The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I apologize in advance for the off topic post, but the player piano forum doesn't receive much traffic anymore and I'm looking for some help with my newest addition to the collection.

I just picked up this Foster and Co. player piano this past weekend in non working condition. I removed and patched a few holes in the main bellows as well as the motor bellows and oiled all the mechanism and it plays alright now. When I got it in though, I found three broken hoses in the bottom of the piano. I think I replaced two of them correctly (not 100% sure, Im kinda winging it! lol) and the third one I have no idea where it goes. Is anyone familiar with this kind of piano?

Thanks, Nick.

P.S. If anyone knows of a good way of patching bellows, I'm all ears because I'm still having leaks in the motor's bellows (I used cotton cloth and rubber cement).

The sixth photo shows the clear hose I replaced coming off a small bellow (to the left of the reservoir bellow).
The fifth photo is where I connected the hose from the first photo to.
The fourth photo shows the clear hose I replaced which is connected to a valve labeled as 'loud' on or off.
The third photo shows where I connect the hose from the third photo too (a button labeled 'loud').
The second photo shows the extra connection that I don't know where the hose would run to. When playing the piano, I can feel a suction being drawn in this connector.

PM sent-

Brad Abell

I think that's where the supply for your tracking unit plugs in. If memory serves, the tracker shuts off during rewind like the rest of the stack, and flat springs on the tracking unit center the two tracking pneumatics. Yours look to not be centered as rest, but they should be.

Is Player Piano Co. still in business? They had bellows cloth, motor cloth, pneumatic cloth, etc. of all kinds; I primarily used them for reed organ supplies.

-Bill

I just looked, Player Piano Co. is out of business. It closed in 2009. The building where they were is now loft apartments.

Try Ebay. https://www.ebay.com/itm/PNEUMATIC-BELL ... Swxq5dMnOj

I bought a rattle can of bellows treatment for sealing leaky player piano bellows many years ago. It was a rubber like liquid that dried to a flexible seal. Sorry, but I can't remember the brand or the source.