Thanks for the great information.  The "glock" (bells) pneumatics
are inflated all the time.  Right now there is not enough pressure
to inflate them fully against the return springs.  The signal is sent
to play and the pneumatic attempts to close, but since the pneumatics
are only inflated less than 25% they do not have enough energy stored
in the return springs to effectively play the note.  If they play it's
just a tinkle.

When a return spring is removed the pneumatic inflates slowly and
when the spring is returned the pneumatic assumes less than 25%
opening.  It appears that there is not enough pressure to open the
pneumatics fully against the springs or the old leather is so porous
the system can not maintain the overall loss.

I have been asked to restore the unit.  The leather is coming loose
on one striker.  It is very important to some (including this writer)
to *duplicate* as close as possible the original design.  This is my
first pressure system work and you can never have too much information.

Here are a few questions.  Some of these questions will become obvious
upon a thorough investigation and observation but it helps to have some
idea in mind about how these systems work.

1. Will there be a separate valve system for the bells?

2. Could old porous leather on the pneumatics cause an overall loss
of pressure to hinder the bell pneumatics from inflating properly?

3. How much pressure should there be at the bells?

The unit needs to be rebuilt.  One would be wary about doing a rebuild
job if there is not enough pressure coming to the bells in the first
place.  One would not want to look like a fool by rebuilding the bell
unit and then have insufficient pressure coming to it.

It has always been my goal to use the best materials and do the best
job I possibly can.  It is assumed one will need to spend the proper
amount of time studying this system both while in place and then again
once removed.  This exercise is not to side-step any of these absolute
essential processes, but it sure helps to have in mind a basic
understanding of the system in order to make sense out of what one
is looking at!

This job has not been agreed to and the organ owner knows this will
be my first job of this type.  It has been promised if the job is taken
a mentor would be a must to provide the guidance that may be needed.
Anyone have the patience to be a mentor?  I have the ability to post
pictures to a web site so there could be great visual understanding.
You would not be asked to "hand feed" me.  It would give me the missing
piece I need to do this job and do it right the first time.

Sam Harris - Greenville, NC
www.PlayerPianoShop.com

 [ What is the make of the organ, Sam, and does it show evidence of
 [ previous rebuilding?  It's possible the organ glockenspiel system
 [ never worked well, so duplicating the original design wouldn't
 [ improve the playing.  -- Robbie