Townsend & Thomson Player Piano

[dcparlier]

I just bought a used player piano with the following info on 2 metal plates:

Townsend & Thomson, est. 1829, 79 George St., Edinburgh (was told by seller it was a 1919 model) and

John Malcolm & Co., London (on a metal plate behind the piano roll holder)

Do you have any info on these companies? Also, were Townsend & Thomson the piano builders or only the retailers?

I have questions on the player piano controls in front. They are as follows, left to Right:

Bass Treble DIM (a lever - not sure what it does) Tempo Lever RITARD button (? use) Forward/Rewind Lever

Would like to know what DIM, the next lever and Ritard button do.

Thank you,

Dave Parlier
Hendersonville, NC USA

[Bill Kibby]

I can't help you with player controls, someone else may answer, but DIM probably means DIMINUENDO - getting quieter.

Malcolm made Piano Players before they were built into pianos, and he also made piano actions. I guess that Malcolm made the player action.

Townsend & Thomson were certainly retailers, but I cannot definitely say they didn't make it. Townsend himself was established in 1829, it was Townsend, Thomson & Grubb until 1881. They were not at 79 George Street until 1883, but stayed there at least until 1914.

Any further clues to date or origin will be hidden inside, see
http://pianohistory.info/datemarks.html

[dcparlier]

Thanks Bill, that helps a lot.
Dave

[Colin Nicholson]

Hi
With the exception of the play/rewind lever, the 'expression' levers will only work when the player unit is up and running and you are pumping the bellow pedals and running the paper roll.

The wind motor has three suction controls: 1. The governor 2. tempo control 3. accelerator. The speed and volume remains constant until you slide the levers - then the suction decreases or increases.

Most players have a standard volume level when played.... if you slide the lever to 'bass' - the bass notes will become quieter by less suction (which is how a pianist should play the piano normally),

The retard lever slows the music down .... this is done at the end of certain phrases.... depending on how far you extend the lever, the tempo control suction valve will decrease - even though you are pumping the pedals at the same speed.

The rewind lever is used to reverse the paper roll - and you pump the pedals (which shuts off the suction) - and the paper roll rewinds itself back onto the roll.... like rewinding a cassette tape.

Various valves and pneumatics work these levers independently - even though the player unit runs at the same constant speed.... depending on the level and experience of the pianist, they can gauge louds & softs/ rubato/ expression by simultaneously moving these levers a small amount during certain parts of the music, then returning them for normal play. The dim lever is controlled by your left hand, and the tempo/retard lever is controlled with your right hand..... often worked both hands together! For example, at the end of a piece of romantic music, a real pianist would gradually get slower and quieter towards the end. The retard lever should be used sparingly - and too much lever can ruin the sound of the music.... a good 'pianola' player will just nudge the lever a fraction when needed - say last few notes of a phrase, then gradually move the lever to resume normal tempo for the start of the new phrase. Even though you don't need to touch the keys, there is an art in playing these pianos properly.

This is of course assuming all the control valves are working correctly and connected up under the keyboard, and admitting the right amount of suction.... if there are any air leaks/ loose or worn hose or pipe connections or perished bellow parts (diaphragms/ pneumatics etc).... they might not work.... and depending on your aural skills?

To learn more about player pianos/ vocabulary/ diagrams/ how things work etc.... buy the book "Player Piano Servicing and Rebuilding" by Arthur Reblitz.

Hope that helps....

[dcparlier]

Thank you, Colin. I really appreciate the responses. We're really enjoying the piano and have many WWI and II music rolls. The piano has been restored and motorized. The only oddity is the keys don't move when the music is playing. I don't know if it was designed that way or if there is a control somewhere to reverse this. Anyway, I guess it saves wear and tear on the keyboard mechanism. Thanks again all.

[Colin Nicholson]

It's perfectly normal for some player units to be designed without keyboard movement. In the early days of the player piano, manufacturers didn't stay with a particular design for long - so some had weird and wonderful automated devices that were constantly changing. Some have "lock & cancel" devices. The Reblitz book explains about these devices.... but judging by your reply, (with respect) - you may be like a kid with a new toy, and not fully understand the mechanics.

[dcparlier]

You're right, it's like Christmas morning each time I put another roll in. Thanks for the book advice. I ordered it this morning.
Dave