A customer of my piano tech has a large Kimball upright, stack-stripped
pumper that he wants "healed."  I have not yet been able to inspect it,
and have only a couple of pictures.  The folded-out pedals are visible
and hopefully so is the rest of the pump mechanism.

The tech used the term "Phrasonome," which is apparently on a decal
on the case.  I find no reference to the term in the MMD Archives and
Google references are sparse, but it apparently refers to a system
of valves and hand controls that allowed "superior" playback dynamic
control by the pianolist.

One photo from the tech shows four push buttons for the left hand
with large round escutcheons.  The two left-most are labeled "Loud"
and "Soft".  The right-most are illegible.  For the right hand, there
is a Tempo lever and a uniquely-shaped lever of uncertain function,
but presumably affecting the dynamics in some manner.  And presumably,
any or all dynamics-affecting "goodies" are incorporated into the
pump/pedal mechanism.

Is it likely that the stack (currently missing) would have a bass/treble
division?  From the tech's picture, the scaling appears to be 26-27-18-17.
I also don't yet know the serial number (for dating purposes), but is it
likely that multiple scales would have been used?  Does anyone have one
of these stacks moldering in his boneyard?

John Grant

 [   Controls and pedals
 [ https://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/20/06/24/200624_130008_IMG_4601.JPG 
 [   Empty space
 [ https://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/20/06/24/200624_130008_IMG_4602.JPG 
 [   Decal available from Decals Unlimited
 [ https://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/20/06/24/200624_130008_phrasonome-3258_large.gif 
 [   Advert in Music Trade Review, September 24, 1921
 [ https://mtr.arcade-museum.com/MTR-1921-73-13/index.php?page_no=10