To the MMD,  This email is to report and update a previous post
of mine.  A month or so ago, I asked for help from the MMD, on
a supposedly faulty 'on - off' electric switch, in a 1970's player
piano.  As usual, the incredible people of the MMD had many wonderful
suggestions.

At the time I made the request, I had not inspected the piano
personally.  I was relying on info from my piano tuner friend (usually
with good accurate information), and was hoping to avoid multiple
trips, travelling to see the piano.  If the problem was a bad switch,
I wanted to find one, and have it with me when I went to service the
piano.

With the help of many, I was convinced that the problem may not be
the electric switch, and they turned out to be correct.  The reported
problem was the switch wouldn't stay on.  The real problem was that the
electric switch shut-off pneumatic was engaging, when it shouldn't have
been.  There were several reasons for this:

1) There was a slight crack in the end of the tubing hose controlling
the shut-off pneumatic, resulting in a slight leak causing the shut-off
pneumatic to engage.  Shortening the ends of the hose 1/4" or so on
each end took care of this.

2) I believe there may have been 'crud' in the valve of the shut-off
pneumatic, causing it to try to engage slightly by itself.  Cleaning,
blowing and exercising the valve and pneumatic seems to have fixed
this.

3) The pneumatic 'switch' valve connected to the 'finger' that senses
when the roll is on the take up spool was not seating correctly so it
was leaking slightly.  This had an earlier repair that wasn't working.
The pneumatic switch is a hinged block.  When the finger senses the
roll has rewound, this block is lifted, causing the tubing hose
controlling the shut-off pneumatic to open, causing shut-off pneumatic
to engage, shutting off the electric switch.

The hinged block is apparently supposed to be closed by gravity.  It
appeared to me it should have had some sort of a return spring on the
block, but I couldn't find evidence of this.  Someone had taped a washer
(with dried out masking tape -- ugh!) to the top of the block to add
weight.  I added a couple more washers for weight, glued them securely,
and now the valve seals off properly.

4) The brass repeat/shut-off switch was leaking.  I took it apart,
cleaned it up, and all was well.

After a couple hours of clean up, tune up, and minor repair, this
40-year-old 'modern' pneumatic, spinet type player piano worked great
and the customer was happy.  Essentially no parts were needed.

Thanks again to the MMD for the wonderful service provided with great,
knowledgeable people, willing to help.  What would we do without the
MMD?!?

Gary Rasmussen
Mason, Ohio (Cincinnati area)