Boyd Pistonola
Boyd Pistonola Player Action
- Photos
photographs by David
Evans, Hampshire, England
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The Boyd Pistonola was developed by H C Goldman and C F Webb in London
around 1912. It was first demonstrated in November 1913 at a
concert held in
Ilford Town Hall, Essex, England, and again in April 1914 at the Corn
Exchange, London.
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Roll motor regulator mounted on the side of the case.
Four-piston roll motor
Feeder pistons and spring-loaded reservoir (center)
The mechanism is ingenious, being the smallest player action ever devised.
In place of banks of large pneumatic motors it has a single tier of pistons
for the note-striking and four in line for the roll-drive motor.
Even the feeders are pistons, and the reservoir is a spring-loaded piston.
Valves are ball-bearings. By the 1920s Boyd were producing a more conventional
player piano.
Only the largest (action) piston is graphite, diameter is 1/2".
The smaller pistons for the primary and secondary valves are brass.
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26 February 2000
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