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AEolian

Predominantly a three-tier action, but some with two were made.

The valve section of each tier was usually surrounded by bellows cloth; this was used to seal the joint, rather than the leather gasket. The valve is a wood turning faced with leather and extending beyond the leather washer, the reduced center of the wood turning forms the stem for going through a red fibre strap across a metal valve plate. The outside valve plate is secured with four screws and a blotter paper gasket; the bottom or inside valve plate is sealed with shellac and screws. The wooden pouch button screws into the lower valve stem from the underside of the plate, making it necessary, in retrieving an individual valve, to cut back the front cloth cover on the valve chest in order to grip the pouch button to unscrew the valve from it by turning the top valve stem. The pneumatic motor has three double pneumatics which hinge in the middle with a thin brown leather patch over the hinge.

AEolian Upper Section

Although AEolian never produced a Service Manual for this particular action, the stack, air motor, tracking system, air motor governor, action cut-out and peripheral devices are identical to those in the Pianola, Themodist and reproducing Duo-Art actions. These parts were installed in upright and grand player piano made by Steck, Steinway, Stroud, Weber, AEolian, and others. This player action is well covered in Art Reblitz's book "Player Piano Servicing and Rebuilding", which is available - Click Here

AEolian also produced a system called the Technola/Metrograde. It has a two-tier stack and manual control levers for Bass and Treble Soft, which operate a split hammer rail. It has pushbutton controls for operating a Ritardando/Accelerando device that is built into the Tempo/Air motor Governor Control Box. It also has a lever for manually activating the Sustain Pedal as well as a pneumatic device for Automatic Sustain via perforations in the music roll. More detailed information about this system is available 'here'.

For Duo-Art Service Manuals and Technical Reprints - CLICK HERE!

Return To 'Piano Makers' Listing - Click Here!

Since "Player-Care" is an internet business, I prefer that we correspond via E-Mail (click here to fill out the 'Request Form'). However, if I'm not in the middle of some other activity, you can reach me at 732-840-8787. But please understand that during the hours from 8AM-5PM EST (Mon-Sat), I'm generally quite busy. So, I probably won't answer the phone. If you get the answering machine, please leave a detailed message stating the reason for your call. Also, repeat your name and phone number clearly and distinctly. By necessity, I prioritize everything in my life. And, if you call and just leave your name and number, and ask me to call you back, it might be a day or two before I return your call. Why? Because I don't know why you want me to call and I might not be prepared to assist you in an effective and efficient manner. If you leave me an E-Mail address (which I prefer), spell it out phonetically. The more you do to help me, the more I can help you in return. Don't rush. You have four minutes to record your message.

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407 19th Ave, Brick, NJ, 08724
Phone Number 732-840-8787
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