Mills violano virturoso restoration
Progress report etc.
Progress to May 23/23
I am pleased to say we are about half way through checking each of the 148 individual circuits. We have found a variety of problems from several shorted magnets, Contact points stuck and several piano notes magnets grounded.
All items were repaired,
Also the piano tuning was down over 1 full note i.e. A sounded like G. So the first tuning was also completed raising the scale up half a tone.
I expect to do 3 tunings to bring it back to the correct A435 scale.
Rosin has arrived so we have also began to cast the special Rosin Cakes needed for the violin bows. This is a slow process of melting the rosin blocks then casting the correct size cakes to fit loosly in the rosin tray on the violin. Once the cakes are cast they must cool for 24 hrs before then sanded to the correct sizes and thickness. We will supply a good supply with the instrument.
I have attached a few pictures to show how each circuit is checked by attaching an electric meter to the Violanos music roll reader brush then applying a low voltage to see if the circuit is complete and if not to correct. This is a two person job which I hope we can complete this coming week.
There is also a lot of wiring to clean up where the previous restorer simply added new items such as the MIDI system into the original 1912 wiring which is a real rats nest.
Otherwise things are coming along and with luck we should be able to apply the full 110 volt DC to the instrument by Wednesday or Thursday and if all goes well, begin the regulation of the violin and piano etc.
Pictures can be made larger by clicking on them
(and they are as much for you as the are for us to be able to refer back to :-))
Ron
.........................................................................................................................................
I am pleased to say we are about half way through checking each of the 148 individual circuits. We have found a variety of problems from several shorted magnets, Contact points stuck and several piano notes magnets grounded.
All items were repaired,
Also the piano tuning was down over 1 full note i.e. A sounded like G. So the first tuning was also completed raising the scale up half a tone.
I expect to do 3 tunings to bring it back to the correct A435 scale.
Rosin has arrived so we have also began to cast the special Rosin Cakes needed for the violin bows. This is a slow process of melting the rosin blocks then casting the correct size cakes to fit loosly in the rosin tray on the violin. Once the cakes are cast they must cool for 24 hrs before then sanded to the correct sizes and thickness. We will supply a good supply with the instrument.
I have attached a few pictures to show how each circuit is checked by attaching an electric meter to the Violanos music roll reader brush then applying a low voltage to see if the circuit is complete and if not to correct. This is a two person job which I hope we can complete this coming week.
There is also a lot of wiring to clean up where the previous restorer simply added new items such as the MIDI system into the original 1912 wiring which is a real rats nest.
Otherwise things are coming along and with luck we should be able to apply the full 110 volt DC to the instrument by Wednesday or Thursday and if all goes well, begin the regulation of the violin and piano etc.
Pictures can be made larger by clicking on them
(and they are as much for you as the are for us to be able to refer back to :-))
Ron
.........................................................................................................................................
April 26 update. Work continues on the DC circuits now moving into the piano section of the Violano's music scale, So far around 9 notes showed problems and have been fixed. Piano is now also tuned to A435 which is concert pitch for 1908 and the original pitch this instrument was tuned to.
April 29 We have now completed the testing and repairs to the D.C. (Direct Current 110 Volt ) side of the instrument and began the A.C. (Alternating Current 110Volt 20 Amp)
I'm sure the pictures below will show the rats nest of wiring in the instruments coin box which also contains the A.C power fuses which had booth been blown.
I also found that the fuse box had been repaired in the past after one of the lugs that the wires fasten to had broken off and was soldered back in place.
*THIS SOLDER JOINT HAD MELTED. So no A.C. even got to the fuse block!
You can see in the pictures 13 to 15 the fuse block out for correct repairs.
*We decided the only way to clean up the coin box wiring was to mount the Fuse block outside the coin box where it is easily accessible and also keeps the 110Volt A.C. well separate from the D.C 110Volt side of the instrument.
*The actual coin slide mechanism is low voltage of 12 volts D.C. see transformer pictures 9 & 10
*We also upgraded the complete A.C wiring by installing correct electrical outlets which the MIDI systems requires. Pictures 16 & 17
*We also installed the MIDI reader inside the instrument below the Violano's paper music roll feeder so everything is self contained and no more extra wiring for the midi system is needed every time the instrument is moved.
see the large picture below.
* I also made a new SD card for the midi reader which has all of the Violano's 84 midi songs in one long list instead to the various "Files" the original card contains.
which required; first turning on the midi player, then scrolling down to one of three "Files" then clicking the "Right" button to enter the file, then pushing "up or down" to select a song to play.
*Now you just open the midi player, and push "Play" The songs will now play one after the other, or if you wish just scroll down to a special song you want to hear, and push "Play"
to hear your selection, and again songs after "Your " selection will continue to play until you push "STOP"
*Now we move onto the actual instruments adjustments and finally some music :-))
Ron.
To enlarge pictures just click on them.
I'm sure the pictures below will show the rats nest of wiring in the instruments coin box which also contains the A.C power fuses which had booth been blown.
I also found that the fuse box had been repaired in the past after one of the lugs that the wires fasten to had broken off and was soldered back in place.
*THIS SOLDER JOINT HAD MELTED. So no A.C. even got to the fuse block!
You can see in the pictures 13 to 15 the fuse block out for correct repairs.
*We decided the only way to clean up the coin box wiring was to mount the Fuse block outside the coin box where it is easily accessible and also keeps the 110Volt A.C. well separate from the D.C 110Volt side of the instrument.
*The actual coin slide mechanism is low voltage of 12 volts D.C. see transformer pictures 9 & 10
*We also upgraded the complete A.C wiring by installing correct electrical outlets which the MIDI systems requires. Pictures 16 & 17
*We also installed the MIDI reader inside the instrument below the Violano's paper music roll feeder so everything is self contained and no more extra wiring for the midi system is needed every time the instrument is moved.
see the large picture below.
* I also made a new SD card for the midi reader which has all of the Violano's 84 midi songs in one long list instead to the various "Files" the original card contains.
which required; first turning on the midi player, then scrolling down to one of three "Files" then clicking the "Right" button to enter the file, then pushing "up or down" to select a song to play.
*Now you just open the midi player, and push "Play" The songs will now play one after the other, or if you wish just scroll down to a special song you want to hear, and push "Play"
to hear your selection, and again songs after "Your " selection will continue to play until you push "STOP"
*Now we move onto the actual instruments adjustments and finally some music :-))
Ron.
To enlarge pictures just click on them.
May 1/23 Work continues with excellent news that the instrument is now playing once again,
We played it for over 8 hours continuously today by both the music roll system feeder and the MIDI system, and no electrical problems what so ever,
which is wonderful news.
Now I will begin the finalizing of the piano and violin regulation, tuning etc. so hopefully within the next day or two we will have lots of music to share which you which will be videoed and posted to this web site via YouTube.
We also made up a special package which will go with the instrument which is a copy of the "1912 Mills Violano's Salesman's Manual." with additions on string replacement and other information that came out in later Mills publications.
This is a quick instruction book for the new owner of this violano which answers all questions on the set up and regulation of the instrument and solutions to most problems.
This is a most difficult instrument compared to other automated musical instruments because of the addition of the violin, but this difficulty is what makes it all so much more amazing.
We are also including 6 new rosin cakes, two sets of violin strings, The piano tuners scale sheet, and a laminated instruction sheet on how to operate this violano, for playing by the music roll (coin & Free Play)
as well as the midi system and it's many features.
I have posted a few pictures below of the special package which will definitely help give confidence to the Auction bidders, that this instrument is complete with original manuals and instructions, all necessary tools, and spare parts that are difficult to obtain. (This should be mentioned by the auctioneer.)
Also because the violano has been in our shop we can verify as to its present condition which is now 100% including videos of it performing, and even my phone number if there are further questions by the new owner.
so bidders are not buying a pig in a poke as they say and should bring top dollar $$$:-))
Ron
We played it for over 8 hours continuously today by both the music roll system feeder and the MIDI system, and no electrical problems what so ever,
which is wonderful news.
Now I will begin the finalizing of the piano and violin regulation, tuning etc. so hopefully within the next day or two we will have lots of music to share which you which will be videoed and posted to this web site via YouTube.
We also made up a special package which will go with the instrument which is a copy of the "1912 Mills Violano's Salesman's Manual." with additions on string replacement and other information that came out in later Mills publications.
This is a quick instruction book for the new owner of this violano which answers all questions on the set up and regulation of the instrument and solutions to most problems.
This is a most difficult instrument compared to other automated musical instruments because of the addition of the violin, but this difficulty is what makes it all so much more amazing.
We are also including 6 new rosin cakes, two sets of violin strings, The piano tuners scale sheet, and a laminated instruction sheet on how to operate this violano, for playing by the music roll (coin & Free Play)
as well as the midi system and it's many features.
I have posted a few pictures below of the special package which will definitely help give confidence to the Auction bidders, that this instrument is complete with original manuals and instructions, all necessary tools, and spare parts that are difficult to obtain. (This should be mentioned by the auctioneer.)
Also because the violano has been in our shop we can verify as to its present condition which is now 100% including videos of it performing, and even my phone number if there are further questions by the new owner.
so bidders are not buying a pig in a poke as they say and should bring top dollar $$$:-))
Ron
Beauty Pictures
AND FINALLY SOME MUSIC FROM
THE MILLS VIOLANO VIRTUROSO
THE MILLS VIOLANO VIRTUROSO