Music Trade Review
Issue: 1925 Vol. 80 N. 20 - Page 13
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
MAY
THE
16, 1925
MUSIC TRADE
13
REVIEW
TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT
Conducted By William Braid White
One Way of Remedying Leaks in Player
Valves and an Antique English Piano
A Pennsylvania Tuner and Repair Man Who Claims to Have Satisfactorily Solved This Problem
in His Own Work—Who Knows if the Smith Piano, an Old Instrument Made in Man-
chester, England, Is Still on the Market?—Some Comment on Its Construction
F. SCHWEIKART, of Northumber-
land, Pa., is a technician who has given
* a great deal of attention to the problem
of leaks in player actions. He comments upon
some recent remarks of mine about leaky
player valves, and what he says is most inter-
esting, so I reproduce it in part herewith:
"Some time ago I read irn The Review (Tech-
nical Department) where you spoke of valve
trouble, arising from dampness. You spoke
of using vaseline to help.
"Well, I tried that years ago. It is all right
in a way on some valve stems but on others it
is no use. I will say that I have worried my-
self almost sick over lost power in player-ac-
tions caused by dampness. I mean when the
power remains lost even after one has tightened
all packings. So I began to experiment and
for three years tried all kinds of things, and in
the end all my work seemed to have been for
nothing. However, I would not give up and by
sticking to it I found the secret. I call it
'Valve Filler' and by means of it I have fixed
electric pianos which had been given up for
good.
"A stick of this valve filler costs me about $2
C
to make, and one stick is about enough for
work on ten player-actions. I make it in a
mold one inch in circumference and with a
small round hole in the center. To use it the
procedure is as follows: I take out from the
player-action the valves, one at a time. Each
valve is cleaned with sandpaper and then its
seat is cleaned, too. Both these jobs must be
done thoroughly. Then I take the valve and
stick its stem down in the filler, turn it around
three or four times, and the valve is smooth
again.
"When a whole set of valves has been treated
in this way, it would do your heart good to
see the power come back. I can show you
electric pianos right in my territory which have
been treated in this way after they had been
given up as ruined by dampness, and which
have been restored in this manner.
"I do not have to tell you why valves leak.
It is dampness which is our great enemy.
Leather draws moisture and when the leather
REPAIRING
and ReHmshing
Pianos and Phonograph*
Writ* for Detail* and Tmrmt
FAUST SCHOOL
OF TUNING
PIANO REPAIR SHOP
339 So Wabask A T * .
Chlcac*
Standard of America
Alumni of 2000
Philadelphia School of Piano Tuning
Pita* Taouf, P«e aad Read Ortaa
•mi Nay*r Pica*. Tear Bo«4 Ft—.
REPAIRING. REBUILDING AND
PLAYER PIANO ADJUSTING
One of the Largest Schools In the East
Write for Catalog R
Organized 1»14
The Y.M.C.A., 1421 Arch St., Philadelphia, Pa.
27-29 Gainaboro Street
BOSTON, MASS.
on the valves dries, it dries unevenly, so that
the valves do not seat. One fills the uneven
places with my filler and if the seats are also
uneven the filler is soft enough to overcome
that fault, too. There are other leaks of course,
but the leaks I speak of are eighty-eight little
leaks, making one big one."
Comment
I understand that Brother Schweikart is a
tuner and player-man of many years' experi-
ence, who has worked on every kind of player
since the first cabinet instruments of the early
days. What he says sounds wonderful enough,
and also it sounds a little bit obscure to me.
I take it that he means that when disks on
valves have been subjected to moisture and
have warped, they will not seat even though the
valve chamber or its cover be not warped. He
then, so it appears, treats such valves with some
sort of a graphite compound or something like
that, so as to make an artificial yielding seat
adhering to the disk.
I can understand the idea and if it all works
as he says • . . which I have no special
reason to doubt—then here we have a fine and
simple method for reconditioning old valves
which otherwise would have to be taken out
and replaced. In fairness, however, I think
that Brother Schweikart ought to tell us the
composition of his "Filler", for if it works so
{Continued on page 14)
Send for This Valuable
Free Book
One of the surest ways to increase
your profits Is to repair mars and
scratches immediately. If your prospec-
tive customer sees a defect in the finish
your chance of making a gale is greatly
diminished.
"How to Repair Damage to Var-
nished Surfaces" tells how you can in-
stantly repair any injury to the finish
of musical instruments or fine furniture.
It will Interest any dealer, tuner or
repair man.
WRITE FOR FREE COPY TODAY
If you are too busy to writ* a letter, pin
thl« ad to your card or letterhead and mail
it to us. We'll know what you want.
The M. L. Campbell Company
2328 Penn
Kansas City. Mo.
"Safety Insurance"
Checked and rechecked, tried in our
own finishing department, Hilo
Piano Finishes come to you guar-
anteed for smooth-working, satis-
faction in finishing, serviceability.
Since 1863, Hilo has satisfied piano
manufacturers — makers of cases,
plates, sharps, backs, etc.
Compare!
HILO VARNISH CORPORATION
(Moller & Schumann Co.)
BROOKLYN: 1 Gerry St. IVilliamsburg 5380
BOSTON: 104 Hanover St., Capitol 4862
PHILADELPHIA:
27 So. Fourth St., Lombard 7723
CHICAGO: 2420-24 Washburn St., Sceley 0150
PITTSBURGH: 218-22 Third Avc, Court 0609
KEYS RECOVERED AND REBUSHED
1
Send Postal for Free Sample
We are tpecialiiti in this work, which every dealer and tuner
needt. All work done by expert) with moit modern 'machinery,
and correct spacing is guaranteed. Replaced keyi appear
exactly a* when instrument left factory.
PRICES LOW—WORK GUARANTEED
Send Express or Parcel Post to
Frield Miller & Co., 3767 Illinois St., Indianapolis.lnd.
Established 1901
POLK TUNING SCHOOL
Pioneer school of piano, player-piano and Reproducing
Piano tuning and repairing in tke United States.
Complete Courses Taught in Seren to Tea Weeks
Writ* far ttrwu mmd liter****
POLK BUILDING
VALPARAISO. IND.
OTTO R. TREFZ, Jr.
Piano Bass Strings
Piano Repair Supplies
2110 Fainn.nmt AT*.
PUU«Ul»kU. I V
MAY
THE
16, 1925
MUSIC TRADE
13
REVIEW
TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT
Conducted By William Braid White
One Way of Remedying Leaks in Player
Valves and an Antique English Piano
A Pennsylvania Tuner and Repair Man Who Claims to Have Satisfactorily Solved This Problem
in His Own Work—Who Knows if the Smith Piano, an Old Instrument Made in Man-
chester, England, Is Still on the Market?—Some Comment on Its Construction
F. SCHWEIKART, of Northumber-
land, Pa., is a technician who has given
* a great deal of attention to the problem
of leaks in player actions. He comments upon
some recent remarks of mine about leaky
player valves, and what he says is most inter-
esting, so I reproduce it in part herewith:
"Some time ago I read irn The Review (Tech-
nical Department) where you spoke of valve
trouble, arising from dampness. You spoke
of using vaseline to help.
"Well, I tried that years ago. It is all right
in a way on some valve stems but on others it
is no use. I will say that I have worried my-
self almost sick over lost power in player-ac-
tions caused by dampness. I mean when the
power remains lost even after one has tightened
all packings. So I began to experiment and
for three years tried all kinds of things, and in
the end all my work seemed to have been for
nothing. However, I would not give up and by
sticking to it I found the secret. I call it
'Valve Filler' and by means of it I have fixed
electric pianos which had been given up for
good.
"A stick of this valve filler costs me about $2
C
to make, and one stick is about enough for
work on ten player-actions. I make it in a
mold one inch in circumference and with a
small round hole in the center. To use it the
procedure is as follows: I take out from the
player-action the valves, one at a time. Each
valve is cleaned with sandpaper and then its
seat is cleaned, too. Both these jobs must be
done thoroughly. Then I take the valve and
stick its stem down in the filler, turn it around
three or four times, and the valve is smooth
again.
"When a whole set of valves has been treated
in this way, it would do your heart good to
see the power come back. I can show you
electric pianos right in my territory which have
been treated in this way after they had been
given up as ruined by dampness, and which
have been restored in this manner.
"I do not have to tell you why valves leak.
It is dampness which is our great enemy.
Leather draws moisture and when the leather
REPAIRING
and ReHmshing
Pianos and Phonograph*
Writ* for Detail* and Tmrmt
FAUST SCHOOL
OF TUNING
PIANO REPAIR SHOP
339 So Wabask A T * .
Chlcac*
Standard of America
Alumni of 2000
Philadelphia School of Piano Tuning
Pita* Taouf, P«e aad Read Ortaa
•mi Nay*r Pica*. Tear Bo«4 Ft—.
REPAIRING. REBUILDING AND
PLAYER PIANO ADJUSTING
One of the Largest Schools In the East
Write for Catalog R
Organized 1»14
The Y.M.C.A., 1421 Arch St., Philadelphia, Pa.
27-29 Gainaboro Street
BOSTON, MASS.
on the valves dries, it dries unevenly, so that
the valves do not seat. One fills the uneven
places with my filler and if the seats are also
uneven the filler is soft enough to overcome
that fault, too. There are other leaks of course,
but the leaks I speak of are eighty-eight little
leaks, making one big one."
Comment
I understand that Brother Schweikart is a
tuner and player-man of many years' experi-
ence, who has worked on every kind of player
since the first cabinet instruments of the early
days. What he says sounds wonderful enough,
and also it sounds a little bit obscure to me.
I take it that he means that when disks on
valves have been subjected to moisture and
have warped, they will not seat even though the
valve chamber or its cover be not warped. He
then, so it appears, treats such valves with some
sort of a graphite compound or something like
that, so as to make an artificial yielding seat
adhering to the disk.
I can understand the idea and if it all works
as he says • . . which I have no special
reason to doubt—then here we have a fine and
simple method for reconditioning old valves
which otherwise would have to be taken out
and replaced. In fairness, however, I think
that Brother Schweikart ought to tell us the
composition of his "Filler", for if it works so
{Continued on page 14)
Send for This Valuable
Free Book
One of the surest ways to increase
your profits Is to repair mars and
scratches immediately. If your prospec-
tive customer sees a defect in the finish
your chance of making a gale is greatly
diminished.
"How to Repair Damage to Var-
nished Surfaces" tells how you can in-
stantly repair any injury to the finish
of musical instruments or fine furniture.
It will Interest any dealer, tuner or
repair man.
WRITE FOR FREE COPY TODAY
If you are too busy to writ* a letter, pin
thl« ad to your card or letterhead and mail
it to us. We'll know what you want.
The M. L. Campbell Company
2328 Penn
Kansas City. Mo.
"Safety Insurance"
Checked and rechecked, tried in our
own finishing department, Hilo
Piano Finishes come to you guar-
anteed for smooth-working, satis-
faction in finishing, serviceability.
Since 1863, Hilo has satisfied piano
manufacturers — makers of cases,
plates, sharps, backs, etc.
Compare!
HILO VARNISH CORPORATION
(Moller & Schumann Co.)
BROOKLYN: 1 Gerry St. IVilliamsburg 5380
BOSTON: 104 Hanover St., Capitol 4862
PHILADELPHIA:
27 So. Fourth St., Lombard 7723
CHICAGO: 2420-24 Washburn St., Sceley 0150
PITTSBURGH: 218-22 Third Avc, Court 0609
KEYS RECOVERED AND REBUSHED
1
Send Postal for Free Sample
We are tpecialiiti in this work, which every dealer and tuner
needt. All work done by expert) with moit modern 'machinery,
and correct spacing is guaranteed. Replaced keyi appear
exactly a* when instrument left factory.
PRICES LOW—WORK GUARANTEED
Send Express or Parcel Post to
Frield Miller & Co., 3767 Illinois St., Indianapolis.lnd.
Established 1901
POLK TUNING SCHOOL
Pioneer school of piano, player-piano and Reproducing
Piano tuning and repairing in tke United States.
Complete Courses Taught in Seren to Tea Weeks
Writ* far ttrwu mmd liter****
POLK BUILDING
VALPARAISO. IND.
OTTO R. TREFZ, Jr.
Piano Bass Strings
Piano Repair Supplies
2110 Fainn.nmt AT*.
PUU«Ul»kU. I V
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