Hi folks, It has been a while since I've been on this wonderful board,
and since it is really a marvelous research library, I figured I would
make a few posts that will come over some time. This one is regarding
a Kimball Electramatic "F" I am servicing for a client. I noticed that
there have been no posts on the Electramatic in over 10 years, and
that was one post after another 10 year hiatus.

I got the usual telephone call of "I turn it on and hear a noise,
but the roll doesn't operate." I gave my usual response, "No problem,
I know the issue and I can fix it," figuring this was the usual
transmission gear issue. I removed the transmission from the frame to
bring it to my shop and ordered the replacement gear from John Tuttle
(who, by the way, is always wonderful to deal with and he makes sure
the gear is all set to put in and supplies lubricant for the other
gears).

To my surprise, upon drilling out the rivets (which were installed on
the sloppy side), I opened up the case, only to find there was a brass
gear already in there, and operating fine when put on my bench power
supply at 12-14 volts. I re-lubed everything and closed it back up
with screws and lockwashers, nice and neat. It appears then that those
rivets that I drilled out were put in by the last tech that worked on
the player.

So, went back to the client's house with the transmission and to
explain what was taking place. Upon putting everything back in,
I also confirmed two things:

1. The vacuum and stack are working, as I was able to get notes playing
by moving the roll by hand.

2. Someone had really been all over this player system as the control
center to the left of the spoolbox had no screws at all holding it down.
In returning the transmission to its proper space, realizing that
someone had the tracking system out of the piano and reinstalled wrong,
thus preventing the automatic tracking device from operating.

I felt that there could be an issue with the relays, and noted that
someone mentioned that Paul Koegler on Long Island had the parts from
Kimball at his shop. Alas, he no longer has these parts and discarded
them some time ago.

I went through the service manuals and after some detective and research
work I will be rebuilding the power supply for this, seeing if that will
help.

If someone has done this before and has any good ideas, I would be very
appreciative of any and all information on the subject!

Thank you!

Keith Gramlich
East Meadow, New York
tel.: 1-917-757-4207