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
MMD > Archives > July 2019 > 2019.07.01 > 02Prev  Next


1910 Single-Valve Standard Pneumatic Action
By Nate Otto

Hi Folks,  Perhaps I'm due for a history lesson.  I recently rescued
a 1910 Shattuck upright player piano with a Standard Pneumatic player.
Upon removing the stack from the piano, I was surprised to find it had
a 3-tier single-valve system. I thought that Standard only started
using a single-valve design sometime in the late 1920s.

From what I can tell, the piano is in original, unmodified condition
(and of course therefore is inoperable).  The spoolbox is oak to match
the veneer of the cabinet.

My question is, Why would they have used this early single-valve design,
then gone back to a more-costly-to-produce double-valve design later in
the 1910s and into the '20s, only to go back to a single-valve design
in the end?  Was this early [Standard] single valve system unreliable?

I'm asking not only out of curiosity but also as a deciding factor if
this unit is worth restoring.

Nate Otto - Rum River Restoration
Anoka, Minnesota
https://www.rumriverrestoration.com/ 
nate@rumriverrestoration.com.geentroep [delete ".geentroep" to reply]

 [ It might not be a Standard Pneumatic player action -- see
 [ https://www.mechanicalmusicpress.com/registry/chicago_elec/cgo_elec_p10_std.htm 
 [ -- Robbie


(Message sent Mon 1 Jul 2019, 16:55:51 GMT, from time zone GMT-0700.)

Key Words in Subject:  1910, Action, Pneumatic, Single-Valve, Standard

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