12
November 14, 1925.
PRESTO
HELPS TO TUNERS
AND REPAIR MEN
A Weekly Series of Expert Articles on the
Methods and Mysteries of the Harmon-
izers, and Other Correction of
Playerpiano Difficulties.
TO REPAIR LEAKY DIAPHRAGMS
Troubles of Practical Tuners, and Others, Are In-
vited for Discussion and Often Explanation
and Solution by Author.
By HENRY L. PELTIER.
After exposing diaphragms, or having removed the
board they are on, do as follows—on leather or kid-
skin:
Thumb them down to original position, with ball of
thumb, taking care not to cut edges open; now secure
several tubes of rubber cement, such as is used for
patching inner tubes of auto-tires or bicycle tubes.
Having your rubber tubing and cement, provide
yourself with a good cigar and light up.
Connect a short piece of rubber tubing to opening
leading to diaphragm, and blow smoke into same;
note if smoke comes through diaphragm; if so, re-
verse operation by suction.
Now apply rubber cement to diaphragm, one even
coat, better use a small, stiff brush, if leak is at edges
only, than to apply cement at edges; but, if general,
apply all over diaphragm and edges.
Rubber solution will penetrate leather and, when
dry, will cause same to be air-tight.
After applying cement,- sprinkle some powdered
graphite or talcum over same.
Suction applied to diaphragm, while applying solu-
tion, should be just enough so that diaphragm will
stay formed.
A Practical Illustration.
A good way to do is to connect a tube that is long
enough, to pumping system; do not use too much
suction. I used this method several years ago and
it proved out with good results. I had several men
under me at that time, and an old player in the shop
DECKER
U
EST. 1856
& SON
Grand, Upright
and
Welte-Mignon
(Licensee)
Reproducing
(Electric)
Pianos and Players
of Recognized
Artistic Character
Made by a Decker Since 18S6
699-703 East 135th Street
New York
KREITER
The Leading and Most Popular
Pianos and Players
Grands, Players, Uprights and
Reproducing Pianos
The Results of Over Forty Years*
of Experience.
Kreiter Pianos Cover the Entire Line
and no Piano Dealer who tries these in-
struments would supplant them by any
others. A trial will convince.
Kreiter Mfg. Co., Inc.
310-312 W. Water St., Milwaukee, Wis.
Factory: Marinette, Wis.
that several men had given up as hopeless, as the
manager did not think it advisable to put a new
action into it. I decided to repair it, for the piano
was too good to let stand as dead stock.
I put one of the men to work on it; everything
went well until it came to testing the player. All
joints were tight—that I knew—and all valves had
been cleaned and adjusted. But no amount of pump-
ing would make it respond; pumping was hard when
blank paper was over the tracker, but when notes
opened air ducts, there would be no response at all.
I left my assistant alone for several days; then I
had to send him out on some other work. While he
was away I treated the diaphragms as stated above,
and presto!—everything fine.
The next day I asked my assistant what was wrong
with the old player, that he could not make any head-
way. He simply "gave it up" as an impossibility.
Then I told him to try it. Nothing more was nec-
essary, except to show him what to do in a similar
case. Needless to say that instrument was sold and
gave long satisfaction.
Some More Brought to Life.
i\bout eight or nine years ago I took charge of a
shop in Chicago where high grade goods were sold.
After being there awhile, and taking stock one day,
I came across several good instruments, pianos with
players installed of their own make. I asked an old
employe why these instruments were there so long.
He replied that the player actions were "no good";
that they never could be fixed; that different men
had worked on them, but were unable to put them in
shape so that they would remain so.
I will admit they were somewhat crude, and that
the principle of construction was a little off. The
actions were constructed of double valve system, both
diaphragms were the same size—one for primary and
one for secondary valves, and very noisy. As the
pianos were of no use as they were, I decided to
make single systems out of the player action.
I had a private room, so I put one of the players
into it and went to work. Several days after I called
the employe into my room (the man who had stated
it was impossible to do anything with it) and asked
him to try the player out.
He was somewhat surprised at the results obtained.
I also called up the manager and told him what I
had done.
The piano was a very good one, and within forty-
eight hours I had sold it to a friend of mine, who
still has it, and it plays well even after ten years.
I have done the same thing with several more in-
struments that were pushed to one side as dead stock,
and which were disposed of at good prices.
White Glue for Ivory.
(In answer to inquiry of Henry Grabowski):
Secure small can of LePage's glue (shop size);
use oxide of zinc to whiten same, thinning with white
vinegar.
For ivory work use it rather thick, and do not put
clamp on so tight that you will squeeze out all of
the glue.
A certain amount of glue must remain under the
ivory.
Warm clamp when convenient.
•=•=•=•=•:•=•:•:•=•:•=•::•:•:•:•:•:!
L/ae
2
ARTISTIC
IN EVERY
DETAIL
HADDORFF PIANO CO.
KJOCKFORD,ILL.
Wholesale
N.w Tork CM
130 W. 42nd S'
Offices:
Chicago
410 S. Micnif in A*..
San Fran- ar.
H I California Si
Schaff Bros.
Players »nd Pianos have won their stand-
ing with trade and public by 54 years of
steadfast striving to excel. They repre-
sent the
LARGEST COMPETITIVE VALUE
because of their beauty, reliability, tone
and moderate price. They are profitable
to sell and satisfactory when sold.
Brighten Your Line with the
SCHAFF BROS.
The Schaff Bros. Co.
WILL BRINKERHOFF RE-ELECTED.
Established 1868
William T. Brinkerhoff, president of the Brinker-
hoff Piano Co., has again been chosen to head the
Republic Merchant's Association as president for the
year 1925-26. Other officers elected are: Vice presi-
dent, Charles I. Herron; secretary, Henry J. Lynch;
treasurer, William E. Reinch, and executive secretary,
Marion P. Cottle.
Huntington, Ind.
PIANO TUNERS ARE M. D'S.
A Danish physician, Dr. Skovman, tests for sus-
pected sinus infection with a tuning fork. He stands
the instrument before the point to be tested and
judges from the resonance whether the cavity con-
tains fluid or is empty.
The Good Old
SMITH & NIXON
Pianos and Player Pianos
E. Leins Piano Co.
Makers of Pianos and
Player Pianos That Are
Established L e a d e r s .
Correspondence from Reliable
Dealers Invited
Factory and Offices, 304 W. 42nd St.
NEW YORK
Better than ever, with the tame
"Grand Tone In Upright Case."
Grands and Players that every deal-
er likes to sell, for Satisfaction and
Profit
Smith & Nixon Piano Co.
1229 Miller St., Chicago
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