Hi.  I have an Aeolian upright Duo-Art that has been converted to an
O-roll orchestrion.  The problem is that when a roll is put in and the
paper threaded down to the take up spool, connected and rolled a bit
to cover all the holes, the piano does not play when turned on.

The transmission is the type that has an aluminum frame and both the
play and rewind motors are Dayton motors.  The play motor engages the
take-up spool shaft and is trying to turn it but the music roll does
not move as it is not free to turn as the gear on the left end is
constantly engaged with the rewind motor gear.

I see no mechanism that disengages the song roll from the rewind motor.
The rewind motor is not on but just the fact that it is constantly
engaged produces enough friction that the play motor cannot turn the roll.

I got this piano in this condition and never saw how the thing worked
when it did play.  If any of you can shed any light on this mystery the
piano will play again.  If I have not explained it well enough let me
know.

Mark Greisen

 [ Mark, I think you have a well-designed and built spool frame sold by
 [ Player Piano Company twenty to thirty years ago.  The rewind gearmotor
 [ is always engaged with the supply spool and is supposed to rotate
 [ freely during play and provide suitable hold-back torque.  It sounds
 [ like the grease inside the gear housing has solidified, and there also
 [ may be problems with the microswitches and the take-up motor speed
 [ control.
 [
 [ Could somebody please provide the preventative maintenance schedule
 [ and procedure for this PPCo spool frame?  -- Editor