Rebuilding T-98 "Green" Welte-Mignon System
By Mark Reinhart
In response to the MMD posting of Mr. Skip Downing, I know of no manual
available today for the T-98 Welte Mignon (green) system. Some years
ago Frank Adams reprinted some charts showing the expression units and
related valve chests as well as the installation manual for T-98 pianos.
Other than that there is precious little that has been reprinted.
The tracker bar scale is listed in several publications. My best
suggestion is to try to find a friend with a post 1920 T-100 [red Welte]
piano and examine the layout of the components. The expression units
will be similar except that the valve units controlling the expression
will be designed for the T-98 scale. The layout will be very similar.
The roll drive, tempo and rewind are very similar as well. Pre-1920
T-100 red paper Welte instruments are sufficiently different as to not
help much and are likely to be more confusing.
Rebuilding a Welte-Mignon T-98 (green) piano without first hand
knowledge of the system will be quite a challenge, especially with
the lead tubing removed and parts perhaps missing.
Tom Jansen offers a nice selection of T-98 recuts as well as the
most critical T-98 Skala (test roll). The expression units cannot
be calibrated without a proper test roll. Tom's web site is
http://www.maesto.com/ for further information. I should add that
I have a number of Tom Jansen's recut T-100 rolls and am very happy
with them. I expect his T-98 rolls are at least as good.
I have been talking to a friend about publishing a service manual
for the Welte-Mignon but this is still a long way off at this point.
I wish Mr. Downing well in his endeavor.
Mark Reinhart
Charles Town, West Virginia, USA
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(Message sent Wed 15 Sep 2010, 19:32:58 GMT, from time zone GMT-0400.) |
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