I have a 1917 Weber Duo-Art upright.  There is a normal cast electrical
box on the bottom beam of the piano.  Then there is the normal BX
[armored electrical cable] line going to the electrical light socket
cast-iron piece on the inside top right hand case side.  But there is
another cast iron and Bakelite piece half way up the side of the upright
beam closest to the side of the right side of the case.  Everything
looks to be original as it is all done with the metal BX wiring.

There are four small prongs (almost like radio vacuum tube pins) that
are attached to the Bakelite piece.  It seems that it is attached by
the old fashioned cloth wire BX to the cast box at the bottom of the
piano.  I also have a long piece of BX that is long enough to go to
the other side of the piano but I can't find the screw holes for it.
(I seem to remember this box being attached to the bottom of the piano
under the steamboat pump.)  It terminates in a round cast iron box.
I took the electrical things out of it while I refinished the case some
time ago.

I have a Steinway upright that has all the original pieces but that
piece with the four prongs is not there, nor does it have that long
piece of BX with the cast-iron round box on it that is long enough to
go to the other side of the piano.

I don't see a need for that mystery piece as the Steinway doesn't
have it.  Could it have been something to turn on the piano remotely?
Those four prongs look like they could have been for a matching socket.
Why would they want to turn on the piano remotely, if that's what it's
for?

By the way, does anyone have the ceramic interior pieces for the boxes
I described?  I also would like to find the oblong original cover for
the light socket plug next to the electric switch pneumatic in the
Duo-Art.

Thanks,
Tony Marsico
bayernhofjsl@verizon.net.geentroep [delete ".geentroep" to reply]