I have to comment on Luke Myers' post [160119 MMDigest] about player
piano suction boxes.  As one of only two manufacturers of these vacuum
electrification systems on the market today, I feel I have something
to say.

In many cases, the user has a perfectly restored and operating player,
but just doesn't want the work of manually playing it.  They just want
the convenience of turning it on and listening to it.  I guess you
could compare it to an electric washing machine.  Sure, you could wash
your clothes on a washing board and swish them around in a wash tub,
but it certainly is more convenient to use an electric machine.

In most cases, the player is starting to get leaky and is just too
hard to play with its pedals.  Playing just one song wears out the
user.  The option of getting it rebuilt is just too expensive, and they
cannot justify spending thousands of dollars to make the machine like
new.  So a more cost effective, (and quicker) option is the addition
of a suction box.  I don't think of it as an excuse to not restore it,
but as a cost effective alternative.

Luke is correct that a suction box will not fix every player -- some
are just too far gone and much too leaky.  When I get an inquiry from
a potential customer about purchasing a box, I usually ask them if it
plays at all with the foot pumps, because if it doesn't make a sound no
matter how fast you pump the pedals, then a vacuum pump will probably
not bring it back to life.

I have produced hundreds of these pumps since I started building them
after Durrell Armstrong passed away.  I like to think that I have
"saved" hundreds of players that might have been headed to the dump if
they had not been electrified.  Many of these pianos are overseas, too.
Granted, in many cases it is not a long term solution, as a leaky
player system is bound to get more leaky with continued use.  In many
cases, an additional five to ten years of use can be seen with a
minimal investment.

I do find it interesting that Luke's very next post was a request for
a used suction box.  I hope it brings his piano back to life, but if it
doesn't, don't blame the suction box...

Eric Bergstrom - Bergytone Electrification Kits
http://www.pianoproservice.com/