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Aeolian Player Piano #52451 (1917)
 
 
Aeolian Player Piano #52451 (1917)
Oak cabinet. Original frnish has been removed and replaced with a light-coloured stain, Frame is solid; original strings and bridges are in satisfactory condition. Piano reconditioned by Ray's Piano Service in Spring 2018 for the owner in Princeton, MN.
IMPROVEMENTS:
Recondition Action—Tighten all action screws, clean, lubricate as needed, Install new hammer heads and dampers, replace defective parts.
Complete Regulation—Using new underkey punchings, perform adjustments to ensure that piano plays like new, tune to A-440.
Cabinet--Install new casters as needed. Additional work to be determined.
Player--Replace large hoses, check operation, report.
From: Pierce Piano Atlas, 12th Edition (2008, Larry Ashley Publisher, Albuquerque, NM).

Note: To obtain the age of your piano and details about the manufacturer, click: Pierce Piano Atlas--"the world's most authoritative publication on piano manufacturers, past and present." To learn how a piano works and how to go about buying one, we encourage you to purchase The Piano Book.
A - WORK COMPLETED IN OUR SHOP
1 - Hammer spring rail & damper levers removed

1 - Hammer spring rail & damper levers removed
2 - Hammer rail, regulating rail & bridle tapes removed

2 - Hammer rail, regulating rail & bridle tapes removed
3 - Rails, keys & damper levers in temporary storage

3 - Rails, keys & damper levers in temporary storage
4 - All action screws tightened, moving parts tested, defective parts replaced.

4 - All action screws tightened, moving parts tested, defective parts replaced.
For contact information, go to the "Home Page"
Original Manufacturer--Aeolian, Weber Piano & Pianola Comapny, Worcester, MA.
Established--1903.
Related brand names owned by the same company---Weber, Steck, Wheelock, Stuyvesant.
5 - Defective butts and warped hammer shanks replaced with new parts.

5 - Defective butts and warped hammer shanks replaced with new parts.
6 - Selected hammers with butts removed for sending as samples to supplier for new hammer heads.

6 - Selected hammers with butts removed for sending as samples to supplier for new hammer heads.
7- Hammer samples packed. shipped to hammer supplier to guide in selection and boring of replacement set of hammers.

7- Hammer samples packed. shipped to hammer supplier to guide in selection and boring of replacement set of hammers.
8 - Remove worn hammer rail cloth, install new hammer rail cloth.

8 - Remove worn hammer rail cloth, install new hammer rail cloth.
9 - Remove whippens in middle section, for replacing back check felts.

9 - Remove whippens in middle section, for replacing back check felts.
10 - Remove worn back check felts in middle section.

10 - Remove worn back check felts in middle section.
11 - Install new back check felts in middle section.

11 - Install new back check felts in middle section.
12 - Remove several defective jacks (poorly aligned to butts).

12 - Remove several defective jacks (poorly aligned to butts).
13 - Re-glue jacks in properly aligned position.

13 - Re-glue jacks in properly aligned position.
14 - Cut new shanks to proper length, glue in position evenly spaced with neighboring shanks.

14 - Cut new shanks to proper length, glue in position evenly spaced with neighboring shanks.
15 - Remove odd-numbered old hammer heads.

15 - Remove odd-numbered old hammer heads.
16 - Odd-numbered new hammer heads installed with hide glue.

16 - Odd-numbered new hammer heads installed with hide glue.
17 - Even-numbered old hammer heads removed with special tool (after soaking with wallpaper remover.

17 - Even-numbered old hammer heads removed with special tool (after soaking with wallpaper remover.
18 - Hammer shanks cleaned, tips sanded to even length.

18 - Hammer shanks cleaned, tips sanded to even length.
19 - Entire set of hammer heads have been replaced.

19 - Entire set of hammer heads have been replaced.
20 - Regulating rail re-installed, bridle tapes re-installed.

20 - Regulating rail re-installed, bridle tapes re-installed.
21 - Hammer rail springs cleaned, broken springs replaced.

21 - Hammer rail springs cleaned, broken springs replaced.
22 - Hammer rail re-installed; springs returned to proper proper position.

22 - Hammer rail re-installed; springs returned to proper proper position.
23 - With action turned upside down, defective felts replaced.

23 - With action turned upside down, defective felts replaced.
24 - Old damper pads remoed with chisel.

24 - Old damper pads remoed with chisel.
25 - Surface of damper blocks cleaned and sanded.

25 - Surface of damper blocks cleaned and sanded.
26 - Damper flange with broken spring replaced with new flange.

26 - Damper flange with broken spring replaced with new flange.
27 - Damper wires & springs cleaned with steel wool; springs tightened.

27 - Damper wires & springs cleaned with steel wool; springs tightened.
28 - Damper levers re-installed in action.

28 - Damper levers re-installed in action.
29 - Treble damper pads installed with glue. Bass damper pads will be installed at the piano for proper alignment to strings.

29 - Treble damper pads installed with glue. Bass damper pads will be installed at the piano for proper alignment to strings.
30 - Action Reconditioning Work Completed--Ready to be reguilated in the piano. (2)

30 - Action Reconditioning Work Completed--Ready to be reguilated in the piano. (2)
31 - Clean keys with steel wool.; replace missing and loose key button bushings

31 - Clean keys with steel wool.; replace missing and loose key button bushings
32 - Replace missing and loose front underkey bushings

32 - Replace missing and loose front underkey bushings
B - WORK COMPLETED IN THE PIANO OWNER'S HOME
30 - Action has been reconditioned in the piano shop. It's ready for regulating in the piano.
SELECTED PICTURES OF THE STEP-BY-STEP IMPROVEMENT PROCESS
CLICK PICTURE FOR LARGER IMAGE, THEN CLICK "CLOSE" TO RETURN TO THIS PAGE
33 - Glue and clamp broken fallboard strip.

33 - Glue and clamp broken fallboard strip.
34 - At owner's request, pack old parts.

34 - At owner's request, pack old parts.
35 - Glue & clamp key cover.

35 - Glue & clamp key cover.
36 - Repair fallboard hinges; refelt namboard.

36 - Repair fallboard hinges; refelt namboard.
37 - Cut large player hoses.

37 - Cut large player hoses.
38 - Clean keybed & keypins; install new key cloth & punchings.

38 - Clean keybed & keypins; install new key cloth & punchings.
39 - Re-install reconditioned action in piano.

39 - Re-install reconditioned action in piano.
40 - Install bass damper pads; regulate damper wires in bass.

40 - Install bass damper pads; regulate damper wires in bass.
41 - Install keys, ease tight rebushed keys, regulate capstans.

41 - Install keys, ease tight rebushed keys, regulate capstans.
42 - Replace badly corroded balance rail pins in treble section.

42 - Replace badly corroded balance rail pins in treble section.
43 - Regulate key heights.

43 - Regulate key heights.
44 - Regulate key spacing.

44 - Regulate key spacing.
45 - Regulate sustain system, spoons, key dip.

45 - Regulate sustain system, spoons, key dip.
46 - First tuning.

46 - First tuning.