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MMD > Archives > January 2013 > 2013.01.16 > 09Prev  Next


Book Music Punch & Die Specification
By Stephen Toyne

Johnathan Holmes asks about punches for keyless book music production.
A friend of mine, who owns a 36-note keyless organ, punches his own
music on a foot-operated machine which he purchased from a fellow
enthusiast.  It too came equipped with square-ended punches.

So he decided to try it anyway, and the books it produces play on his
organ just fine.  In fact, he has a few books from three well-known UK
suppliers who use square punches for all their music, keyed or keyless,
and they play fine too.

The only thing to be careful of is this: if using stencils designed for
keyed organ, the note lengths will need to be shortened slightly,
particularly on repeated note and trills.  Otherwise, the notes will
play as a blur.  Keyed organs need longer holes to give the keys
clearance to operate properly.  Keyless organs, on the other hand, do
not need this clearance.  And it is much quicker punching keyed music
than keyless.

I would suggest you punch a short test book and see what you think of
the performance.

Steve Toyne,
Boston, Lincolnshire, England


(Message sent Wed 16 Jan 2013, 08:52:13 GMT, from time zone GMT-0800.)

Key Words in Subject:  Book, Die, Music, Punch, Specification

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