THE AMICA NEWS BULLETIN

Published by the AutomatiC Musical Instrument Collectors' Association, a non-profit club devoted to the restoration, distribu­ tion and enjoyment of musIcal Instruments using perforated paper music rolls. Contributions: All subjects of interest to readers of the bulletin are encouraged and Invited by the publisher, All artIcles must be received by the 10th of the preceding month. Every attempt will be made to publish all articles of general Interest to AMICA members at the earliest possible time and at the discretion of the publisher. ADVERTISING Line ad rate: 8q per word, $1.20 minimum. OFFICERS Page rate: $12.50 per quarter page or multiple thereof. Ad copy will be typeset (at additional cost) only if requested. INTERNATIONAL CHAPTER ~ Each photograph or half-tone, $5.00 OFFICERS OFFICERS ~ Camera-ready copy that is oversized or underSized will be changed to correct Size at your cost. PRESIDENT NO. CALIFORNIA - Camera-ready copy must reach the pUblisher by the 10th of the preceeding month. Bo.b Rosencrans Pres.: Frank loob Cash must accompany order, Typesetting or size alteration VICE-PRESIDENT Vice Pres.: Howard Koff charges will be billed separately. Make checks payable to Richard Drewniak Sec.: Dick Reutlinger AMICA INTERNATIONAL. Treas.: Bill Wherry SECRETARY All ads will appear on the last pages of the BULLETIN, at the Reporter: Diane Lillibridge Isadora Koff discretion of the publisher. SO. CALIFORNIA BULLETIN Publication of business advertising in no way Implies AMICA's Pres.: Prentiss Knowlton endorsement of any commercial operation. However, AMICA re­ Tom Beckett ,Vice Pres. Elliott N. Lacy serves the fight to refuse any ad that is not in keeping with AMICA's 6817 Cliffbrook Drive Sec.: Evelyn Meeder general standards or If complaiots are received indicating that said Dallas, Texas 75240 business does not serve the best Interests of the members of Trcas.: Jim Christopher AMICA, according to its goals i:lnd by-laws. MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Reporter: Bill Toeppe (New Memberships and TEXAS ~ BULLETIN ADVERTISING IS CASH IN ADVANCE Mailing Problems) Pre s.: Dick Barnes Anita Nickels Johnson Vice Pres.: Doyle Cassel P. O. Box 666 Sec./Treas.: TOllY Palmer Grand Junction, Reporter·: James Guinn Colorado 81501 MIDWEST TREASURER Pres,: Milton Cooperman Jack and Mary Riffle Vice Pres.: Jim Prendergast Sec./Treas.: Jim & Sue Worgull Reporter: Molly Yeckley BOARD REPRESENTATIVES PHILADELPHIA AREA Pres.: Larry Cornell Nick Jarrett, N. California Vice Pres.: Ron Swanson The December cover was created from Dick Rigg, S. California Sec,: Barbara Macartney a "Pianduto" advertisement submit­ Haden Vandiver, Texas Treas.: Doris Berry ted by Dick Dahlberg. (See p 223) Ron Swanson, Philadelphia Reporter: Bill Pilgermayer Alan Mueller, S.O.W.N.Y. SOWNY (So. Ontario, West N.Y.) Jim Weisenborne. Midwest Pres.: Richard DrewIliak International AMICA 223 Anita N. Johnson, Rucky Mtn. Vice Pres.: William Hatzenbuhle (needlepoint project) 224 Sec.: Janet Drewniak AMICA Forum 227 Treas.: Stan Aldridge Rolls & Music 228 Reporter: Edythe Aldridge Texas 229 Felix Klempka Philadelphia 231 ROCKY MOUNTAIN Gulbransen chart 233 Pres.: Robert Moore Biographical Sketches 235 Sec./Treas.: James Bratton Technicali ties 240 J ,J" I " I, I J ~ . I" I" J ~ , . J I I "

THE STORY OF A CHRISTMAS EVE FANTASY

Out of the stillness distant chimes are heard ringing a strain from "Silent Night, Holy Night." A festival spirit is abroad and the merry old song, "Begone Dull Care" reaches us from far down the street. The band of singers comes nearer but their jolly song fades into the night as they turn down a byway. Again the chimes, and lot another group of choristers is at our very door serenading us with the beloved old carols, "0 Sanctissima" and "Once in Royal David's City." Christmas hospi­ tality demands that they be invited to join the merrymaking within. There, to Tschaikowsky's music for the fairy story, "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King," the children are dancing in joyful antici­ pation of the morrow and the delight of exploring to the uttermost toe the stockings that are already expectantly hanging about the chimney piece. The tuning of violins prepares one for the lovely music of Boccherini' s ."l1inuet" which sounds as fresh and dainty as when heard on Christmas Eve a century or more ago. The ancient dance over, the chimes, still pealing their Christmas message, mingle with the singing of "The Bells Of St. Mary's." With its concluding phrases a distant spire rings out the hour of midnight. Christmas has come - announced with the solemn splendor of Gounod's "Sanctus," the last notes of which bring a moment of reverent silence falling upon the scene like a benediction. To I hearts aglow with Christmas joy, "Auld Lang Syne" renews the precious memories that cling to thoughts of Christmas with its old yet ever delightful story.

A Christmas Eve Fantasy - Ampico #6800 Contributed by Bob Conant & Arranged and played by L. Leslie Loth. Bill and Dee Kavouras.

'< J J I ,I I , I I , I " , " ,,,,".,,. • I _I J I. , . I, I, , I I " ~

It seems once again appropriate to open the holiday issue of THE AMICA with the descriptive story from the leader of an Ampico Christmas roll. While often serving as a brief review of a particular artist's interpretation of the music, these "story" leaders also give historical information as to the origin of the music. Our mail indicates that there is a continued in­ terest in the reprinting of these descriptive leaders and we will be happy to provide them as long as members send them in. Merry Christmas. and Happy New Year to aU! Tom and Carole Beckett

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FROM THE PUBLISHER

1977 DUES: In this month's BULLETIN you will find DECEMBER COVER a second notice dues form. Needless to say, we hope you will make use of this second form if perchance Our beautiful December cover was the contribution of you misplaced the copy in your November BULLETIN. Dick Dahlberg of Maryland. The version above is a vIe look forward to having ALL of you back wi th us copy of the unaltered original made by John R. Grant. next year - and we anticipate hearing from many new.' Amicans as well.

1977 BULLETINS: The schedule of publication for 1977 should be as it was in '76. There will be 10 issues "- of the BULLETIN, starting in February (advertisers FABRIC DE ROLOS DE M take note - there will be no issue in January) and continuing monthly, with a;-as yet to be determined ··PIA,NAUTO one issue break in the summer while I take a vacation, until the end of the year.

I would like to express my appreciation to all who contributed to the BULLETIN in 1976 as it was you who provided the reading material and educational information for the rest of your fellow Amicans. I hope to hear from even more of you in 1977. Also, AMICA extends its gratitude to its advertisers, in particular American International Galleries, QRS, Play-Rite and Mechanical Systems Inc. and the many others who have helped support this production.

CHAPTER OFFICERS: Finally, I would like to extend congratulations to all chapter officers of 1976. Maintaining organization, interest, and growth on the local level takes special people and a good deal of effort. It might bear a reminder that joining a club implies that you are willing to contribute to that club. There is some way that everyone can help - be it on a local or national level - in 1977. There probably will be a lot of new names on the Chapter Officers roster in the BULLETIN masthead by the next issue so we take this opportunity to say "Thank you" to the ones who are listed there now.

AMICA Stationery. $3.20 (letter size). $1.75 AMICA ITEMS AMICA TECHNICALITIES BOOKS: Volume I FOR SALE (1969·1971), $5.50 postpaid; Volume II (1972· (note size), including mailing charges. Fine 1974), $7..50 postpaid; or order both sets for Quality stationery with ornate AMICA borders. AMICA BULLETINS. BOUND ISSUES: 1969, $12.50 postpaid. Reprints of interesting techni· Each packet contains 25 letters and matching $9; 1971, $15; 1972, $15; 1973. $15. 1974 calities articles which have appeared in the envelopes. Send orders to Robert Lemon, 4560 unbound sets, $15; 1974 bound sets, $18; AM ICA Bulletin. arranged and indexed into Green Tree Drive. Sacramento, CA 94823. 1975 bound. $18. PRICES INCLUDE appropriate categories. spiral bound to lie flat. POSTAGE AND HANDLING. Spiral bound to Send orders to Howard Koff, 2141 Deodara "They All Laughed When I Sat Down At The lie flat. Send to Mary Lilien. 4260 Olympiad Drive, Los Altos, CA 94022. Piano. But When IT Began To Play ..." Drive, Los Angeles. CA 90043. This sound and color super·8 movie. produced ROLL LEADERS: DUD-ART. Authentic. For AMICA Sterling Silver Pins. $4.25. including by AMICA members, is again available for loan order sheet, see the April. 1973 Bulletin. Nick mailing charges. Lap'el pin or tie tack with to AMICA members and chapters. For more Jarrett. 3622 . 21 st Street, San Francisco. CA AMICA design. Order from Robert Lemon, information write to Howard Koff, 2141 94114. 4560 Green Tree Drive. Sacramento, CA 94823. Deodara Drive, Los Altos, CA 94022.

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NEEDLEWORK PROJECT BY TOM BECKETT Evidently the needlework project I proposed in the August/September BULLETIN (page lS3) was not taken over-seriously or else there are a lot of you out there with good examples of the art but you're not sharing. Bless those of you who responded. If some of you didn't but are still interested, I'll still accept photos for a future feature.

Bench cover for matching 1924 Steck Duo-Art grand. Dick Dahlberg.

"Original equipment" bench cover that carne with a 1937 5'4" Mason & Hamlin Ampico B. John R. Grant.

Example of "loomed needlepoint" mass produced and available through pian¢ supply houses. J. R. Grant. Organ stool cover (pre-worked pattern) by the mother of John R. Grant.

Piano bench cushion designed and worked by Carole Beckett to compliment the music rack of our art case Chickering (page 180 October BULLETIN). Solid color using ten different stitch types. Pedals for reed organ (being restored for a customer by Dick Dahlberg). Black monogram on brown backgrond. (hope this photo works - TBl - 224 - Jnfernafional cflcJl(JrBcfl ,o.

The following is an excerpt from the WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, 10/30/76, entitled "1976 is the year for Gershwiniana." Contributed by Terry Smythe.

By TOM SHALES There are also some rather The WashlngtoJl Post abrupt fits of tempo changing. This is all because it was It's very clear Gershwin is decided by the conductor to here to stay. George Gersh­ rush along with the Gershwin win's name is, more than that piano roll just as Gershwin of any other composer, one recorded it, .even though that personifies U,S. music to Gershwin was playing the solo most people, even though plano version. Gershwin died 39 years ago, Producer Kazdin says two Composers who outlived him versions of the plano roll, one haven't been able to touch his doctored, were played for Til­ 8 color (shaded) bargello on pian%rgan bench ­ verSatility, his gift for mel­ son Thoma's. "On one I re­ ody, and his uncanny popular corded some of those particu­ design and work by Carole Beckett. appeal. larly fast sections at a slower As if to certify Gershwin's speed. Perhaps because standing as the -ultimate U.S. Gershwin was such a free­ composer, the Bicentennial wheeling sort of soloist, he year has seen a tremendous opted for tempos faster than revival of Gershwiniana ­ he would have used If he'd more so even than during been playing with an orches­ 197~, the 75th anniversary tra behind him. year of Gershwin's birth. Both tap'es were offered to The jazz age he embodied Michael Tilson Thomas and may have long since ended, he chose tile fast version. He but we are still living in what felt that'was the way Gersh­ biographers Edward J ablon­ win did it. The slow version ski and Lawrence D. Stewart may have been more tradi­ called The Gershwin Yea'rs. Ilona 1, but not as echt. So And this year seems even Michael's derring-do secured more Gershwin thanmost. us complete legitimacy. No Porgy and Bess not only got tampering was done at aIL" Its first full-fledged and full-' Of course, since Gershwin length operatic production, it was playing the solo plano also got its first full-fledged, version, it tnclul!ed the pas­ Needlepoint piano bench cover for Lingard Recordo full-length recording. Lorin sages normally played by an grand - Winston and Reba Jones collection. Maazel's spectacular if belat­ orchestra_ These were si­ ed revival on London Records. lenced when the piano roll was Other new recordings or reis­ recorded. sues of Porgy highlights are "There's one possible flaw just out or 00 the way. In our approach," Kazdin But the splashiest new ~oncedes. "There are two re­ Gershwin record has to be cordings of him playing with Columbia's tricky new ver­ Whiteman and we know he sion of that warhorse pf war­ didn't take off like a shot when horse, Rhapsody In Blue, the there was an orchestra best-known American concert around. So under the guise of piece In the world. Conductor authenticity, we might not be Michael Tilson Thomas and authentic. What we do have is producer Andrew Kazdin took the best stereo version of the a small, 25-plece jazz band, an Jazz-band orchestration." old Duo·Art piano roll of the The orchestration used was Rhapsody cut by Gershwin originally unearthed from the himself, put them all together Library of Congress by the in a studio and got a version of National Symphony Orches­ the Rhapsody conceivably tra, which performed it in closer than most recordings to Constitution Hall a few years Petitpoint piano bench cover for 1925 Baldwin Welte the version first played by ago. grand - Winston and Reba Jones collection. Gershwin and Paul Whit­ While the ghost of Gershwin man's Palais Royal Orchestra at Aeolian Hall in New York plays for Columbia's jazz on Feb. 12, 1924. band, however, RCA has re­ Issued a historic If acousti­ The recording (Columbia cally insufferable version of XM 34205) is obviously a gim­ the rhapsody which Gershwin micky little outing - one first himself recorded with White­ conceived by former Colum­ man's band on June 10, 1924. bia producer Thomas Z. She­ This is on Gershwin Plays pard, now an executive at Gershwin (Victrola AVMI­ RCA Victor - and more en­ 1740), which also includes tertaining than convincing, Gershwin's solo perfor­ and yet it's a welcome addi­ mances of his three preludes tion to the innumerable Rhap­ (again at a speed akin to sody recordings available. breakneck) and some of his Part of the surprise in the Jauntiest and most infectious new Columbia recording show tllncs. comes from the speed with The Rhapsody Is drastically which the rhapsody is dashed abbreviated because It had to off - 13 minutes and 40 sec­ be fitted onto two sides of a 78 onds. This is close to the origi­ RPM disc, and the recorded Needlepoint piano bench cover for Artrio-Angelus nallcngth but far shorter than sound remains a mess; still, most subscquent - and often it's another version that grand - Winston and Reba Jones collection. laboriously padded - record­ Rhapsody lovers will have to ings. own.

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The player plano• ain't dead yet

By DON RUHTER Contributed by Bert Plonien. Staff Writer In a former roadhouse at Schwimmer says, "someday the edge at Prairie View, we'll have a factory and man­ piano versions at "Aba ufacture player instruments of Daba Honeymoon", and "The all kinds." But right there is Varsity Drag", compete for where the whole organization the listeners attention with gets cagy Wld clams up like "American Pie" and "Jesus a general who has just been Christ Superstar", only there asked how the new gUidance is no one at the keyboard. system on a Polaris missile The Player Piano Center at works. U.S. Rtes., 22 and 83 is billed The only thing anyone at the by its owners as the only re­ center will say is, "isn't it a tail player piano outlet in the little ridiculous to confine Midwest specializing exclu­ player mechanisms to string sively in player pianos. An­ instruments that weigh 7:,0 tique dealers say this may be pounds? Why not player gui­ stretching the point a little, tars, or ukuleles or fiddles or but they admit its the only one bass violas or even saxo­ they know at this side of St. phones...." Louis. "Saxophones?" you /lsk. But the fact remains the cen· And they smile and turn ter is the only place around away. At least for the present, where a granite-eared music the company seems to be Jover can flick a switch and sticking to player pianos and a command men like Thomas modification of the player Uley "Fats" Walker and Victor Ar­ c,all an ampico reproducing den to tickle the ivories with piano. While a regular player tunes like "Ma, He's'Making just plays the tune and that's E~es at Me," "Annie Laurie," it, this reproducing piano can "Pack Up Your Troubles (in re-enact the performances of your Old Kit Bag,)" "Red Hot famous musicians like Rach· Mama" 0r "Papa Joes." maninov or Paderewskl he­ What really amazes sam" cause it can play fortissimos people however, is that with aod pianissimos (loud and the same flick of that wrist soft) thus catching the mood and after the WHrrrrrrackarac and feeling the individual art­ rackphomrackpJackplackni. It ist intended to portray. seems to serve as a prelude to Schwimmer denies that only every song, the same piano connoisseurs of music can that just ground out "Pretty ever want an ampico repro­ Baby" can turn right around ducing piano. "Look," he says, and come up With, "I'd Like "if you aren't a musician, all To Teacn The World To Sing," you can be is a musical voy­ Beatie Gcorge'Harrison's "My eur. This piano is the next Sweet Lord" or "The Theme hest thint; to playin~ yourself From The Summer of 42," hecause the speed. snund and Mike Schwimmer, one or vohl;lle of lhr music is varia­ seven men who own and oper· hie." ate the center, says a player Because every player piano piano renaissance is taking can also be played manually. place in the United States. Al­ any parent who has ever had though Pra.\rie View might visions of his little Johnnie be­ seem an unlikely "Florence" News-Sun Photo coming another Van Cliburn for this renaissance, SchwJm­ AI Gibbons tunes up piano in Prairie View shop has a way to hedge the long mer says total industry sales the player piano. The depres, shot bet and investment in­ are running right off the scalc practical approach too. "Wz Tl1e center considers $1,000 volved when up to $2,000 is comp~­ sian didn't help sales either. and the few remaining all have problems we can't to ~1,800 a "re~,sonable cosL" Okay, with stereo compo, shelled out for a piano. If you nies that make piano rolls cope with and try to escape buy a player and Johnnie nents and FM stations boom fol' a one shot lifetime enter can't keep up with the de­ throws a temper tantrum after ing, "'hats. bringing the player from - at least momentarily lainment investment. mand. his third lesson threatening to back? Schwimmer can't say - through entertainment. The The way Schwimmer talks the play the piano with an ax if h3 In case you are too y.oung to for sure, but he can guess. trouble i' many forms of en­ player piano is the greatest ever has to touch it again, all remember, player pianos werc ll.art at it is the resurgence of tertainment are becoming so boon for togetherness since expensive that heing enter­ God made Eve, But the Play­ you have to do is plug in a roll hot items in the years from nostalgia," he says. "These tain~d er Piano Center isn't about :0 of your favorite music and 1900 until the stock market machines are symbolic of a at a reasonable cost be­ open an ad campaign around send Johnnie out for baseball crash in 1929. According to time when life was simple and comes a problem in itself. Eu­ the siogan, "the family that pra,ctice. Schwimmer and the history maybe people who buy play· a ter the player piano." plays together stays togeth­ books, the Increased fidelity of er piano just want to grab a Play it again Sam. records and radio, and the er." decline in price as these novel­ piece of that era - maybe." "We're convinced we areit't ties became common killetl But Schwimmer has a more fooling <:round with a fad,"

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The following letter was submitted by Bill Eicher with the permission of Charles Hanley and Henry Lange. STEINWAY GRAND LENGTHS I am aware that there are letter designations for Dear Mr. Lange: the lengths of Duo-Art Steinways, such as XR for 6', OR for 6'6", and AR for 6'11". Does anyone have I understand you are a member of AMICA. I am also a a list of letter codes for the other sizes? In member. Well, my purpose in writing you this letter particular, what are the letters for grands over is the fact I listen on our Steinway Concert Grand Duo­ - 6' 11" in length? Geoffrey Kaiser, Box 222, Art to some of the musical numbers you recorded for Sumneytown, PA 18084. the Duo-Art.

Some time ago, I picked up Duo-Ar~ roll 19275, a re­ cording you made in 1923 entitled "I Love You," com­ posed by Archer. But on the roll leader is a picture of you on the steam ship Leviathon. Then below the picture it says "Henry Lange, one of the best known REPRINTS BEING CONSIDERED players of popular music, whose recordings have been an outstanding feature of Duo-Art popular rolls, returned A TREATISE ON THE ART OF PIANOFORTE CONSTRUCTION by in August on the Leviathon, from several months tour Samuel Wolfenden. of Europe. The photograph shows Mr. Lange on board ship in New York Harbor. He is a pianist for Paul As you know. Unwin Bros. Ltd. reprinted the above book. Whiteman." It's a nice picture and one that I will and it has recently sold out. A second reprint is now never part with it. being considered and it will contain an appendix of tables brought up to modern standards. I plan to be in Dayton September, 18th at the AMICA convention and I hope to have the pleasure of meeting If any member is interested in purchasing one of these you. books. a line to Unwin Bros. Ltd •• The Gresham Press. Old Waking. Surrey. England indicating intention to I have been a Duo-Art tech. since 1932 and I have met purchase a hook may assist in bringing the book up in several Duo-Art artists during that period. the priorit~' list of their publishing division.

Kindest Regards, The MODERN PIANO by Lawrence M. Nalder. Very truly yours, ChM. W. Hanle.y The demand for this book is such that Unwin Bros. Ltd. have made a definite decision to produce a fascimile reprint. They would similarly be pleased to hear from interested members of AMICA as they are now compiling a list for pre-publication sales. Greetings to you all. Yours sincerely. hank HoUand The Musical Museum - England.

ALTERNATE METHOD FOR REMOVING PNEUMATICS DUO-ART QUERY BY ROBERT THOM BY JOHN R, GRANT In the October issue of the BULLETIN an article by An article on page 104 of the Technicalities booklet Roger Anderson explained how to remove the pneumatics relates to the pallet valve found on the soft pedal from a Gulbransen glued stack. of some Duo-Arts. The 1924 Stroud upright I am pres­ ently working on has this feature (see photo) and I There is another way, wh i ch I like better, a I though am having a little trouble buying the explanation others may not care for that method namely - put given which was to activate intensities #1 and #2 "to the stack in a deep freeze and freeze i! good. The prevent the (accompaniment) pressure from dropping pneumatics will pop off with just a nice tap and out when the soft peda lis on." Th i s seems to me leave no broken wood. This may sound crazy, but it to be working at cross purposes: calling for soft works. pedal, then raising accompaniment level. If the_ "drop out" is due to the additional air being used This is the second time I've heard of this method by the soft pedal actuator, then it would seem that so Robert is not the only one having success with the regu I ators (both peda I and accompan iment) are / it. TB not doing their job properly. The mechanism was un­ tubed when I got it so I am unable to say it wasn't

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tubed that way. Neither is the restoration to the "The Snow King" - A march written by F.R. Powell, Jr. point that I can test the suggested arrangement. Is and music copyrighted in 1921 by Jenkins Sons Music there confirmation of this scheme? Why was this not Company, words copyrighted by QRS Music Co. in 1921. also a problem on grands? (Only uprights have this The roll is QRS #1662 and plays at the tempo of 80. valve to my knowledge.) Why does the technical The words to this song are more of an inspiration to the title than the music. As a march, it is all right, but nothing special.

"White Christmas" - The song written by Irving Berlin in 1942 has been a Christmas favorite of just about everyone except for, of course, Mr. Scrooge and the Grinch, but even they are enlightened with song before the season is up. Max Kortlander plays this Christmas favorite on QRS #7742 which contains a good set of choruses plus the verse. The arrangement is smooth and easy going as much as the styles of this era are expected to be. The QRS roll #9756 of this song is played by Dick Watson which is also a very good ar­ rangement but contains no verse. Oh well, those verse lovers who haven't got #7742 will just have to listen to "Bing" in that famous movie this season.

"Sleigh Ride" -A QRS roll # 9283 played by Ted Baxter. The song is written by Parish and Anderson. Another Christmas favorite, this arrangement can best be des­ cribed as being an interpretation of the Arthur Fiedler Boston Pops recording of this song.

literature not address this point? Illustration "N" of the 1925 service manual shows the valve in place (although with only one nipple instead of two) but shows no tubing attached to it nor is any mention made in the narrative sections about it. Guidance STORY ROLLS will be greatly appreciated. Please contact John BY BILL &DEE KAVOURAS R. Grant, 12318 Kemmerton Lane, Bowie. MD 20715 or telephone (301) 464-2391. Ampico #68771 - Turkish March (Ruins of Athens) Beethoven-Rubinstein played by Sergei Rachmaninoff

It was as incidental music to a play "Ruins of Athens" ~ ~ ~ that this spirited march was first heard. With Bee­ thoven's music it was the drama which opened the New aotts and cJJ(usic Theatre at Pesth on February 9, 1812. There are eight numbers in the entire suite but with the ex­ ception of the Overture and this March they are un­ famil iar to music lovers of today. The Turkish March has been a favorite work of Beethoven for over a cen­ tury. It is frequently interpreted, as done orginal­ PIANO ROLL REVIEW ly by Anton Rubinstein, as if it were the mU3ic for BY DAN TUTTLE a procession coming from a distance and passing in SS-NOTE ROLLS review before the hearer - beginning softly, rising gradually to a climax after which it dies away. Mr. "Christmas Special Medley" - The word "special" is the Rachmaninoff, however, treats it as absolute music, best description of this medley of three Christmas and gives us a very individual and beautiful reading of the work and one doubtless much nearer what Bee­ carols. The roll is Melodee #302925 and includes the carols "0 Tannebaum," "Ihr Kinderlein Kommet," and thoven had in mind when composing it. It is gay and "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing." The first song, "0 spirited, and the effects of drums and fifes kindle Tannebaum," is done with mandolin interpretation for a genuine enthusiasm and create a vivid picture of two choruses and then the arrangement of the second a passing procession. song "Ihr Kinderlein Kommet" takes on the feel of a music box although it is not a treble section music Mme. Samaroff, who has also recorded it for the box interpretation. "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" Ampico, follows the picturesque conception of Rubin­ quiets things down to a relaxing blend of chimes which stein. It will be interesting to compare the two closes the roll. equally beautiful and equally individual interpreta­ tions of this famous old march.

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to the loosening of Chopin's imprisoned iridescent Ampico #67793 - Woodland Sketches Op. 51 bubbles and turn and stay them so that they can catch No.1 To A Wild Rose; No.4 In Autumn the light to shine and sparkle with the beauty for MacDowe 11 which they were created. played by Homer Samuels Ampico # 6800 -A Christmas Eve Fantasy (see page MacDowell loved the hills and streams of his native 222 of this BULLETIN) New England, and the reaches about his woodland home spoke to him in a language that he well understood. What they whispered to him he has translated for us in these beautiful "Woodland Sketches." Such music as is offered in these exquisite pieces seems the ideal expression of the mood and picture he would create. The fragile beauty of the wild rose and the golden splendor of autumn in the New Hamshire hills are truly depicted in these 1ittle tone poems.

Ampico #67841 - Rosamunde (Ballet Music) Schubert-Godowsky played by Mieczyslaw Munz

About 1820 Schubert was fired with an Qmbition to ad­ d'e:cas dress the larger publ ic of the theatre, and this led him to accept a commission to prepare the incidental music for a spectacular play "Rosamunde, Princess of Cypress." Schubert completed the music, which con­ sisted of several parts, in five days. It is recorded OCTOBER MEETING AT THE HOLCOMB'S that the Overture played at the first performance on BY JAMES GUINN December 20, 1823 was twice redemanded, and that the other numbers were loudly applauded by an audience A beautiful fall afternoon, Sunday, October 10, fou~d which called for Schubert himself at the close. members of AMICA-Texas assembled at the home of Stan and Ginny Holcomb in Richardson. A good time was had In spite of the beauty and success of this incidental by all, with hearing and playing the collection of music the play was a complete failure. Its plot was automatic instruments the order of the day. In the tedious and improbable, and as a drama it has entirely Holcomb's living room is an Aeolian player reed organ, disappeared. Schubert's part in the performance still which dates from 1895 and plays 46-note rolls. This lives. One of the loveliest of its several parts is model preceded the Aeolian Grand and the Orchestrelle. this exquisite ballet music. It is singularly grace­ In the den are the Reproduco piano-pipe organ and the ful and a beautiful musical setting for a ballet seven-rank pipe organ with Aeolian console and player. picture. Schubert's melodies seem plucked from the The pipe organ is to have later additions and further lyre of Apol 10 himself, and he weaves a spell for the hearer in every note of his exquisite inspiration.

Schubert publ ished several of the pieces from his "Rosamund" suite but the ballet music was lost sight of unti 1 1867 when the manuscript was discovered in Vienna by Sir George Grove and Sir Arthur Sullivan.

Ampico # 67751 - Etude, Op. 10, No.8, F Major Chopin played by Nicolas Orloff

Huneker, in writing of this Etude, speaks of its rich, brilliant sweep and rejoices in the beauty of sound it evokes from the piano. "It elbows the treble to the last euphonious point, gl itters and crests itself only to fall away as if the sea were melodic and could shatter and tumble into tuneful foam." The work is not deeply emotional - "frankly, a show piece for the fashionable concert hall. One catches at its close the over-tones of bustling plaudits and the clapping of gloved palms." It presents difficulties for the pianist. He must bring an aristocratic ease Host and Hostess Stan and Ginny Holcomb at the Aeolian pipe organ console.

- 229 - ,e.. . crezas .~ rebuilding of the player mechanism, but it performed admirably Guilmant's March on "Lift Up Your Heads" and the Bach "Little Fugue in G Minor," along with Meyer­ beer's "Coronation March" from "Le Prophete" and some popular tunes. Also in the den is a Hammond player piano - #43881, which dates from 1923, has had very little res­ toration, and still performs excellently. This piano, a product of the Straube factory, is equipped with their Artronome player mechanism and the pneumatically­ controlled "Melo-Harp," which, according to the 1926

Brian Zimmerman and Haden Vandiver relax by the "for sale" items table. Highlights of the business meeting were the announc­ ment of the December Christmas dinner and party on Saturday, December 18, at the home of Dr. and Mrs. John Armstrong in Fort Worth. The party will begin at 4:30 P.M. We are looking forward to good food and music by Dr. Armstrong's Aeolian pipe organ and Mills Violano Virtuoso. President Richard Barnes asked for nominations for chapter officers for next year. Since Wade Newton, Richard & Janet Tonnesen, and Becky none were offered, this item of business was deferred Newton. until December. Bill Flynt brough his copy of Piano Servicing, Tuning, and Rebuilding, by Arthur Reblitz. The book, which Bill recommended highly, can be obtained from the Vestal Press, Player Piano Company in Wichita, Kansas, or from the author. The cost is $15.00. Bill Flynt also had some used vacuum gauges for sale at $8.00 each, and Merrill Baltzley brought some Themodist

Part of the overhead pipe assembly. Presto Buyer's Guide, adds "harp tones to the music at the touch of the operator's finger." Stan is also in the process of rebuilding a two-manual Estey reed organ of 1920 vintage. This organ was located in a chicken house at Marshall, Texas, where it had been used for nesting and roosting for some time after it had left a James Guinn, James Kelsey, Dick Barnes, and Del Lyon church in the area. study the new Reblitz book. - 230 - ~ ~Ri!adetpRia

rolls to sell. We enjoyed the refreshments of chips This meeting report may sound 1ike a Southern Cal i­ and dips, cookies, punch, coffee, etc., and hope that fornia chapter "Hollywood" function, but it was ac­ Stan and Ginny will invite us again. The hospitality, tually held at a beautiful mainl ine home in Malvern the instruments, and the food were all super-fine! Pennsylvania. Ron and Gloria Swanson - yes - Gloria Swanson, hosted our first meeting of the season on Sunday, September 19. By the way; we also have a Robert Taylor.

Listening to the Reproduco o

A few of the girls gather in the kitchen for a little

chat o It's about the only room in the house with­ out a piano. But not for long because Ron is on the lookout for either an Ampico or a Welte with a built­ ~iiila.Ee!pRia in refrigerator!

PHILADELPHIA AREA CHAPTER MEET BY BILL PILGERMAYER

This group is all ears as host Ron Swanson divulges some of his highly successful tape recording tech­ niques. The Swanson collection is quite complete having all the major manufacturers products represented. Ron has restored to perfection a 1919 Knabe Stoddard Ampico grand. This piano was played continuously by President Larry Cornell in full command of the bus­ the guests. The den housed a beautiful 6 foot 3 inch iness portion of the meeting. Welte Baldwin grand under restoration. This piano - 231 - 4RiladelpRia

will be fabulous when finished. Ron recently added a large Kimball the~ter pipe organ which will be a Steinway Duo-Art grand to their collection. Wow! used to accompany the film. Members Mike Naddeo Knabe, Steinway, Baldwin - what a family. and John Berry have offered to make available a nick­ elodeon and reproducing piano for a lobby display. A firm date wi 11 be announced at our next meeting.

Many thanks to Ron and Gloria for their hos?itality, good food and good music.

In fact, I almost forgot what I really came for ­ Gloria's autograph.

Hostess Gloria just finishes bringing out the goodies as the crowd moves in.

The first portion of the business meeting involved nominations for next years' officers. Member Alan Lightcap went over the finalization of plans for the reproducing piano concert to be held by our chapter at West Chester College on October 14. The Steinway Duo-Art from the collection of International Presi­ Bob Taylor and Jeff Kaiser listening to the Knabe dent Bob Rosencrans will be featured. Ampico in the Swanson living room"

Tentative plans were made for an AMICA silent film HERMAN festival in Apri I at the Colonial Theater in Phoenix­ ville, Pennsylvania. It is a beautiful theater with

,.

hf·,·.:. "Hey you. 'I'm trying to watch television;'! He~fl There are a few in the basement. Larry Cornell (right) explains different systems to new member John Herman. Knabe Ampico - Cunningham Recordo. Contributed by Terry Smythe.

- 232 -

dJioorapRical &KefcRes

Coming to the u.S. in 1900, he was highly recommended HENIOT LEVY by Leopold Godowsky for the position as a teacher in BY EMMETT M. FORD the American Conservatory. Mr. Godowsky's letter of recommendation was as follows: Heniot Levy, pianist, teacher, composer and Welte-Mig­ non roll artist was born in Warsaw, Poland, July 19, "My Dear Mr. Hattstaedt: 1879. His family was musical and Mr. Levy attended Having just returned from Austria I hasten to com­ the Royal High School of Music in Berlin and acquired ply with your request in suggesting to you a leading his piano training under Professor Oscar Ralf and Pro­ pianist and teacher for the American Conservatory. Of fessor Heinrich Barth. Composition was studied under such as would be capable to accept the position and Professor Freiherr von Herzogenburg and Professor possess the ability to fill it with honor to themselves, Bargiel. Further study in composition was in a special to your institution and to me I know of none more suit­ class conducted by the distinguised composer, Dr. Max able than Mr. Heniot Levy. Mr. Levy is a pianist of Bruch at the Royal Meisterschule. Mr. Levy twice re­ unusual attainments and an exceedingly gifted composer ceived the Felix Mendlessohn prize and his Sonata for and teacher. He enjoys an excellent reputation in Piano and Violin won the first prize in Warsaw. Berlin and no less a man than Prof. Joseph Joachim gladly conducted his compositions in Berlin. He pos­ While residing in Berlin, he concertized throughout sesses a very large repertoire and would be a notable Europe attaining a prominent position in the musical acquisition to the pianistic element of Chicago. Trust­ world as a pianist and composer. It was Leopold God­ ing that you may succeed in bringing Mr. Levy to your owsky's recommendation which resulted in Mr. Levy's city and wish you every success, believe me. first engagement in Halifax, Canada. Very sincerely yours,

Leopold Godowsky"

Mr. Levy's acceptance of the position was announced in a Conservatory bulletin dated 1904.

In 1912, a prize of 1,500 francs was offered by the Prince of Monaco for a compcsition. Mr. Levy received the award for his composition of a trio. The contest was held in Paris. Among the judges for the contest were Saint-Saens, Debussy and other musical celebrities.

Mr. Levy appeared often as a soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under the conductorship of Frederic Stock. He also performed with the Minneapclis Sym­ phony and as a member of the Kneisel Quartet. He gave solo recitals in the u.S. and Europe.

His composition, Variations on an Original Theme for piano, was recorded by Mr. Levy-;n two Welte-Mignon ~hair.,-' rolls, numbers C7323 - Part I and C7324 - Part II. He "GJfere I am .,-Sitting in this also made other rolls for welte-Mignon and they are ~ and yet I am in that Tiano" .. "Etude E Minor Op. 25 No.5" - Chopin (X6724); "Etude No. 25 F Minor" - Chopin (B6737); "Mazurka B Minor Op. _~C7\IfILD INTEREST- then ~~lpt ;luenrion-:thcn "'onder and 'amazemenr- . 33 No.4" - Chopin (C7534); "Nocturne E Major Op. 62 V O-l f(·gistercd in (he' f,tC_c of Helllo~ ~VYt o.f (he Amt'rica!l Con~~~:l.[Or)' . No.2" - Chopin (C6562); "Prelude A Minor" - Bach-Liszt a.WELT:C.MIGN9N.~: of Music. Chicago. as he listened for the Ii"t time to (C6591); "Waltz No.1" - Levy (X6559); and "Waltz No. reproduCtion of his plaring of one of his own compoSluons: ~mpo~,ble. 2" - Levy (C7365). he said. "fof hNC I am Sluing In thiS (half-and yet. I am IU, Ibat P/(I1{O. . MoSt great pianists-skeptical. of all· repwducing. pianos-expreSs equal wonder and :101:lZ,"mcnt,3C che "magica!" fidclil)' of· the ~/~l.TE.MIGNON." Mr. Levy compcsed a piano concerto, a string sextet, reproducing (l((lO!l- rbyrb11l, /IJ"c, (olor! quality, limr) imlj,'idlM/il)'.. . one string quintet, two piano quintets, four string .Olle hllllllr('~' :l1lJ thr(.'~ leading AmNlcllri pl3ll0 ll'l"a.nu~;lnUr("rs h3Vl" ~tle~ted quartets, two piano trios, a cello sonata and numerous \\ rLTI ,\l!(,NON- as [h<: ol1ly"u:proJucing a~tion (or (h~'lr pl.IOt)S. There(ore. when piano pieces and songs. yuu .sell'.! J rt'pruducing pi:lOO, s.e1ect om: c:quirp,,1 with ~TI"T1AtllGNO'\:.t. .

Mr. Levy later became Associate Director of the Amer­ (illelt£",OQiBnon ican Conservatory of Music in Chicago. ,,!O"U-'l ,PIANO Some of Mr. Levy's students who became successful were Beatrice (Epstein) Eppinelle, who had a successful Carnegie Hall debut in the mid-forties, Zennon Tuezyn­ ski, a prodigy, Joseph Brinkman*, who was head of the Piano Department at the University of Michigan until

- 235 - JJioorapRical dllefcRes

his death in 1960, a Mr. Shaw, who became director of the Oberlin Music School and many others. Learn Piano Tuning A Profession that Can be Oonverted Into Mr. Levy and his wife had two children, a daughter Money at Any Time or Place In the CIvil­ Women's Lib 1909. Mildren, wife of the former basso with the Metropolitan ized World, at an Hour's Notice. Opera, Alexander Kipnis, and a son, Hans L., who was Contributed by an instructor at the Chicago Conservatory and director Emmett M. Ford. and conductor of the Utah State Symphony Orchestra in Salt Lake city and conducted the Vienna, Moscow, Denver, Seattle and Evanston Orchestras. He also conducted the Grant Park concerts in Chicago. His death was in 1960 in Westport, Connecticut.

Heniot Levy's death was in Chicago, June 16, 1946.

(Credits: Chas. Moore - Registrar, American Conser­ vatory of Music; Mr. ~m. Browning - American Conser­ vatory of Music; Ann B. Ikler - Chicago Public Library; Ada Honderick - Chairman of Artist Foriegn Goodwill We tenth hy PE:HSOS AL corrcllpolldf>n('f'; lmtrtle- Concert Tour; James Bratton and Bill Pixley for the f~O~nd;r[\~~i~~t;~~i.l~e~';.~~~~~~!:l;~~~'.~~i~~~~'~l'~r~t8~~~~~ BryaDt.. Our courl'C 18 Nl/ltpl". C()fIll)lett', p,-oclictll. It. tborough!v "'O\'(-r~ cvt>ry brandt of the tuoer'lt art- list of Welte-Mignon rolls made by Mr. Levy; and Mrs. TUDing.~{~OJ:l:i~g~~~O.?a8~eli~1~tllri~g..~~~~~r. Alexander Kipnis. Note: Mr. Levy's brother, Stanley, IDg~0118ulng.'Fre.ndl l'ollBhfoK Rod StalnloEC. By the aid of our cleur leMon!!, our peuollul was the author's piano instructor in Wichita in 1938­ bnH(f:ntol~LB~~ tis~R~.~~\! U:'~'~\8~i~r;~~g_ti~~;:~ practice aL your own borne will fully equIp 1939. Stanley always talked about his brother's ex­ you A8 nn expert to earn tIl£! splendId rewardl!l of " TlfF. PAI':LOn PHOr.SSIO~-:' cellent musical ability - emf.) a~::pfe~O:h~Q~g~r:~~~::1}DJr~gr:; ~~~f/~cl:''J~r~r1~i~~c~~~1~O(, \'ontalnlng an IllulItrnted au­ *Joseph Brinkman recorded for Duo-Art. Two of his tlreRs by President Bryant, TH':: ACTIO'" MOO'::L, Cnllll('d." 'VI;:il\IZiO IXDX' compositions are "Melody" (S-31838) and "Minuetto" LOUlrd «> l>1\l-luU. l'.:XII!:::"CE." (S-31788) • THE. NILES BRYANT SCHOOL OF PIANO TUNING I:) :'olonument Square, n ... T"I.X CRU::II.., 'Mlcn,. U, S. A- HENIOT LEVY Pianist Scores a Splendid Success in Recital, Wigmore Hall, London, England, June 27, 1922

1"//(, I./H/{t"" nfli/.' '/ "I,':.:rtlIJh. jlllll' :!H. I t):l:!_. I.olld"" I-'iumll';ul Tim'·.... Jul,' :L )1':!2_·· "Heniol Levy POs$(':'o .... es virtut"s h('ynn.: m.l~nifIL·ent tt''lo2~tnHJll(" perf('\."t ardi:1Jry. Not only is his tcxecution good. but renderin~ of SOIllt' o~ the :no:-.t dd:\'U\1 mu ... i\.. h~~ tone j~ beautifully warm and resonant. and for the piano," it 11(·\'cl" loses its quality or at.:qui:-es an ele­ ment wf :larshness or hardness in the fulles!" /'o"don_ 1"1". 1·;",,·... - iortissimo. and his fortissimi can be very full indeed. his performances oi three Cho· p\aye-d wirh true expres:::.l0n, pin Ballades and the B Minor Sonata were both strong and sympathetic and he realized I.OIIJOII I,m/.". Jill., h~ I f):!2- their poetry without ever becoming mawkishly s.entimental." "His tone is very powerful and at times it re­ minds one of the sound of a very low toned ben.·· - 1,OlltiOll Jf'e,,,'mill,dpr (;a:;ell,'. JlIIlt· 2H, ]922­ "There was plenty of go about the playing of ,\Ju~i('nl IlIIf'ri,'o. Jul~' ] 5~ 1922- Mr. Heniot Levy. an American pianist who made his first appearance in London. The vig­ "Another American musician, Heniot Levy. our with which he attacked the last movement made a nnc impression at his recenr redtal. of Chopin's B Minor Sonata, for instance. was He gave a program of wide range with assur· exhilarating in the extre-me. those- Qual­ ance and a tine exhibition of temperament.·' ities include not only brilliant execution. but also sound musical understanding and a nice .1lU:";(,fll r"uri,-r. "\1I~1I';1 10, 1922-- sense of style." "H eniot Levy has an unusually easy technical facility, an apparently unlimited range of l.muhm !flurnin{! PO&I. 11111(' 28, 1922­ power from massive strength to the veriest I,OI,./Hn Up/,'r,>,-. Jill:, .2. 1922- "This pianist indicated the possession shade of delicacy. a rich and singing tone. and of a breadth of vision which justified his r •. oice the musical intelligence of a born, as well a.s "This artist has a powerful and Auent tech- of works so often played. The essential sound­ an experienced artist. Nothing now remains nique which was used with confidence. > • ness of his musicianship . ,' notable author­ for Heniot Levy to do but to come again and showed perception of the construction of the ity. His own variations supplied evidence of a keep on coming. London ought to be placed works and climax." cultivated imagination." definitely on his musical map."

Kimball Hall, Chicago Recitals and Concerts

- 236 - JJiosra Rical ~KefcRe8 L. LESLIE LOTH

EGINNING his musical cal'eer in Richmond, Virginia, L. Leslie Loth gave voice to musical expression as a boy soprano in a vested B choir. Having been endowed, from birth, with a greater musical urge than is found in the average choir boy, he soon showed talent in other directions. An early grasp of piano technic was only one phase of his pronounced musicianship. At twelve he began to compose and two years later his first published composition appeared. Then began a busy period of development and intensive training in New York, where, in addition to his studies, time was devoted to direct­ ing a women's chorus of five hundred voices, concertizing as soloist or as accompanist to various artists. This was followed by seven years of additional training under European masters. While abroad, Mr. Loth taught 'piano and theory, showing an early flare as a pedagog and numbering among his pupils, artists and students from Europe and America. In addition to the demands made upon him as a teacher, he found time to create. The better known musical fOl1ns were selected as a means of expression, and his first Symphon~' in A major was performed by the Breslau Symphony Society, an organiza­ tion that has been conducted at various times by such masters as Grieg, Joachim, Rubinstein and Nikisch. Following this first symphony, there appeared chamber music works, songs, piano compositions as well as two other symphonies. These have been performed by leading organizations and prominent artists, in con­ certs and on the radio. Mr. Loth's success as an artist and composer was sensational, and in no less degree has he established himself in New York as an arranger and teacher, meticulous in his attention to the individual requirements of numerous clients and pupils.

COMPOSITION As a composer, the name of L. Leslie Loth stands prominently to the fore among musicians the world over. He is both mood painter and melodist. Whatever form of expression he attempts, there is a noticeable command of the instrumental idiom, combined with a certain imaginative quality, that earn for its creator an enviable reputation. One seeks in vain for so-called "thick instrumentation," "stuffed" phrases or "dead" moments. In fact, originality of treatment is one of the chief factors that has contributed towards Mr. Loth's popularity. Many press clippings testify to the fact that Mr. Loth displayed much temperament and aballdon. . is a musician of signiMant knowlcduc and temperamental smsibilities. . has technical armor, lofty conceptioll, and creative imaginatimJ of a high degree. has attained sitch a high state of artistic development and virtuosity that he may unhesitatingly be placed am0l19 the chosen few.

- 237 - JJioarapRicaf ~llefcRe8 ti

ARRANGING As an arranger and editor, Mr. Loth brings to his work a back­ ground of accomplishment and experience which stamps his work as that of a Master. His 500 or more published compositions bear evidence of the high order of his musicianship and of his editorial skill. Many of his orchestral arrangements are heard on the radio and in concerts. Numero.us catalogues of publishers list works with Mr. Loth's fingering, phrasings, marks of expression, and other editorial require­ ments. Writers from every state in the union send their work to Mr. Loth for analysis and professional opinion. This has been particularly true in the field of song writing, and it has been Mr. Loth's pleasure to guide these aspirants to song writing fame, into the proper lines of procedure. Song writers seem especially to be in need of this kind of assistance, and numerous are the letters of appreciation Mr. Loth has received from clients who had hitherto suffered financial loss and much mental disturb­ ance due to their previously misguided efforts. TEACHING PRINCIPLES While exhaustively scientific and original in his manner of solving technical difficulties, Mr. Loth is deeply concerned with developing in the pupil an understanding of the inner meaning of music. Through long teaching experience and unusually broad musical con­ tacts, Mr. Loth has acquired the happy faculty of presenting ideas to pupils in a simple, direct way. His application of technical methods of modern schools is supplemented by the creation of original exercises for solving the problems of each pupil. By studying the individual charac­ teristics of pupils, Mr. Loth extends his own knowledge to the pupil. This assists the pupil to solve his own problems to the extent that he may gain greater freedom of expression through his personality. This has been true not only in his teaching of piano, but in his teaching of har­ mony, composition and orchestration as well. Letters from former students, pianists, teachers and directors from all parts of the country attest the splendid results these musicians have achIeved as the result of association with his stimulating and inspiring personality, and they further tell of the success they have attained in their own teaching and performing through the applIcation of the prin­ ciples of artistic performance he has imparted to them. AMPICO RECORDINGS In the days of its popularity, Mr. Loth was one of the most popular of the younger artists recording exclusively for the Ampico. Many of his delightful compositions found awaiting them a wide appreciation of their many beauties at the hands of Ampico owners. Of his shorter works recorded for the Ampico which especially at­ tracted attention, were Papillons, Arabesque-Intermezzo, two Caprices of unusual charm of lilt and rhythm, and his little idyls of the outdoors which may be placed beside the "Woodland Sketches" and "New England Idyls" of MacDowell. Of his larger works, the recordings of the Concert Paraphrase on Waltz-Themes from Gounod's FAUST and a similar para­ phrase on Waldteufel's waltz, THE SKATERS, stood out prominently as examples in which the composer and artist were united moo a creation of remarkable interest.

- 238 - From ragtime to blues, classics to 'pop' _ • • . pump your way along While there is no recorded his­ the matching hole in the tracker In December, 1917, the company tory of a self-playing jungle'drum, bar, a small valve is activated, per­ began to use one of the famous it would appea'r that man has 111­ mitting a rod to lift the hammer Melville Clark Apollo grand pianos ways sought an easier way to make inside the piano which strikes the as a "marking piano" to cut the music. appropriate string and music rolls and that system is still Today that might mean a results, used today. quadraphonic record-tape playing In over-simplification, that's how By the early 1920s, as the war system, or a stereo set that even a player piano works. . as long as ended and prosperity returned, changes its own records. . but at the tubes are sound, the bellows ARS was releasing three roll titles the turn of the century the latest operational, the music roll in good a day. . about 1,000 each year. gimmick to hit the market was the shape and a pumper able to keep Seeing that prosperity, many Richard Creasy, player piano player piano. the pedals going up and down, the smaller companies and some larger technician, at the ,keyboard, Working on a similar system as player piano will make the same ones, too, got into the business of kind of good music that it has since making rolls. The piano roll the late 19th century. when the business peaked in 1926 when some first enterprising piano technician 11 mill ion rolls were' sold in the decided to transfer musical talent single year. from the hands to the feet of every Things looked good people willing amateur in the land. had money a,nd they had player The player, naturally, got its pianos, -, . and QRS like the others start in North America, probably continued to grow and expand. because the necessary combination But the depression that started of mechanical ability and affluent in 1929 dropped a bomb on the society was available, and for the bu~iness, QRS (by that time as· last 15 years of the 1800s and the sociated with the DeVry company) first quarter of the current century was bankrupt and the world-wide the indus'tr'y flourished. empire tumbled. Originating as a 65-note player, with 65 holes spaced across the Max Kortlander, a QRS artist 11 \!4 inch bar, the player piano was and composer who had joined the expanded to the full 88·note range arranging staff in 1914, salvaged of the piano in 1901, when the Mel­ the QRS piano roll from the rubble ville Clark Piano Company made of the backruptcy, pU rchased thp the switch, . and started a war. roll division and began to maufa. The war was between the people ture QRS rolls under his Imperia.-" who made the oiano rolls . an Industrial Company. 88-note roll wou-Idn't fit the 65-note People quit buying player pianos piano and until 1908 when the in­ and eventually everyone quit dustry decided to standardi:ze on making them, The Aeolian Com­ the 88-note roll there was a battle. pany did stay in manufacturing One of the leading figures in the until the late 1930s, but then there player piano history was a New were no new players being built Yorker called Melville Clark, a . and the sale of 88-note rolls musician, businessman and dwindled until in the early 1950s musical instrument maker who was only about 200,000 rolls a year were born in Rome, N,Y" raised in being marketed. Syracuse where he apprenticed in Mr, Kortlander, rescuer of the the trade of piano and organ QRS rolls, died in 1961, and his builder u.ntil moving to Quincy, widow sold the company to one N.Y., in 1872 to open his own organ Ramsi P. Tick in 1966, who put new manufacturing facility. life in the old outfit: Putting the three initials of Returning to the QRS lable and those three cities of his early life corporate name, Mr. Tick moved together, Clark came up with QRS the one remaining player piano ... the name that by 1905 had music roll manufacturing plant become the biggest in the whole in­ from the Bronx to Buffalo, N.Y" dustry of piano roll making. and it is from that factory that a In the early years of the 1900s­ growing number of ~olls - now until the First World War turned well over 600,000 a year - are be· attention to less gentle thoughts­ ing cu t each year. the piano and player piano industry Availability of new music rolls, . ".'fI'-­ really boomed. By 1917 Mr. Clark along with the traditional player -. 'and QRS had factories in DeKalb, piano music, is giving the player Ill., New York City, San Francisco, piano a new life ... and in an age Puffin' and pumpin' his way through the blues is the author, Garth Toronto, Sidney, Australia, and of inflation it's comforting to know that the rolls today - anything Stouffer, on his own player piano complete with "headlights," Utrecht, Holland. The Melville Clark Piano Co. from the latest Broadway or went to Wurlitzer in 1919, a ·year Hollywood show to the Old Piano the old pump organs that graced Combining with the suction to after Mr. Clark had died and two Roll Blues - cost only fractionally churches and parlors alike for make music, a music roll is put into years after he'had sold the business more than the rolls did when Mr. many years, the player piano the mechanism ... a 25 to 80 foot to his vice-president, Thomas Clark put out his first QRS roll utilizes a set of bellows that are ac­ long role of paper about a foot wide, Pletcher. back in 1901. tivated by a pair of foot pedals on "decorated" with a precise arran­ Mr. Pletcher retained QRS and the piano. gement of holes cut through the continued to produce piano rolls As the pedals are pumped, air is paper. . a good buiness. sucked through a complex series of Whenever one of the holes is The QRS catalogue of 1916, for From the BRANDON SUN. smaller bellows and hundreds of drawn across the tracker bar of the instance, listed more than 10,000 Contributed by Terry Smythe. feet of rubber tubing, ,activat­ piano, and air is allowed to be roll titles, most of which were ing a bewildering bunch of gears sucked into the mechanism "arranged" music punched on and cams as it goes. through the hole in the paper and graph paper direct from sheet - 239 - music. to.. . c1'ecRnica fifies • r---'

RE-DOING THE DUO-ART can see what's happening -- or not happening by Roger Torkelson without having to dis-assemble the unit, you are points ahead. PART III: Showing Your Stack Acrylic plastics can be cut and drilled easily with This "improvement" is mostly just for fun. You know ordinary wood-working tools. A "do-it-yourself" how some of your guests love to sit and watch the booklet with complete fabrication directions is keys jiggle, while others (especially if you have a published by RobIn & Haas, and you can get it free grand) are hammer-and-damper freaks. You can give from your local plastics distributor. them a third alternative by literally showing them where the action is.

One day when I had the access panel off the stack, for some long-forgotten reason, I decided to replace it with a sheet of plastic. I took a sheet of 1/4" acrylic plastic ("Plexiglas") in a smokey-bronze color, and using the old wooden panel as a template, marked out the dimensions and where the screw holes were supposed to go.

While I was at it, I replaced the wooden dowels that serve as stand-offs for the middle of the panel with metal ones threaded to take a #6-32 machine screw. (The wooden dowels were shot, since the screws went into them on the end-grain.) The holes for the new stand-offs were drilled after the new panel was in ACOMPARISON OF THE HALE place, to quarantee correct location for them. SIGHT-O-TUNER AND THE CONN STROBOTUNER Some hose clamps and the "BB-note pneumatic" mount BY ROBERT L. BARNS to this panel. For them, I drilled holes in the new A few months ago, I spent about 5 minutes trying out plastic panel and tapped the holes for '6-32 screws. a Hale Sight-O-Tuner. This experience resulted in a completely negative attitude -I felt that it was very poor relative to a Strobotuner (which I have used for some time). More recently, Bob Baker was kind enough to loan me his Hale for a more thorough trial. This has resulted in a complete change of mind. My Strobotuner is a fairly old tube type (but I in­ stalled the high intensity neon lamps). I have checked its accuracy against a very accurate digital counter and found it correct within the accuracy of the test ­ about ± 1 cent. Such long-term (15 years?) stability is gratifying. Also, I felt justified in using it as a standard for testing the Hale. Another, even older, Strobotuner which I checked was very badly off cal­ ibration, as much as 20 cents between notes. It may have been tampered with as its history was obscure. Striker pneumatics seen through plastic panel. New metal stand-off visible. The Hale is a much more convenient package than the Conn. It is battery operated (two 9V transistor radio Black felt strips glued lightly to the edges of the batteries which are widely available) and the micro­ case, and black felt washers under the screw heads phone is built-in. Thus, there are no wires to unwind keep things from rattling. and drape over the piano and an AC outlet is not re­ quired. This would be an advantage for a tuner going Under normal room lighting, and down there in the into a customer's house and especially handy for wan­ shadows, the panel appears black and opaque. But dering about inside a pipe organ. when illuminated, as for this photograph, you can see the action clearly. Many guests love it, and The Hale is much smaller and lighter than the Conn I no longer have to explain to them "what makes the (especially the current model of the Conn), another keys go?" They can see for themselves. nlus for portable use. A possible practical use for plastic panels of this Internally, the Hale is built on a single, large printed kind would occur during trouble-shooting. If you ~ec6nica{ifie8

wiring board. The quality of the soldering on the board Finally, after a long preamble, we get to the heart of is only fair, at least in the unit #595 examined, and the matter. How well does the Sight-O-Tuner work? A might cause unreliability. The circuitry consists of short table summarizes the definiteness of the indi­ 5 integrated circuits, about 30 discrete transistors, cation of pitch deviation. many diodes, resistors, etc. These components appear to be of high qualityo Octave Strobotuner Sight-O-Tuner There are 12 trimmer potentiometers connected to the 1 lousy fai r note selector. Apparently, the pitch of each note is 2 lousy good individually adjusted. I find this disturbing as the 3 good good exact setting of an ajustable resistor can be unstable 4 good good and there is no internal check of pitch accuracy. The 5 good good tapped inductor which determines the pitch of each 6 good poor note in the Strobotuner is inherently much more stable. 7 good lousy The Strobotuner has the advantage of being able to use 8 fair lousy the 60 Hz. line freqency to set its basic pitch. The 9 none ? Hale has no internal means for checking calibration, but a tuning fork is easily used for this purpose. I Personally, I prefer to have help in the high octaves did not check how well calibration is maintained as the rather than in the low octaves, so my vote would go battery voltage falls or as the temperature of the unit (marginally) to the Conn but opinions on this will changes. differ. For laying the temperament, both devices are excellent. Since the Hale displays only one octave at In spite of all these potential errors, I found the Hale a time, the inharmonicity of each string is more dif­ to be accurate within 1 cent in both absolute accuracy ficult to observe than with the Conn. This is a rel­ (of A-440) and relative pitch between notes on the even­ atively small disadvantage because such a measurement tempered scale. is made only a few times per tuning and only with par­ ticular systems of determining the proper stretch. The controls are reasonably easy to use except that the detents on the octave selector dial, which is also the A slide-rule device for calculating stretch is supplied on-off switch, are much stiffer than necessar~. Also, with the Hale. I didn't have the manual, so I don't why is there provision for 9 octaves? (I didn't have fully understand how it is to be used. It appears that the advantage of reading the instruction manual - maybe the calculations for all strings in the piano are based'­ this peculiarity is explained.) The note selector on the measured inharmonicity of one string. I suspect would be easier to get used to if it were a pointer in­ that this procedure is quite inferior to the procedure dicating against marks on the case rather than having described in the manual (available for $2) from Conn. marks on the dialo This would make a clockwise rota­ For a discussion of inharmonicity, see Reblitz' new tion of the knob correspond to an increase in pitch. book, page 53. Two dials are provided as the pitch vernier on the Finally, I suspect that if the Hale is made in reason­ Sight-O-Tuner. The coarse dial indicates from -50 to able quantities the manufactoring cost might be less +50 cents and the fine dial is from -6 to +6 cents. It than $100 - a small B &WTV receiver is much more com­ seems silly to provide a dial with more than 180 de­ plicated and some retail for less than $100. Hence, grees of rotation required for a range of 12 centso the $400 price of the Hale is unreasonably high. Also, the coarse dial is a continuous potentiometer and its uncertainty of setting negates the accuracy To summarize, the Sight-O-Tuner is smaller, lighter, implied by the large spacing between 1 cent graduations and more convenient to use than the Strobotuner and is of the fine dial. A much better arrangement would be more effective in the low bass. The Strobotuner is to make the coarse dial a multi-position switch with less expensive and more effective in the higher octaves. 10 cents per step and to give a range of ± 10 cents on Both provide completely adequate accuracy. the fine dial. On the Hale device, there is no volume control and one is not needed. The sensitivity is excellent. A usable indication of pitch persists longer than on my Strob­ otuner (for the "good" octaves, see chart). Extran­ RUBE'S CORNER eous noises are rather effectively rejected. OR The display is a circle of eight red light-emitting STOP ME IF YOU'VE TRIED THIS ONE! diodes (with one in the middle) and is plenty bright. BY RICHARD PARKER I found the display easier to interpret with a patch A product called "Vinyl Patch Cement" when run in a of masking tape obscuring the center LED. With the small bead along small feather-edging (up to about octave selector switch on "octave I," all lights were 1/2" tears) and rubbed in with a finger does the same continuously (dimly) lit. Maybe the manual explains job as Scotch tape without the build-up problem for this, but it didn't seem to affect the performance. roll repairs. Just don't roll the paper up until the glue dries! Also I find making the torn edges lie

- 241 - Page 143 ~-

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J'ecRnicafifies The J-VuriitzerSludio Piauo, .~ wi/holll player ac/ioll, sta"ds butJ jet'! 8 inches Iz~,!!l. full 7~j rxtn'1.I(J(ale. The pClfert small piaI/o, aI/wI! Prices, $295 (Jut! up,j. o. b.lac/ory. down for this treatment easier if a fairly wet sponge is used to unfold torn edges and then the music is rolled up for a day or two until the paper dries. Don't try this on good rolls until we find out how the glue lasts as compared to tape. A Tiny Player Piano Another useful product for GEM ROLLER ORGAN owners is "Pringles Potato Chips." Buy a few boxes, throw the "chips" away, clean out the salt, and you have a ready­ So small that it fits made container for all your spare "cobs" complete with corrugated liner. I have had mine for three years in almost anywhere humid Iowa weather and the pins show no signs of rust.

Duo-Art owners know about the red fibre washers on the Aeolian valves that break either themselves and/or your fingernails as you remove them for valve clearance adjustments and then must either be replaced, or worse yet, glued down. I cut 1/16" slices off of 5/32" neo­ prene tubing to make little "doughnuts" which fit per­ fectly over the wooden stem and can be removed anytime for further adjustments. Again, nothing ventured that can't be returned to original if necessary.

I love Kuharski's idea of the dial micrometer for set­ ting valve clearances. Lacking a drill press for mount­ ing the mike, we substituted our photo enlarger with an adapter in the lens mount which is very easy to set for zero on the dial and very handy to use on the kit­ chen table.

Everyone's favorite tool, the "leather nut driver", around this house is an inexpensive push drill with the knurled drill tightener removed. Inside are three "fingers' intended to clamp down on the drill, but when spread out will accept most leather nuts which spin merrily on when the push drill is pushed. usually.

T IMITED space in your standard size music roll L home no longer means with the full round tones that you must go without a and fine shades of ex­ rlayer piano. This remark- pression you'd expect only able little Studio Player from a much larger and stands only 4 feet 1 inch much more costly player. high and only a few inches You'll be equally delighted wider than its standard with its artistic qualities keyboard. A room could when playing yourself. hardly be too small for it. This exquisite instru­ Yet in spite of its compact- ment can be yours for ness, this Studio Player is a as little as $445, F. O. B. perfect Wurlitzer Instru- Factory.And theWurlitzer ment in every sense of the dealer will be glad to ar- word. It plays from any range convenient terms.

THE RUDOLPH WURLITZER MFG. Co., North Tonawanda, N. Y. PrjlJcipal Warlitser Stores NEW YORK, 120 W.nnJ St. • PHrLADELPHIA, /0]/ Chm"It' S.. .. BUF"FALO.tJU M",. St. CLEVELAND. 1017 E/lcllti AVt• • CHICAGO.120S. Waha,hAv,. ~ CINCINNATI.1UE, Fourth S,. ST. LOU1S.rooO O/iVt $,. • SAN FRANCISCO,2jO SttJdtQIJ $,. ~ LOS ANGELES.BI4 S. 8rMdway Sold by W"Tli~eT dealers weTyWheTe WU~~1IiE~ From the ETUDE magazine, February, 1926. Contributed by David Burke. Studio 'Player PIANOS • ORGANS • HARPS • MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS - 242 - WANTED: Phillips PM rolls in good condition. These CHANGE OF ADDRESS are the same as the Wurlitzer PianOrchestra. Bob Art &Mary Arnold Richard A. Bellin Otnes, 148 Stacia St., Los Gatos, CA 95030. 5122 Underwood Ave. 1021 Arling~on Blvd. #408J Ph. (408) 354-3004. Omaha, NE 68132 Arlington, 22209 vA PIANO ROLL AUCTIONS: 88 &65-note - monthly. Repro­ Franciska Ritchey Herbert Scheffy, Jr. ducing - 3-4 times yearly. Your rolls sold on 1901 Alsuna Lane 5742 Morning Glory Ln. consignment. 5 stamps get you on mailing list. Huntington Beach, CA 92648 Littleton, CO 80123 Mike Schwimmer, 241 Harbor, Glencoe, IL 60022.

Allen R. Miller D. F. Ghigo MUST SELL! 1897 upright 19 5/8 Polyphon 104 coin­ 5M Sutton Place 1262 Ann Terrace operated disc music box, 24 discs, plays well, $2200; Bloomfield, CT 06002 Madison Heights, MI 48071 1906 Aeolian Pianola, unique mottled walnut case, refinished, unrestored but working, $800; large 3­ R. Dean Harmon Rick &Janet Drewniak manual, approx. 20+ rank pipe organ, totally dis­ 370 Grandpark Cir. 191 Capen Blvd. mantled, $2000; Mermod Freres 8" cylinder music box, San Jose, CA 95136 Amherst, NY 14226 10 tunes, rough but restorable, $175. For photos and details - Terry Symthe, 71 De Bourmont Bay, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R2J 1K2. Ph. (204) 256-2134.

CONTRIBUTED BY BILL FLYNT 1927 FOR SALE: Chickering Ampico A, late 1927, 5'4". 10 AMP leo MAGAZINE Restored and refinished. Excellent condition. In­ cludes matching bench and 20 rolls. $6,800.00 Peter erhe ~Barefoot errail And home is the ideal place to enjoy Levine, 11295 E. Vassar Dr. Denver, CO 80232. music. The ideal and happy surround­ Ph. (303) 751-3205 • ..If wlndi", ""iI th,,*t.h fhl m,.J,U! "'IIU tina 'IItr II ings, rhose one loves nearby, the quiet shin;,,!. hilt" and comfort, the leisure that arrives HERE is a recording in rhe with the end of day-all contribute to AMPICO ROLLS FOR SALE: 63 fine rolls. $5.00 each Ampico Caralogue, a song widely the perfect setting and receptive mood or the lot for $260.00. Send 13¢ stamp for list. T known through its having been that comes with being at home. sung by John McCormack. It is called Yes, music is a wonderful thing, DYNAVIOCE PIANO PLAYER: Rare. Add this unusual de­ "The Batefoor Trail.·· "A winding and everyone who possesses an Ampico vice to your collection. Excellent condition. Re­ trail through rhe meadow grass and has at hand an amazing treasure of tubed with neoprene to eliminate vinyl problems. over a shining hill:' And the refrain: music-a store of the greatest that "Oh, fhl hart/"f "tli[l,MS wind;n!. the music masters of the world, com­ Best offer takes it by 12/30/76. David Askey, 1000 Through the ),ars ,/ 1IJtmtJry; posers and artists, have produced. E. Tallmadge Ave., Akron, OH 44310. (216) 633-6373. Tht 'liB an4 the prtJt1If binJi,,&' In" U!rmatr/u/ dnam !qr m,:' Do you realize this, and are you getting the most out of your Ampico? It is a wonderfully appealing song An adequate supply of the recordings and It brings a rush of memories of brings a rich reward in pleasure­ FOR SALE: REPRODUCING PIANO, WEBER 5'8" GRAND days that are gone, of the delights are you missing it by neglecting yout that are no more. It carries one in with DUO-ART SYSTEM. Player completely rebuilt - has Ampico library? fancy back through the years, touching A subscription ro the "Selected new set of hammers. Original case and finish good condition. the hea.rt and making life sweeter, Recordings Service" will bring you for the song takes us to the very top automatically three of the new pieces $4,000 or best offer. Contact John G. Ravert, Sr., Box 85, of ,~le "shining hill" and we see the each month, selected by a committee of Vicksburg, Pa. Tel. (717) 966-1367 after 7 P.M. except bygone days with all their wonderful arrisrs and musical authorities. The moments stretched out before us. "Favorite Fifty" is a collection of Wednesdays. There are moments in the lives of all favorite numbers that has brought to of us that are incomplete without many an Ampico owner a realization music-times when an actual need for of what even a small, carefully cho,en, music is felt. A longing to hear again library can mean. We Can help you STEINWAY XR DUO-ART. Hint restoration. Offers over a favorite song, perhaps long-forgotten, to a full enjoyment of the Ampico-­ $6500. Weber 5'8" Duo-Art. Circa 1929. Beautiful to experience once more the thrill to a full return for vour investment. which came on hearing a great per­ Do not neglect your' Ampico library. original tiger mahogany case. Excellent action. formance of a favorite work by a Subscribe to the "Selected Recordings Player fully restored. Offers over $3200. Coin great pianist, to enjoy again the uplift Service." that came with a noble musical utter­ piano trades considered. Paul Ciancia, M.D., 10 ance, poignant and full of meaning Glenwood Ave., Leonia, NJ 07605. (201) 944-1288 because interpreted hr a greal artise. after 7 PM. Great artists arc required not only Selected 7i;cordin!,s Service for the playing of the gteat piano works but for the old song, for it, THE numbers from this month's FOR SALE: 1920 Weber Duo-Art grand 5'10", mahogany {no, is often a masterpiece anJ one Bulletin chosen by the Committee (If far-reaching anJ. potent in{1ucncc:, for subscribers to the Selected Record­ case, good original condition, with bench, $1795.00. !Ike the "Bardo"t Tr.lil" so beautifullv ings Service are: 1930 Weber Duo-Art 5'8" grand, mahogany case, "B" sung bv John MCC"rl11.lck. . ROSAMUNDE, Schuber"Godowsky Duo-Art system, choice unrestored condition, with The wonderful gift of lt1u~ic ·-music Played by MUnz of all kinds rr,ld\' to \'ouchsafe the bench, $1895.00. Both instruments can also be pur­ WHEN IRISH EYES ARE yiew frorn l!H: "shining hill," ready chased fully restored and refinished. DeHaas Player SMILING, Ball. Played by Fairchild to unlock the d\H)r of Il1crnon' ,If1J re­ Piano, Maple Street, Georgetown, Conn. 06829, Phone create the ~rCl[ nwrnents and lead toncw JUST LIKE A BUTTERFLY, (203) 544-8750. cxrcrienc~ .l!hl ~lcJights. hccoll1cs thcro~­ Woods Played by Carroll .... c,Slllll oj till' nUll who uwns an /\l1lpico FOR SALE: Vacuum gauges, Marshalltown brand, 2 1/2" face, 0 to 30 inch H20, with snubbing orfice and 5/32" nipple. Used; reconditioned, calibrated, FOR SALE: Cabinet only for Victor Electrola-Radiola guaranteed. $9.00 postpaid in U.S.; W. E. Flynt, model 9-55. Ornate carved walnut SO" x 49" x 28". 1722 Iroquois Drive, Garland, TX 75043. Cost $1550 in 1927. Good condition. Ideal for roll storage. $400. Robert Baumbach, 21520 Velicata St., Woodland Hills, CA 91364. Ph. (213) 884-6924.

WANTED: One copy of Graham Webb's book, "Cylinder Music Box Handbook." Terry Smythe, 71 De Bourmont Bay, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R2J 1K2 (~n:~mIOg~~~==~~,==:t~=~j~. ~ J on our superb AIG Review No. If you are on our mailing list you will receive your copy in January. If not, $3.00 will assure you of receiving a copy upon publication - or we invite you to subscribe to our next six catalogs for just ~ $15. These nominal charges, by the way, are much less than it costs us to prepare, publish, and distribute these exten- sively illustrated catalogs - so for this reason subscriptions and individual orders are solicited only from active collectors and dealers. Orders from others are respectfully declined. Complete satisfaction guaranteed.

As most AMICA members know, we have long been headquarters for desirable reproducing pianos. For example, we l~ ~ supplied nearly all of the reproducing instruments to Mr. J. B. Nethercutt's fabulous San Sylmar Collection, the world's largest exhibition of this type of instrument. It would delight us to supply your needs too! ~ To describe our stock of reproducing pianos in detail would take quite a few pages. Suffice it to say that at the moment we have four different Steinway Duo-Art reproducing grands, including a superbly restored Model XR in a ~ beautifully refinished case - an instrument all set up and ready to go at $12,995 and an art style Steinway Duo-Art grand in an elegant Italian carved case identical to that pictured at the lower left of page 301 of the "Encyclopedia of Automatic Musical Instruments," in choice unrestored condition at $11,995. Then for about half the price of those ~ we have several unrestored Steinways in regular cases. Still on the subject of Steinway, we should mention a superb Steinway-Welte "Red Welte" reproducing piano made in New York by Steinway - in a very tall upright case with inlay and matched rare woods. Here is a museum piece for just $3,995 !

In the line of Model B Ampico grand pianos we have not just one but actually quite a few different for you to choose l ~ from - almost like visiting a reproducing piano showroom back in 1930! These and others will be featured in our forthcoming catalog No.8.

We recently acqUired a beautiful collection of nickelodeon pianos and orchestrions - all of which will be featured in ~ our upcoming list. Several different Seeburg instruments ranging from A roll pianos to the elegant Style G orchestrion, a couple of Nelson-Wiggen nickelodeons with xylophone, a Mills Violano-Virtuoso, and quite a few other things - ~ actually several dozen instruments in all.

Then in the field of music boxes we have hundreds and hundreds of different ones for you to choose from - ranging from small table model Regina, Symphonion and Polyphon instruments to tall vertical pieces standing six to eight feet l tall - and just about everything else in between. If your travels on business or pleasure bring you to Southern California stop by to see our fabulous 26,000 square foot showroom and warehouse. You've never seen anything like it! We're open Wednesday through Saturday, 9 A.M. l to 4 P.M. We're conveniently located just 15 minutes south of Disneyland. Come early, for the warehouse cannot be ~ seen in a short time! In addition to a fabulous stock of automatic musical instruments - the world's largest - you will )( find between 500 and 1,000 clocks, ornate carved sideboards, dozens and dozens of cabinets (suitable for storing )( )( piano rolls!), paintings, glass, and just about everything else imaginable - including arcade machines, antique printing )( presses and other things! ~

In addition you will want to visit our "boutique" which features an extensive selection of new recut reproducing piano rolls made by Harold Powell's Klavier Company and a modest selection of new recut reproducing piano rolls distributed by Frank Adams (sorry, no mail orders on these). l ~ l Get '''Iuaint,d with Am,,".n Int,m.tion.1 G.ll,d" - .nd let ns ilia" 0"' enthnmsm with yon! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~~,~.~~~~~w~~~~~b~gLLERIES, AMERICAN INC. l 1802·A KETTERING STREET ~ / IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 92714 Tel: (714) 754-1777

l)(~~)()(~ + t1~)()(~ t1~)()(~~)( "ASK THE MAN WHO OWNS ONE I"

"Ask the man who owns onel:' a familiar advertising slogan that was used by the Packard Motor Car Company in the 1930s, is just as appropriate today--perhaps not with Packard cars (which are no longer being made, unfortunately) but with a sensation on today's collectors' market: the International Musical Industries' CC-3 Cassette Converter Kit. As you probably know if you have been active in AMI CA circles, have read our advertisements, or have tal ked to owners of this remarkable device, enthusiasm for it is tremendous.

In the several months since the introduction of the unit we have found that our best salesmen are not ads in the AMICA Bulletin but, rather, are owners who have previously.acquired units and who are delighted with them. It seems that each unit sells another! Actually, a more convincing testimonial to a product's worth could not be imagined.

The CC-3 Cassette Converter Kit enables the owner of a restored Ampico reproducing piano (model A or B, upright or grand) to have an extensive roll "library" in the form of a few convenient tape cassettes. This ingenious device easily attaches to the Ampico without disturbing its originality or collector's value in any way. Likewise, it can be just as easily removed. By means of a tape deck and specially encoded cassettes (available from us in a wide selection of programs covering popular, classical, and old favorite tunes), you can hear a long uninterrupted concert on your instrument without the necessity of having to change rolls. (Of course, anytime you want to playa roll this can be done as well--for the CC-3 Cassette Converter Kit in no way interferes with this.) Each cassette sells for just $9.95 and contains one hour worth of music-­ encoded from original Ampico rolls.

The fabulous CC-3 Cassette Converter Unit has many, many advantages. From an enjoyment viewpoint you will triple or quadruple your use of the instrument (based on what others who have had the units have told us), for no longer do you have to jump up and down and continually change rolls. From a financial viewpoint you will save untold dollars. For example, a cassette tape library costing $500 represents what would cost $2,500 to $5,000 for an equivalent amount of music on paper rolls! Then there is the convenience factor--this amount of rolls would require special shelving or perhaps even a special room to store them--whereas the same amount of music on tapes could be carried in a small satchel!

Interested in the CC-3 Cassette Converter Kit? Join the bandwagon and find out more about it. Once you have a CC-3 Cassette Converter Kit attached to your Ampico you will wonder how you ever did without it. Our list of patrons includes some of the most important collections in America.

Contact your local dealer (a dealer distribution network is now being set up) or write to us directly for a brochure giving all details without obligation. INTERNATIONAL MUSICAL INDUSTRIES 1717A-A Stanford Street • Santa Monica, CA 90404 FOR SALE World's Largest Selection of COLLECTION OF OVER FI FTY AUTOMAl'IC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS! Music boxes! Reproducing pianos by Ampico, Duo-Art, and ARTRIO-ANGELUS Welte! Nickelodeons! Orchestrions! Hundreds of automatic musical instruments for sale at wholesale prices! Send $3 for Music Rolls our fascinating "AlG Review." You've never seen another catalog like it. Satisfaction guaranteed. Or, send $10 for a All rolls and boxes (except one box) in subscription to the next six issues. ORIGINAL CONDITION Nearly 1,000 instruments are now in stock-the world's largest inventory. Complete facilities for low cost shipping from to you. Our network of buyers in America and in Europe ORIGINAL OWNER'S FAMILY (Claes Friberg in Copenhagen is our European director) gives you the best selection at lowest prices-there are no middle­ WILL SELL ONL Y AS A COLLECTION men or agents to pay. Pianists include: Bauer, Berge, Buhling, Chaquette, Our California showroom is open Wednesday through Satur­ day 9 A.M. to noon and 1 to 4 P.M. We are a quick 15 Epstein, Favier, Galston, Gerdts, Godowsky, E,H. minute drive south of Disneyland, just a few minutes from Harris, Harwood, Himmelreich, Hofmann, Kaplun, the nearest freeway. Visit us the next time'you are in the Kvan, Leginska, Leith & Moran, Menth, Mera, Los Angeles area. A wonderland of automatic musical instru­ Paderewski, Freddie Rich, Cornelia Rider-Possart, ments awaits youl In addition you can see fabulous arches­ trions, organs, and pianos in our educational exhibit. Romayne, Beryl Rubinstein, Marion Stanford and We can supply the seven-pound, 1,008 page, illustrated Edwin Wood. Also some odd swedish rolls. "Encyclopedia of Automatic Musical Instruments" for $30 Send a stamped, self~addressed envelope for a de* postpaid-the standard reference book in the field. Over tailed list. 7,000 copies sold. Satisfaction guaranteed. Are you an active collector. dealer, or museum? Then being Enrich your ARTRIO·ANGELUS library now for on the AI G mailing list is a MUST! Directors of American $300. plus shipping out of San Francisco Bay Area. International Galleries are: Bonnie Tekstra, Terry Hathaway, Dave Sowers, elaes O. Friberg. ~;~l'iAT10 Write or call: Mr. Thomas W. High 637 Powell Street AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL ,+< .." "'« San Francisco, California 94108 GALLERIES ~, ~ 1802-A Kettering Street ~. E (415) 781·4211, extension 4262 Irvine, CA. 92714 U.S.A. ....~ ?t-',Ifj Tel. (714) 754-1777 ",q;

MECHANICAL SYSTEMS INC. Q'R-S '" 1'1 HIH HOII"! LUBBOCK, TEXAS - (l't BettI'," .,.: - .: ~ ~" >..... R..eissues 1181 ~ ~./. ... ,. ~"~~,.",.,'~5S,»,,,w~ ...... ":::! ' END FOR COMPLETE FREE CATALOGl

AMPICO DUO-ART Orchestrion Components HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN *AMP-I027 *OA-I027 Played by Victor Arden (Ass't.) Played by Ralph Addison and Supplies HUNGARIAN DANCE No.5 (Brahms) tAMP-I028 tDA.I028 Played by Marguerite Volavy Played by Harold Bauer

LIEBESTRAUM. NOCTURNE No.3 (Chopin) ttAMP-I029 ttDA.I029 Played by Leo Ornstein Played by Rudolph Ganz

THESE FOOLISH THINGS REMIND ME OF YOU Ten-tune spool frames *AMP-1030 *OA-I030 Automatic tambourines Played by Robert Farquhar Played by Robert Farquhar blocks, cymbals, tri­ POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE ttAMP-I031 ttDA·I031 angles, Equa-vac vac­ Played by Kmlta & Lambert Played by Edna Bentz uum pumps. Custom fabrication. * SOUNDS OF THE THIRTIES MUSICALS * Q·215 WHO'S AFRAID OF THE BIG BAD WOLF From "The Three Little PigS" (1933) Write for free illus­ Q-216 BROTHER CAN YOU SPARE A DIME From "Americana" (1932) tratetl catalogue. Q-217 YOU TURNED THE TABLES ON ME From "Sing Baby, Sing" (1936) Q-218 IT LOOKS LIKE RAIN IN CHERRY BLOSSOM LANE Introduced by Guy Lombardo (1937)

P.O. Box 1094 Q·R·S MUSIC ROLLS, Inc. Tel 716 885 4600 lUbbock. texas 79408 107h NIAGARA ST -BUFFALO NY 14213