Richard Vance gave us an alternate switch to use, I assume for
Duo-Arts. But for those who would like a switch very much like
the original mechanical Duo-Art switch that pulls on and pushes off,
Player Piano Co. found a bunch of original marine or aircraft switches
made for the purpose. They are well-made and should last a lifetime.
They also feel as though they have the right push-off force, so it
will hold itself on and the pneumatic will turn it off.
If the switch isn't strong enough to hold the pneumatic open by its own
over-center spring, then the switch could, at any time, just open again
from lever weight or pneumatic resistance, and the motor switch will
stay half-mast, unable to tell by looking if it's on or off.
I strongly recommend acting on this now, as all original Duo-Art
switches are old and fragile, and almost always burned from the motors
back EMF.
Contact PPCo at 316-263-3241 and order one whether you need it or not,
and tape it up in your piano somewhere. Because it isn't a question if
you will ever need it. It's when, not if.
Craig Brougher
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