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Weber-Themodist Player System

Editor's Note: After further study, and as evidenced
by the trackerbar, it's my opinion that this system is
most likely a Themodist-Type player system.

HPIM0580

HPIM0581

HPIM0583

HPIM0584

HPIM0585

HPIM0586

HPIM0587

HPIM0588

HPIM0589

HPIM0590

HPIM0591

HPIM0592

Hi John I just remembered that hotmail is great for sending pictures by email. Listed below is a description of which part of the piano i took the picture of.

If you look at HPIM0590 and there are 2 tubes connected to the block. if you can see the lower tube is connected with a dowel and that tube connects to another block in HPIM0592 between the #4 and #3tube and also in HPIM0591 there is also a tube that was cut and reconnected together. Just wondering if you have an idea what the purpose of this box is for.

Also i checked the heintzman site out and they had a listing of the starting serial numbers. My piano was manufactured by weber and sold by heintzman and if the serial number of mine (24424) matched heintzmans then my piano was made in 1905.

EDITORS NOTE: It's more likely that the serial number of the piano is a Weber number. Therefore, the manufacture date would be 1913, not 1905. Also, research has shown that this player system hadn't been invented that early.

Thanks John

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Hi Ken,

As evidenced by the one valve block with four poppet valves, the system appears to be a Recordo type expression system. Each valve controls a level of vacuum which in turn controls the volume of the music. The 'boxes', to which the tubes from the valve box are connected, are regulating bellows. They work by restricting the flow of air and thereby reduce the vacuum level.

The system in your piano is unlike any I have seen, and I don't have any references that will be of value. What may be of value is the book 'Player Piano Servicing & Rebuilding'. It has a section about the basic principles of the Recordo, which would be helpful in understanding how it functions.

Somewhat surprisingly, there is one piece in the system that was obviously made by Aeolian. The 'pointer' that's connected to the Tempo Indicator is found in all the player pianos with an Aeolian stack. Aeolian made a variety of expression and reproducing player systems, although I've never seen one quite like yours. Another 'earmark' that says Aeolian are the two rectangular holes on the trackerbar. They are called "Theme" holes. When using a music roll with Theme perforations, the volume of the music will change automatically in the Treble and Bass respectively.

I also noticed in HPIM0588 that there are manual controls for volume (or intensity). I'd like to see a good picture of the Controls in front of the keys.

What's curious is that Recordo didn't use Theme perforations. So this is a bit of a mystery. Fortunately, it looks like all of the tubing is connected. What I would do is draw a detailed diagram of where every tube in the unit starts and ends. Then, by disconnecting and connecting the tubes one at a time while the unit is in operation, you will be able to tell what function each tube controls. It's a painstaking but very worthwhile process. Perhaps of greatest importance is knowing which tubes connect to which holes in the trackerbar. There is a great reference that lists all known trackerbar scales, and once I know what each hole in the trackerbar controls, I can cross-reference that information to the scale design and determine exactly which system is in the unit.

Hope this helps. I would very much like to get as much information about this system as possible. I have already started a new file and plan to create a new webpage about the system to archive the data.

Musically,

John A Tuttle
Player-Care.com

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This page was last revised September 27, 2018 by John A. Tuttle, who Assumes No Liability
For The Accuracy or Validity of the Statements and/or Opinions
Expressed within the Pages of the Player-Care Domain.
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