Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > March 2006 > 2006.03.14 > 02Prev  Next


Restoring a Hupfeld Phonola
By Niels Berkers

Hi All,  I'm about to restore a Hupfeld Phonola capable of playing
88-note and 73-note rolls.  The owner decided to let me repair it so it
will play again.  (Is this still called a restoration then?)  I'll be
using pneumatic cloth and not leather that was used originally on all
pneumatics.  I've already redone the pneumatic that holds the gearing
in play or rewind.  Before I do any further work I would like to ask,
who has worked on a Hupfeld before?

The piano is by Lipp & Sohn, an early Hupfeld player piano where the
control panel swings up from underneath the keyboard.  As 73-note music
rolls play bottom to top, the take-up spool can be taken out and placed
in the top of the spoolbox where the 88-note roll would normally be.
In this manner a 73-note roll can be played.  A lever switches the
trackerbar to 73-notes and adjusts the gearing.  (I must be careful not
to get jealous, as I have the ordinary straightforward pumper.)

The Lipp piano is in beautiful shape (although it needs tuning and
regulation) and has a very rich bass tone.  It'll be my second
restoration job, I only did my own player so far, and that was not
1% as complicated as the Hupfeld seems to be.

I hope somebody can tell me what the difficulties are to watch out for,
special things to keep in mind and that sort of things.

Regards,
Niels Berkers, Arnhem
The Netherlands


(Message sent Tue 14 Mar 2006, 12:05:15 GMT, from time zone GMT+0100.)

Key Words in Subject:  Hupfeld, Phonola, Restoring

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page