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MMD > Archives > October 2006 > 2006.10.26 > 06Prev  Next


Unusual 1919 Aeolian-Weber Themodist Upright
By Jeffrey R. Wood

Since the 65-note Themodist rolls and tracker bars have no provision
for an automatic sustaining pedal device, it is virtually certain
this instrument never had one originally. The linkage described and
partially shown suggests a manually-operated lever either missing or
intentionally done away with in a later modification.

I do have here a piano containing an earlier 88-note "Standard"
player action with a button activated pneumatic sustaining pedal device
but no automatic sustaining pedal hole in the tracker bar or the usual
associated on-off switch. So there is a remote possibility that Aeolian
had a similar arrangement for their earliest internal player actions.
But I tend to think not, since the logical connection would be via the
vertical wood rod connecting the two horizontal steel rods.

Since the replacement 88-note tracker bar has a sustaining hole, it
is possible that automatic pedaling was added at that time, and then
removed to make way for the suction unit.  You should check the wood
rod for telltale screw holes.

Jeffrey R. Wood


(Message sent Thu 26 Oct 2006, 15:40:08 GMT, from time zone GMT-0700.)

Key Words in Subject:  1919, Aeolian-Weber, Themodist, Unusual, Upright

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