Hi All,  I just bought a 1927 Pedal Electric Duo-Art which I'm going
to restore (after I sell my Waddington player and restore my 73-note
Hupfeld Vorsetzer).

Last week I took the expression box and the electric pump out of the
piano.  This one has the Motora turbine pump.  This pump is built into
a wooden box with four air intakes on the bottom side.  There are some
pieces of felt on the bottom panel that don't seem original.  It is
clear something else had been there and one of the felt pieces is glued
over an air-intake channel.

What was there originally?  Should I use this pump again, as I've read
they can get pretty hot, blowing hot air through the piano.

It is a 110-volt pump, as Aeolian imported the pumps from the USA, so
on the back of the piano is a 220v-to-110v transformer which has been
pretty hot (as the windings are blue) and the rest is just rusted.
Of course I'll use a modern transformer if I use the pump again.

I opened the wooden box and got the metal pump out.  This pump was
screwed shut with four screws, but after removing them it still won't
open -- it seems to be glued shut.  Should I try and open it, or just
leave it alone?

On the bottom of the pump (which hangs free in the wooden box) is a
metal plate that I suppose drops down a bit opening up the pump to get
the air out which is sucked in from the player action.  This plate is
attached with one screw, but turning this screw doesn't seem to get me
anywhere.  (Did I do something stupid in turning it?)

Just to make the long story short:  Who can tell me what to do with
it?  I won't replace it with a modern pump unless that's the best
option.  I'd rather find a 15" rotary pump and try to fit that in.
Any ideas and help appreciated.

Niels Berkers - A proud Duo-Art owner in the rainy Netherlands!

 [ Paddy Handscombe wrote in 050204 MMDigest, "Pianos sold with
 [ Motoras invariably have a sticker in the spool box warning
 [ against overheating through playing more than six rolls in
 [ succession without a break!"
 [
 [ "Motora" & "Electora" & "Motor Player Corp." are related.  See
 [ http://mmd.foxtail.com/Archives/KWIC/T/turbine.html
 [ http://mmd.foxtail.com/Archives/KWIC/M/motora.html
 [ http://mmd.foxtail.com/Archives/KWIC/E/electora.html
 [
 [ -- Robbie