As a couple others have somewhat addressed, I would think in a video showing the inner workings of a pneumatic player piano one would show a roll playing and how it interacts with the keys. I think this was a fairly well done video - noise in the background isn't as big of an issue as some make out; however, it is disappointing to not hit on the above point.

(1/3) Thanks for sharing an example of one of my favorite player piano player actions: the National Air-O-Player, invented by Mr William A. Watson and built and installed exclusively by the National Piano Co. of Massachusetts only in their three house brands of piano: Norris & Hyde (good); Merrill (great); and Briggs (excellent). This system was available from January 1912 through sometime in 1918(?) at which point National discontinued it and opted for the Simplex action instead for their later player pianos, which today are more easily found than this early one here. Also the expensive Briggs brand is even rarer than the other two, today. There is a great possibility that the entry of the USA into WWI prompted a rationing of supplies, especially metal, which made it harder to produce this player action, at least economically. Also, it was undoubtedly a much more expensive action than most of the usual wood types, and most USA piano makers cheapened their product line somewhat around WWI so as to be competitive with other makers in the huge player piano boom that started around that time and lasted through the advent of broadcast radio and electrically amplified recordings, which killed off the player piano market in the mid to late 20s.

@andrewbarrett1537

Жыл бұрын

(2/3) More about the Air-O-Player: This is a mostly-metal action (there are some wooden parts such as the striker pneumatics themselves; the exhauster and reservoir boards; the wind motor governor boards and wind motor pneumatics and slide valves; and the wooden pouch blocks inside each cartridge valve unit), and is very heavy compared with a normal wooden player action like a Standard. However, by virtue of this outstanding design and metal construction, this action has fewer possible places for leaks than do most typical wooden player actions, and thus greater chance of longevity, if kept exercised. It is really a great design IMO.

@andrewbarrett1537

Жыл бұрын

(3/3) I collect this Air-O-Player system (and also the later “Palestrina” metal action designed by Mr Watson and introduced in 1922) and so far own a rough barn-find Merrill player piano with it which I got from Michigan; plus will hopefully soon get a Briggs from San Diego and a Norris & Hyde from the East Coast on the way later (once I can finish rationalizing my storage situation, rehoming surplus instruments and paying off debts). I have only seen two pianos equipped with the rarer “Palestrina” action so far: an R. S. Howard owned by a gentleman in Brazil; and a Janssen in an antique shop in the Midwest somewhere (Indiana?). The Palestrina system was advertised as standing up to harsh climactic conditions, which explains the export piano existing in Brazil (Howard themselves advertised specially-constructed pianos out of exotic woods for punishing climates). I hope to write an extensive article about Mr Watson and his player actions for the AMICA “Bulletin” (bimonthly magazine of the Automatic Musical Instrument Collectors’ Association) in the near future.

@andrewbarrett1537

Жыл бұрын

(4/3) (hee hee) I should also mention here that this company produced a monthly bulletin (small journal or leaflet) called “The National Arrow”, which apparently was distributed exclusively to members of the piano trade, most likely dealers and service people for this make, as a small journa much like the “Standard Player Monthly” put out by the Standard Pneumatic Action Co (a much larger and more famous company, which were the #1 player action builder in the USA, building approx. 1/2 of all player piano actions made here in the 1910-1930 period). However, unlike the more widely-distributed “Standard Player Monthly” (back issues of which are available to AMICA members in the “members only” section of the website), I have never seen a SINGLE surviving issue of the “National Arrow” journal. I only know of its existence via brief mentions in “Music Trade Review” magazine. I have a rather good finder’s fee available for even INCOMPLETE issues of the “National Arrow” journal/magazine, so if you encounter even a single issue of this periodical, please immediately email me at Yahoo (rag1916) as I will gladly make a deal for it!!!

LMAO - Unbelievable that anyone would dislike this video. As I post my response, I see 17 dislikes. WHAT IS NOT TO LIKE??? Just goes to show you, you can't please everyone! (chuckling) I love playing the piano myself and went to Loyola University of Westchester, Los Angeles in the 1970's to study the Communication Arts and music as well. I use to talk to guys who worked on the pipe organs on campus back in those days and learned a lot to how the big pipe orgran machines work. It's one thing to know how they operate, but did you ever think of what it would take to build one? Try to wrap your mind around that one? Just look at how this thing is built? There is a lot of engineering thought that goes into one of these machines. The player piano is a wonderful and ingenious machine in my experience of being near them during my life and I love to see this fellow talk about how they work. Well done!

@jamesgleeson6538

2 жыл бұрын

I suggest the dislikes were only for the person conversing on a phone or something in background. Record with care guys and listen to before publishing to KZread.

Although not super illustrative (some animations and cutaway views of a sample action would really help), this video is better than nothing. Thanks for the upload.

Did exist some of those that you could play in reverse too? As a music that worked from both sides?

@andrewbarrett1537

Жыл бұрын

Hi, I am not aware of a HOME player piano that was designed/supposed to play the piano roll both forwards AND backwards and make intentional music. HOWEVER, two known commercial instruments used special rolls that did this: the Empress Electric Solo Expression Twin Tracker coin piano (which *might* have had a player action designed and built by Nelson-Wiggen), and the Nelson-Wiggen Selector Duplex piano/pipe organ combination instrument. The former uses Empress “L” rolls; the latter uses N-W Selector Duplex rolls. Both types of instrument and roll were only produced in very small quantities and are exceedingly rare today: I’m only aware of two examples of this Empress Electric model existing today; and only maybe three of the Nelson-Wiggen Selector Duplex organ. Both instruments have a 134-hole tracker bar, spaced 9 holes per inch, using a roll 15 & 1/4” (I think) wide. Of course the two instruments have different trackerbar scales/hole layouts however. The rolls for both instruments were arranged and cut by the Clark Orchestra Roll Co. of Chicago, which also made many other far more popular coin piano and orchestrion roll types, as well as some extremely rare pipe organ rolls. In each case, the instruments’ scale is duplicated on each side of the tracker bar, so essentially they each play from a 67-hole scale, with one of the holes on each side being a “play” or “reverse” (not rewind!) hole, to trigger the roll mechanism to change directions, and the changeover mechanism to disconnect half of the tracker bar from the player action and connect it to the other half. The music is thus arranged and cut in two directions: it goes forwards on one side of the paper, and in reverse on the other side! This obviated the need for high speed rewinding and extended the life of the paper. But it makes for a very wide roll. Interestingly, one of the Selector Duplex organs known extant wasn’t sold to a mortuary (as many were), but to a silent movie theatre, and had special fast forward and fast reverse gearing also on the roll frame so the operator could select tunes in a hurry, from the roll, to match the action on the screen.

What is the vacuum you are using?

What if you pump and nothing happens? does the tubing need to be replaced? how do you trouble shoot. I have one...for sale

@OofusTwillip

4 жыл бұрын

If nothing happens at all, and you just hear escaping air, then there's a major leak or disconnection of the pneumatic system. If the piano is very old and has its original bellows and tubing, then chances are, the rubber has become brittle and broken with age. There's rubber tubing, rubber hosing leading from the reservoir chamber, and rubberized fabric in the bellows. Plus 88 small, complex valves, one for each key. This is a big, complicated repair, and player-piano rechnicians are so few and far between, that most of them either travel the world to repair them, or require the client to ship the piano to them. But, if you can afford it, it's well worth the cost to restore a player-piano. Or, if you're skilled enough with mechanical things, there are websites that sell the specialized parts, and illustrated repair manuals, so you can do it yourself. The first step is determining which player mechanism your piano uses. 50% of them use a Simplex mechanism. The rest use one of several other mechanisms. You can look up the patents on the U.S. Patent Office website, and download the original patent applications, including diagrams.

How does it play the keys???

I have a player piano, but without the mechanism inside. It would be a genuine dream of mine to have it be able to be a player piano again. I have no idea how to start to find out how realistic getting this done would be. Could you send me a message or comment, and point me in the right direction? I would be so extremely excited to make this a reality some day!

@elisaguerrero6276

9 жыл бұрын

Minty Sue You are much better off finding a working player piano and restoring that. They are fairly common in most larger cities and can often be had for the price of the piano mover. That is, that people are usually willing to give them away. If they are working, it can often be a very cheap buy. If they aren't working, it can cost thousands of dollars to restore. IF like yours, they are really busted up or missing, it's better to find another one. (usually)

@andrewbarrett1537

6 жыл бұрын

Melinda, what is the make of your ex-player-piano, and the serial #? Some piano companies used one of the big popular player actions of the day, like Standard, Simplex, Pratt-Read etc, while others made their own in small quantities (Ludwig, Estey etc), while still others made their own player actions, but in huge enough quantities that they still turn up regularly today (Gulbransen, Baldwin, Cable, Kimball, Story & Clark etc). If you join the group "Player Piano Talk" on Facebook, and/or the Mechanical Music Digest (MMD), a standalone forum, we can try to help you find a player action for your piano, since there are many in various rebuilders' parts piles just sitting there.

@PiotrBarcz

4 жыл бұрын

If your near Tennessee then have The Antique Piano Shop build a new action for it, it's expensive but you'll have a classic player piano, you can also have a digital player.

Pibly, I agree.

wow, you're so gorgeous!

Ahh! Some video! He didn't even play a damn roll! All he talked about was the wind motor which doesn't even play the piano!

And? How does it work?

@PiotrBarcz

4 жыл бұрын

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Player_piano everything you need to know.

Good thing the day is not Friday the 13th.

@supasamoa1

4 жыл бұрын

Arfan Eka Diandra yes it is

Voices in the background are very distracting.

Wow. Seriously. You make a video and don't turn off the backgound conversation??

@Voldemorty2001

3 жыл бұрын

I have isolated the background conversation and it's okay.

What's with the voices in the background? This is an interesting vid, but cripes it's annoying to have those guys chatting away...

@beefchicken

5 жыл бұрын

gtimny I didn’t even notice them. Try complaining less. You’ll be happier.

@jamesgleeson6538

2 жыл бұрын

All gtimney is saying is to keep in mind everyone when putting recordings on KZread. Record the video after hours. It does make it difficult for many

I'm sorry ,but this is hard to understand with all the background noice.....