Hello MMD readers,  I agree that "easy to pump" is a misnomer.
What the pianolist wants is a responsive reaction from the player,
and all such instruments when restored will be harder to pedal when
compared to the typical large equalizer actions.  Players which react
to the operator usually have small equalizers, such as the Simplex
and Aeolian models.

However, if you are accenting with impulses and playing to the rhythm
of the music, the result is a responsive player and, admittedly, this
can be a strain when tackling complex music.  When I perform my rolls
of Linmannia-Marseillaise, Mephisto Waltz or Blue Monday on the '29
Reprotone in public concerts, the rapid hammer rail graduation,
accent pedal strokes and the 'coasting' in-between the triplets (etc.),
will make for a lot of pushing on the part of the roll interpreter.
By the same token, an electric reproducing player with lever controls
can accomplish all of this with mere finger manipulations.  However,
the Duo-Art grand stays home, and I get the same musical results from
a pedal instrument when on the road.

When pedaled in relation to the musical rhythm, a responsive player
requires less foot strokes than what I call "King Kong at the Pianola".

A "pumper" is an antique fire engine, by the way.  True, you "pump" the
pedals for a Player-Piano, but you are really operating exhausters for
the equalizer(s).  This is true for a vacuum instrument like the Pianola.
A pipe organ, on the other hand, runs on compressed air, so has
bellows and a reservoir.

You have to "push" a responsive player to achieve what the levers will
do on a good Licensee, Artrio-Angelus or the ubiquitous Duo-Art player,
electrically-powered with a vacuum rotary pump.

Regards,
Douglas Henderson - Artcraft Music Rolls
Wiscasset, Maine
http://wiscasset.nnei.net/artcraft/