These are disposable pianos. It has already outlived its serviceable life. To remove the top player action, you will need to label/index each hose. If there is not a union block
at the keyboard, you will need to disconnect the tubing from the individual valves down below.
The plastic valves are problematic in and of themselves and require rebuilding or replacement. That is, if the pneumatic cloth has not deteriorated as well. All the rubberized cloth is beyond its serviceable life.
So, the player end of things is in need of restoration at a cost exceeding the original purchase price. Add to that the cost of the physical piano regulation and you are far beyond the piano's value. Restoration depends on the owner's sentimental attachment and having deep pockets. I think most player guys will advise to toss the player and keep the piano going with regulation. This is where spare parts come into play. Think of what you would need to do to replace a broken string! Maybe even having to remove the entire lower section (disconnecting the tubing of course).
Even the cost of doing what you discribe overshadows the piano's value.
As with any player, have the owner play a roll. You don't want to work on it and then have the owner say, "It worked before you worked on it." Even thought it might have been 5+ years since a roll was played.
An experienced player tech needs to do the work on the player action.
An experienced piano tech needs to do the work on the piano action.
An experienced piano tuner needs to do the work on the tuning.
To find all that in one person is a challenge itself.
Personally, I would advise the owner to scrap the player and restore the piano. If it's the player they want, I'd advise them to get a new player piano.
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Regards,
Jon Page
mailto:
jonpage@comcast.nethttp://www.pianocapecod.com------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 09-25-2021 15:31
From: David Trasoff
Subject: Universal Player removal
Dear Colleagues,
I was called to service a Universal player piano, a pneumatic system upright produced into the the late 1970s (?). I was able to get barely sufficient access to the tuning pins to tune the piano, but after 40 years of neglect there was enough lost motion to make the piano almost non-functional. But I cannot see any way to remove the player top stack in order to do any kind of action service. It has dozens of individual pneumatic tubes that are routed through slots cut into the keys - I tried to get an illustrative photograph, but couldn't; still you can see what the system is from the photos. The stack can be loosened from its position and slid back a little (that's how I was able to get clearance to tune it), but if there's a way to completely remove the stack without disconnecting and reconnecting all those tubes I don't see it. Any experience or suggestions?
David
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David Trasoff
Whatcom Piano Service
(360) 389-2158
david@whatcompianoservice.com
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