I have a Gulbransen player piano which needs to be repaired. I am looking for reference materials that show how these player mechanisms operate so I can determine whether I want to tackle a repair. I also need to determine whether all of the parts are included. All of the keys on the piano work although some stick in the down position. Where can I learn more about these pianos?

Is this the correct forum to ask the question about the 1928 Gulbransen player Piano? Any help will be appreciated.

Hello
With Gulbrandsen there is 2 types of player models.One is made with a glued together stack (all the internal valves and attached pnuematics are connected to this) and the other version is a screwed stack.The screwed stack of course is easier to undo and work on , but if you have a glued stack then its very difficult to get apart without damage.Gulbransen players are very good players and work on the minumin amount of vacuum required , hence there motto "Easy to play" showing a crawling baby pushing the pedals.

If you have never rebuilt a player before , a Gulbransen is a mid range model in regards to difficulty and issues ,the best thing to do is double check that every piece of tubing and pipe work is fully attached , and that the bellows are working correctly and sucking air out making a vacuum to operate the player.
The best book around to do repaires/rebuilds is a book by Arthuer blizt (Player servicing and repair's) its a larger style soft cover book with a wealth of imformation.

In regards to the Gulbrandsen company , back in there hey day if a customer had a faulty player (stack ) the serviceman would remove the stack and do a factory replacement , if the stack was a glued model it was just simply chucked into the factorys furnace and used as fuel , they didnt even try to open them up or repair them.Many rebuilders cringe at the thought of rebuilding a glued stack , as it has to been sawn apart and then the gap has to be compensated for when been reattached together.

Yours been a late model should be a screwed version but i cant be 100% sure.
Best wishes,,,Daniel

I am currently reading the above mentioned book ("Player Piano Servicing and Rebuilding" by Authur A. Reblitz), Gulbrandsen has been mentioned several times in the first 50 pages. The book is overflowing with information and technical details about repairing and restoring player pianos. I would highly recommend it to anyone who owns a player piano. It is a follow up book to "Piano Servicing, Tuning, and Rebuilding" by the same Author. Which I also recommend.

I am reading it in preparation to restore a 1905 Apollo Player by Meville Clark.

Good luck,
ewaite

Great players there Ed , looking forward to seeing the progress! , i myself am halfway though a Aeolian Weber model FF pedal player grand.

Daniel

That Apollo is a hugely challenging project, I also would be really interested in it's progress. It has the possibility of being an amazing instrument once again. Good luck!!

Paul