Hi All, The other day Mike Dostert sent in a request for information
about a Colby player piano [050720 MMDigest]. Since that name was not
in the list of Player Piano Makers, I contacted the owner of the piano
and solicited some more information. He sent me a dozen pictures of
the Colby player mechanism.
I'm writing because I cannot identify the system. It has a few
relatively unique characteristics. First, it has a four-chamber air
motor. Second, it appears that roll tracking is accomplished via
mechanical linkage that is manually operated from in front of the keys.
Third, it appears to have a 'split stack' and some form of expression
control via pushbuttons (also in front of the keys). Lastly, it has
perhaps the largest exhauster and reservoir bellows I've ever seen in
a player piano.
If you have some time, and think you might be able to identify this
mechanism, or if you're just interested in taking a look, go to:
http://www.player-care.com/system-colby.html
Musically,
John A Tuttle
Player-Care.com
Brick, New Jersey, USA
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