Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info

End-of-Year Fundraising Drive In Progress. Please visit our home page to see this and other announcements: https://www.mmdigest.com     Thank you. --Jody

MMD > Archives > May 2015 > 2015.05.02 > 05Prev  Next


Unknown Rotary Vacuum Pump
By Mike Walter

Hi all, the unknown rotary pump is indeed an Ampico pump from the
Stoddard years.  I have an operational one in our 1918 Stoddard Ampico
upright piano.  According to the serial number, the piano was actually
made by the Foster Company but the fall board has Stoddard Ampico
emblazoned in the center.  In the upper right corner of the piano
plate a small plate has been placed over the corner of the original
plate and this added piece also proudly states Stoddard Ampico.

The pump itself has cast metal arms with ball bearings at both ends
and a cone-shaped center to adjust the amount of play by the loose
balls in the bearings.  On the right side of the pump there is a
reservoir which has an adjustable spill valve to limit the amount of
vacuum which is allowed into the system.

The piano which it is in is a Type IIb (2B) Stoddard, I believe.
I am currently out of town so I can't give you the definitive version
of the Stoddard in which it resides, but I am certain that it is a
type II of some sort.  I hope that this info helps out.  If you'd like
to see pictures of the piano I'd be happy to oblige.

Best wishes,

Mike Walter


(Message sent Sat 2 May 2015, 03:42:03 GMT, from time zone GMT-0700.)

Key Words in Subject:  Pump, Rotary, Unknown, Vacuum

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page