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MMD > Archives > May 2009 > 2009.05.21 > 05Prev  Next


Seek Orchestrion Tubing Diagram
By Steve Bentley

It appears that your orchestrion plays "O" rolls.  It should have
a maker's name on it other than the piano maker.  The paper should
move from the rear of the top spool to the rear of the bottom
(take-up) spool.

I did encounter an orchestrion of the 1970s or '80s period in a bar in
Virginia City, Nevada.  It played style "O" rolls but was an 'odd-ball'
in that the paper moved front to front like an "A" roll piano.  I forget
the name, but it had a large area glass front.

The owner of the bar purchased a roll of mine, and it was very
difficult to change over the reeling system.  The internal square wood
'dog-drive' had to be taken off my roll, to be glued again on the
opposite side.  Then I had to reel all the paper off by hand, then
attach to the front side and reel it back again in order to gain that
systems configuration.

Please give some more details if you can.  The tracker bar hole spacing
should be 9 holes to the inch.

Stephen Bentley
Vancouver, British Columbia

 [ MMDer John Kirin of Virginia City recalls this piano, a spinet with
 [ a tall case in the Red Garter Saloon.  When the saloon 'went bust'
 [ circa 1991 the instrument and other furnishings were sold at auction.
 [ -- Robbie


(Message sent Fri 22 May 2009, 02:00:41 GMT, from time zone GMT-0700.)

Key Words in Subject:  Diagram, Orchestrion, Seek, Tubing

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