clearly visible the pouch containing the lubricant and
instruction sheet.

The presence of that lubricant on at least one of the turbine pumps
I've seen suggests an imperative need to periodically lubricate these
pumps, something likely never done.  The one that disintegrated here
may not have been done, leading to its demise.

Regards,

Terry Smythe
Winnipeg, MB, Canada
http://www.mts.net/~smythe