[ I asked Tom Jansen to tell us about the Hupfeld orchestrions.
 [ -- Robbie

Hi Robbie, the label on Richard Stibbons' Hupfeld pump is quite
common.  Those pumps have been used in a wide variety of different
pianos, from the simple cafe piano up to the Triphonola expression
pianos.

The use of Hupfeld's names seems somewhat confusing on the first
glance.  You will find Universal, Clavitist-Universal, Clavitist,
Animatic, Animatic-Clavitist, Animatic -S- and Animatic -T- pianos.

The Universal, Clavitist-Universal and Clavitist pianos used a 77-key
scale roll, which is 11-5/8 inch wide and has 10 solo tracks for
orchestral bells, 1-5 and 73-77 as well as two drum tracks, snare drum
on 37, bass drum on 41.  In addition, track 6 was used to switch on up
to two different instruments, mainly mandolin and xylophone, sometimes
mandolin and accordion.

Several instruments were equipped with a clever pneumatically-operated
stepping mechanism, located over the spool box and visible from
outside.  The first step turned on the mandolin, the next signal turned
on the xylophone, next signal turned on both instruments, next signal
was mandolin, etc.  There was a button in the spoolbox, allowing the
operator to reset the mechanism if necessary.  Most of the original
Hupfeld Clavitist rolls are specially arranged to take care of this
feature.

A typical Universal and Clavitist feature is the mechanically operated
mandolin, same as in the Helios orchestrions. This mandolin device
sounds different than the standard mandolin rail: it gives a
continuously ringing sound and operates a special set of small hammers
driven by a rotating camshaft.

The name Animatic showed up first on rolls used by Hupfeld for simple
pedal (foot-pumped) players.  The roll replaced the former Phonola
rolls and was based on a standard 88-note scale with Solodant
(snakebite) holes and a forte pedal track.

Around 1920, electrically operated pianos were added to the Hupfeld
production line bearing the name Animatic-Clavitist and later just the
name Animatic.  These instruments replaced the 77-key Clavitist pianos.

Making matters somewhat more confusing is the fact that both
instruments need Animatic -S- rolls for proper functioning.  Although,
you can play the standard Animatic rolls on those instruments (because
of the 88-note scale), but tracks for motor-off, rewind or mandolin,
etc.  are only found on the Animatic -S- rolls.

Some Animatic and Animatic-Clavitist pianos were equipped with
a 10-note Xylophone, some instruments had a separate case (called
orchestra cabinet, see Bowers p. 434) with drums and xylophone.  These
instruments have, besides the theme valves, an additional "pianissimo"
bellows, located at the left side of the theme valve box.  Although
this device is quite simple, it gives unexpected pleasing results.

The Animatic -S- roll has several additional tracks, used for cymbal,
woodblock, snare drum and bass drum, as well as tracks to switch the
xylophone and the mandolin rail and a track for the pianissimo valve.
There is as well a separate track to switch an additional instrument.
Some specially arranged Animatic -S- rolls bear a label "Flex-A-Tone",
indicating that some instruments were equipped with additional
instrumentation.

Animatic -T- pianos have a full expression box, and they are the
predecessors of the later Triphonola instruments; they play the
Animatic -T- rolls as well as the later Triphonola rolls.

Best regards,
Tom Jansen
Monschau, Germany