3-Rank Pipe Chest in the
Wurlitzer Style 33 Mandolin PianOrchestra
Philipps Pianella Model Silvana-Xylophon
(Krughoff collection; Tim Westman restoration)
 The pipe toes (for each individual pipe) fits into one of the holes bored into the top of the valve blocks. In the high treble range, where the pipes are physically quite small, two adjacent notes for each voice fit into the same block, using a back to back arrangement, which allows the two pipes to be very close to each other, while not "shading" each other. (Shading is the effect that one pipe has on another due to its physical proximity.) In the bass range, where the pipes are large, only one pipe for each voice fits into a block. |
The wooden blocks screwed down crosswise on the chest contain pouch valves, which are in turn operated by small primary valves located underneath the pipe chest assembly. A primary valve actuates the same musical note for all pipe voices. Running the length of the bottom board are three enclosed wind channels, one for each pipe voice. These channels are pressured or vented by a "ventil," a large capacity valve located in the box-like enclosure at the right. Whenever a particular pipe voice is to be activated, the appropriate ventil opens, supplying wind pressure to its channel. Whether a particular pipe then plays, or not, depends upon the pouch valve located under the pipe's toe.
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