Hupfeld 73-note Phonola Vorsetzer

In 1902 the Ludwig Hupfeld firm launched its own 'pianola' in respons to Aeolian Company Aeolian Pianola. The device was called Phonola and soon was to be very popular all over Europe. The exact same instruments were also sold under the name Claviola. The Phonola was made in different styles and shapes. At first Hupfeld made only 73-note instrumentes, later on the also started making full scale 88-note Phonola's. (Not sure if Hupfeld ever made 65-note instruments)

History

The Phonola/Claviola instruments are made by the Hupfeld company of Leipzig, Germany

Tuning Scale

The 73-note scale actually plays 72 notes but has a range of 73, from low F to height f'''. Low F# is omitted for some reason. (Does anybody know why?) The scale is actually 77-note, containing 72 music notes and 5 extra tracks. These tracks are in the middle of the roll.

Holes:

Media

The Vorsetzer plays from paper music rolls with pin-end rolls like the 65-note rolls, except that the 73-note roll is slightly wider.

Restoration

Hupfelds are by some restorers considered the “Rolls Royce” of mechanical music. Indeed everything is beautifully engineered, but often much work is needed. Instead of rubber hoses Hupfeld made all major air channels through the wood, often these wooden channels need resealing. If screws have become rusty over time the heads tend to be ruined by screwdrivers, cutting the slot in the screw head slightly larger and cleaner works most of the time. Also a lot of screw holes are probably stripped and need fixing.