Who has experience with first generation push-up Pianolas?

I have a very early Aeolian Pianola 58/65-note push-up player,
probably made between 1898 and 1902 at the latest. It was completely
restored, and the 65 pneumatics have been recently gone over again.
The main bellows and reservoir are intact and it rewinds at full speed.

But when shifted into Play a loud "Whoosh" comes from the works and no
suction gets to the stack or wind motor. It is completely immobilized,
and vacuum circumvents everything -- not the slightest bit gets into
the machine. There are no hoses; everything is based on wood channels
or flues; nothing is exposed.

I have been told by an excellent technician that I now have to get deep
into the works and work on the valves; he said it would be a waste of
money for him to do it.

I am quite willing to do this, but although I have done some player
piano work I have never seen a schematic of a Pianola, which is a very
different animal (especially the earliest models). These _have_ been
rebuilt, and when I first got this it played splendidly. Then it was
stored and there was some minor mouse damage, and when it was brought
out again all this happened.

Does anyone restore or rebuild push-up players? Does anyone have any
information or diagrams? Does anyone have any ideas as to how to
proceed from here?

I would be grateful for suggestions of procedures, literature, and
people to consult or employ.

Philip Carli
Rochester, New York
carliphilip@gmail.com.geentroep [delete ".geentroep" to reply]