Greetings,  I am rebuilding a Modello player and have come across what
seems an anomaly inside the striker pneumatics.  There is felt button
but instead of being placed near the front of the pneumatic (the wide
part) it is placed on top of the canvas or heavy cotton cloth hinge.
It is about as thick as thin name board felt.

Where it is placed it doesn't seem to limit the travel of the moving
plate and so it appears would not accomplish its task of preventing the
plates from clamping together and pinching the pneumatic cloth.  Worse
yet, it seems to apply a lifting-up pressure on the hinge.  In a Modello
the lifter tap, or stick or whatever it is called, is on the hinge end.

When I took it apart the pneumatics they seemed to be solid as far as
sideways movement, so maybe it doesn't matter about the odd placements
of these red felt disks even though their exact position on the hinge
cloth seems more or less haphazard.

If anyone has noticed this or if this is indeed a mistake in the
original manufacture I would like to know.  I am leaning toward placing
the felt disks near the front of the pneumatic -- avoiding the fold of
the cloth, of course.

I have digital photos if anyone is interested.  Thanks for your
consideration

Richard Moody
Piano Tuner Technician
South Central South Dakota  (Platte)

 [ You say the pneumatic force goes to the piano action via an
 [ element at the end of the pneumatic with the hinge.  Maybe the
 [ felt disc is provided to carry the reaction force that otherwise
 [ would push on the hinge when the pneumatic closes.  -- Robbie