The AMICA BULLETIN AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT COLLECTORS’ ASSOCIATION JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2006 VOLUME 43, NUMBER 1 AMICA CONVENTION 2006 July 26-30 in Chicago

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Tuesday: Board Meeting (A.M.)

Wednesday: Welcoming Breakfast (A.M.) Collection Tours (ALL DAY) OPTIONAL Nathan – Concert

Thursday: Collection Tours (ALL DAY) OPTIONAL Pumper Contest (EVENING)

Friday: Workshops (A.M.) Mart (P.M.) Ron Bopp Presentation (EVENING) A Musical History of Patriotic Music Ice Cream Social (EVENING)

Saturday: Membership Meeting (A.M. w/BREAKFAST) Tour of Sanfilippo Collection w/Lunch (ALL DAY) Banquet w/Entertainment (EVENING)

Sunday: Farewell Continental Breakfast (EARLY A.M.) Open Houses (VARIOUS TIMES)

There’s gonna be a Convention! ISSN #1533-9726 THE AMICA BULLETIN AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT COLLECTORS' ASSOCIATION Published by the Automatic Musical Instrument Collectors’ Association, a non-profit, tax exempt group devoted to the restoration, distribution and enjoyment of musical instruments using perforated paper music rolls and perforated music books. AMICA was founded in San Francisco, California in 1963. PROFESSOR MICHAEL A. KUKRAL, PUBLISHER, 216 MADISON BLVD., TERRE HAUTE, IN 47803-1912 -- Phone 812-238-9656, E-mail: [email protected] Visit the AMICA Web page at: http://www.amica.org Associate Editor: Mr. Larry Givens • Editor Emeritius: Robin Pratt

VOLUME 43, Number 1 January/February 2006 AMICA BULLETIN FEATURES Display and Classified Ads Articles for Publication The Famous Coinola X ...... Don Teach ...... 6 Letters to the Publisher Chapter News Smith Lyraphone ...... Ray Fairfield ...... 8 UPCOMING PUBLICATION DEADLINES Sing Us A Song ...... Caroline Donhack . . . . .14 The ads and articles must be received by the Publisher on the 1st of the ’s Bones ...... Richard Scheinin . . . . .15 Odd number months: January July Kenneth J. Named Director of Sales ...... QRS Technologies . . . . .17 September May November Some Thoughts on the Survival Bulletins will be mailed on the 2nd week of the Hobby ...... Stephen Kent Goodman . . . . .19 of the even months. Piano Man - William Edgerton ...... Jane Kendall . . . . .21 Dr. Michael A. Kukral, Publisher 216 Madison Blvd. Technical Bulletin ...... Technical Service Bureau . . . . .25 Terre Haute, Indiana 47803-1912 Phone: 812-238-9656 e-mail: [email protected] 2006 Chicago Convention ...... Mel Septon . . . . .39

MEMBERSHIP SERVICES DEPARTMENTS New Memberships ...... $47.00 AMICA International ...... 2 Renewals ...... $47.00 President’s Message ...... 3 Additional $5.00 due if renewed past the Jan. 31 deadline Publisher’s Message ...... 3 Address changes and corrections Letters ...... 4 Directory information updates New Piano Rolls & Recuts ...... Additional copies of 43 Member Directory . . . . $25.00 Chapter News ...... 47 Single copies of back issues ($10.00 per issue - based Classified Ads ...... 57 upon availability) Front Cover: Photo of Henry & Edsel Ford enjoying a session at their Player Piano, William (Bill) submitted by Michael Barnhart 53685 Avenida Bermudas La Quinta, CA 92253-3586 Inside Front: 2006 Convention Schedule, Picture of Laurel & Hardy (760) 564-2951 Back Cover: Roach Lot in the early 1930’s, from the Intra-Tent Journal - Issue Number e-mail: [email protected] 115, Spring 2005 To ensure timely delivery of your BULLETIN, please allow 6-weeks Inside Back Cover: Crossword Puzzle, from the Intra-Tent Journal - Issue Number 117, advance notice of address changes. Fall 2005

AMICA Publications reserves the right to accept, reject, or edit any and all submitted articles and advertising.

Entire contents © 2006 AMICA International Printed by Engler Printing Co., Fremont, OH • [email protected] 1 AMICA INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS CHAPTER OFFICERS PRESIDENT Mike Walter BOSTON AREA NORTHERN LIGHTS 65 Running Brook Dr. Pres: TBD Pres: Phillip Baird Lancaster, NY 14086-3314 Vice Pres: TBD Vice Pres: Paul Watkins 716-656-9583 Sec: TBD Sec: Jason E. Beyer - 507-454-3124 e-mail: [email protected] Treas/Bd Rep: Allen Jayne Treas: Barbara Watkins Reporter: TBD Reporter: Dorothy Olds PAST PRESIDENT Dan C. Brown Board Rep: Dorothy Olds N. 4828 Monroe Street CHICAGO AREA Spokane, WA 99205-5354 Pres: Mel Septon - 847-679-3455 PACIFIC CAN-AM 509-325-2626 Sec: Carol Veome Pres: Halie Dodrill [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Vice Pres: Troy Taylor Treas: Joe Pekarek Sec: Brian Tate VICE PRESIDENT John Motto-Ros Reporter: Curt Clifford Treas: Jack & Mary Lou Becvar P.O. Box 908 Board Rep: George Wilder Reporter: Ron Babb Sutter Creek, CA 95685-0908 FOUNDING CHAPTER Bd. Rep: Carl Dodrill - 206-236-0067 209-267-9252 e-mail: [email protected] Pres: John Ulrich - 510-223-9587 ROCKY MOUNTAIN Vice Pres: Bing Gibbs & Karen Simons Pres: Larry Kerecman - 303-377-7729 SECRETARY Florie Hirsch Sec: Jack and Dianne Edwards Vice Pres: Jere DeBacker 8917 Wooden Bridge Rd., Potomac, MD 20854-2448 [email protected] Sec: Louise Lucero 301-340-6664 Treas/Bd Rep: Richard Reutlinger Treas: Fred Wilson e-mail: [email protected] Reporter: Bonnie and Bob Gonzalez Reporter: Jere DeBacker TREASURER Wesley Neff SIERRA NEVADA 128 Church Hill Drive, Findlay, Ohio 45840 GATEWAY CHAPTER Pres: Yousuf Wilson - 636-665-5187 Pres: John Motto-Ros - 209-267-9252 419-423-4827 Vice Pres: Alex Thompson e-mail: [email protected] Vice Pres: Gary Craig - 314-771-1244 Sec: Mary Wilson Sec: Sonja Lemon PUBLISHER Dr. Michael A. Kukral Treas: Cynthia Craig Treas: Doug & Vicki Mahr 216 Madison Blvd., Terre Haute, IN 47803-1912 Reporter/Bd.Rep: Gary Craig Reporter: Nadine Motto-Ros 812-238-9656 Board Rep: John Motto-Ros [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] SOWNY (Southern Ontario, MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY William Chapman (Bill) HEART OF AMERICA Western New York) 53685 Avenida Bermudas, La Quinta, CA 92253-3586 Pres: Tom McAuley Pres: Mike Walter - 716-656-9583 Phone & Fax: 760-564-2951 Vice Pres: Robbie Tubbs Vice Pres: Daniel Tenerowicz e-mail: [email protected] Sec: Rick McDowell - 816-781-1965 Sec: Garry Lemon Treas: Mike Schoeppner - 816-767-9766 Treas: Holly Walter — COMMITTEES — Board Rep: Ron Connor [email protected] AMICA ARCHIVES Tom Hutchinson LADY LIBERTY Reporter: Garry & Anne Lemon 15361 Rd., Sturgeon, MO 65284 Board Rep: Audrey Cannizzaro [email protected] Pres: Vincent Morgan - 718-479-2562 Vice Pres: Aris John Dousmanis Photographer: Nancy Group & Anne AMICA MEMORIAL FUND Halie Dodrill Recording Sec: Bill Maguire Lemmon 4488 W. Mercer Way, Mercer Island, WA 98040-3934 Corresponding Sec: Richard Karlsson SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 206-236-0067, e-mail: [email protected] Reporter:Buzz Rosa Pres: Jerry Pell - 760-249-6380 AUDIO-VISUAL & TECHNICAL Harold Malakinian Board Reps: Marvin & Dianne Polan Vice Pres: Frank Nix 2345 Forest Trail Dr., Troy, MI 48098 631-673-0388 Sec./Reporter: Shirley Nix Newsletter Editor: Bill Maguire Treas: Lloyd A. Osmundson CONVENTION COORDINATOR Frank Nix Board Rep: Frank Nix 6030 Oakdale Ave., Woodland Hills, CA 91367, 818-884-6849 MIDWEST (OH, MI, IN, KY) TEXAS Pres: Don Johnson - 248-879-7713 HONORARY MEMBERS Jay Albert Pres: Jerry Bacon - 214-328-9369 904-A West Victoria Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101-4745 Vice Pres: Liz Barnhart Vice Pres: Bill Boruff 805-966-9602 - e-mail: [email protected] Sec: Sharon Neff Treas: Vicki Brady Treas: Alvin Wulfekuhl WEB MASTER Karl B. Sec./Reporter:Maureen Barisonek Reporter: Christy Counterman Board Rep: John McCall 6 Lions Lane, Salem, MA 01970-1784 Board Rep: Liz Barnhart e-mail: [email protected] AFFILIATED SOCIETIES AND ORGANIZATIONS ATOS FRIENDS OF SCOTT MUSICAL BOX SOCIETY PLAYER PIANO GROUP President - Fr. Gus 1217 St. Croix Ct. INTERNATIONAL Julian Dyer, Bulletin Editor 6508 Willow Springs Road Kirkwood, MO 63122-2326 Rosanna Harris, Editor 5 Richmond Rise, Workingham, Springfield, IL 62707-9500 website: http//stlouis.missouri.org/fsjoplin 5815 West 52nd Avenue Berkshire RG41 3XH, United Kingdom Phone: 217-585-1770 Fax: 217-585-0835 [email protected] Denver, CO 80212 Phone: 0118 977 1057 E-Mail: [email protected] INTERNATIONAL PIANO Phone: 303-431-9033 Fax: 303-431-6978 Email: [email protected] Editor - Baker ARCHIVES AT MARYLAND E-Mail: [email protected] P. O. Box 51450 SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION Performing Arts Library,University of Maryland NETHERLANDS MECHANICAL Division of Musical History Indianapolis, IN 46251-0450 2511 Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center Phone: 317-838-9345 ORGAN SOCIETY - KDV Washington, D.C. 20560 College Park, MD 20742 A. T. Meijer E-Mail: [email protected] SOCIETY FOR SELF-PLAYING Phone: 301-405-9224 Wilgenstraat 24 MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS ASSOCIATION ITALIANA MUSICA Fax: 301-314-7170 NL-4462 VS Goes, Netherlands MECCANICA E-Mail: [email protected] Gesellschaft für Selbstspielende Musikinstrumente (GSM) E.V. Via Comte le Monticino No. 485 INT. VINTAGE PHONO & MECH. NORTHWEST PLAYER PIANO Ralf Smolne 47020 Cesena, Italy MUSIC SOCIETY ASSOCIATION Emmastr. 56 Phone: 39-547-346-046 C.G. Nijsen, Secretaire General Everson Whittle, Secretary D-45130 Essen, Germany AUSTRALIAN COLLECTORS OF 19 Mackaylaan 11 Smiths Road, Darcy Lever, Phone:**49-201-784927 MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 5631 NM Eindhoven, Netherlands Bolton BL3 2PP, Gt. Manchester, Fax:**49-201-7266240 19 Waipori Street Home Phone: 01204 529939 MUSICAL BOX SOCIETY OF GREAT Business Phone: 01772 208003 Email: [email protected] St. NSW 2075, Australia BRITAIN DUTCH PIANOLA ASSOC. Alan Pratt, Editor PIANOLA INSTITUTE Nederlandse Pianola Vereniging P. O. Box 299 Clair Cavanagh, Secretary Eikendreef 24 Waterbeach, Cambridge CB4 4PJ 43 Great Percy St., WC1X 9RA 5342 HR Oss, Netherlands England England 2 President’s Message A couple of issues ago, I mentioned the importance of actively participating in our organization. I specifically called attention to the fact that our publisher is ALWAYS in need of articles for our bulletin. Thankfully, a few members have come forward with very good articles. There is still an urgent need for more submissions for the bulletin. They can be sent over the internet or via the post office. Please check the front of this bulletin for Mike Kukral’s e-mail and regular mail address. Our organization still has other needs that can be met by our members. There still is a need for technical information about instruments. Terry Smythe has been actively collecting technical articles from the bulletins and has been storing these articles over the years. With the coming of computers, it is now more cost effective and efficient to store this information on a computer hard drive or CD ROM. Terry needs help in converting the existing articles from a print format into a digital format (e.g. MS Word). If you would like to assist him in this project, please contact him at: Terry Smythe (204) 832-3982 55 Rowand Avenue [email protected] Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3J 2N6 Another project that is started and “rolling” along is making new test rolls available exclusively for AMICA members. There are four of these test rolls available at the present time. Please see the bulletin article for particulars. Hopefully this winter weather will quickly pass and bring sun and warmer weather soon. We need to hear some band organs outside. Best wishes, Mike From the Publisher’s Desk of my Christmas presents last year was a new food preparation book called Charcuterie by Michael Ruhlman and Brian Polcyn. This is not just a book about barbeque and smoked salmon, but a fine introduction to preparing home-made kielbasa, andouille, duck confit, sauerkraut, corned beef, relishes, pickles, salami, Chicago style hot dogs (I prefer Cleveland style), lox, chorizo, landjager, hams, bacon and many other products that we have forgotten how to make. Charcuterie is a cookbook about the art of food preservation using salt and smoke. On looking at the book, my friends and colleagues have all said, “You must be crazy. Why in the world would anyone make that kind of stuff today when you can buy it at the store or online? It’s way too much work.” Yes, it is a lot of work making sauerkraut and stuffing sausages and smoking fish, but I enjoy it for several reasons. The taste and quality is better and healthier (I realize this is not health food) than mass processed and there is an actual sense of accomplishment in not only making a high quality product but also in preserving methods and culture of the past. This corresponds directly to player and reproducing and many other historic musical instruments. Yes, it is much easier to throw a CD on the CD player or in a piano for hours of wonderful listening than placing a paper roll in a well-restored AMICA instrument. But, like most of you, I prefer my music on rolls and Ð CONVENTION DATES Ð played on authentically restored musical instruments. It is a lot of work, but it provides me with a sense of accomplishment, a connection to the past, usually sounds better, and, overall just 2006 Chicago, Illinois July 25 - July 30 tastes better to me. Please pass the cabbage rolls. 2007 Germany/Holland July 5 - July 20 Mike Kukral (This is not set in stone yet. Hotels and buses are Publisher unable to commit this early, but it looks like this is.)

3 ETTERS passing and all his contributions. I look all understand. Even the deaf hear forward to seeing you at the next meeting me, if they but listen to the voices in Chicago. of their own souls. I am the food of November 4, 2005 I am enclosing this poem about music love. I have taught men gentleness which I thought you would enjoy and Dear Mr. Kukral, appreciate. and peace; and I have led them onward Enclosed you’ll find two photos that Thank you once again. to heroic deeds. I comfort the lonely, speak for themselves. It’s a small invalid Sincerely, and I harmonize the discord of carriage, that I saw in the village I live in. Idalene Fryer crowds. I am a necessary luxury to all A small and funny contribution to your men. I am MUSIC. AMICA-bulletin, I suppose. What’s in a P.S. Happy Holidays Ð Allan C. Inman name, isn’t it? Best regards from Holland, I AM MUSIC Frans Mattaar I am music, most ancient of the arts. I LETTER FROM (chairman of the Dutch Pianola Association) am more than ancient; I am eternal. JACK EDWARDS Even before life commenced upon this If you should go onto the AMICA web earth, I was here—in the winds and the site, you would find some invitations to waves. When the first trees and “e-mail us”, and if you did that, you would get me. I have no idea why I was flowers and grasses appeared, I was chosen to do this job as I am anything among them. And when Man came, but a piano tech, and only recently I at once became the most delicate, did I really begin to learn any detailed most subtle, and most powerful medium player piano history. I rely heavily for the expression of Man’s emotions. on more expert friends and fellow When men were little better than beasts, AMICAns. But, it’s fun and I have met some people from all over the world. I influenced them for their good. In One of the first notes asked me all ages I have inspired men with hope, how much a player piano weighed. kindled their love, given a voice to This was from an Ohio woman writing their joys, cheered them on to valorous a murder mystery, and the piano was deeds, and soothed them in times the murder weapon. A forest ranger in of despair. I have played a great Alaska wanted to buy a music box in non-working condition. Fixing it up part in the drama of Life, whose end and would be his winter project. At last purpose is the complete perfection of contact, the machine was working man’s nature. Through my influence well, and he was collecting discs for human nature has been uplifted, his Regina. sweetened and refined. With the aid I’ve gotten communications from of men, I have become a Fine Art Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada, Belgium, Japan, Italy, Germany, France, Great From Tubalcain to Thomas a Britain, Australia and New Zealand. long line of the brightest minds have I received a note from a Saudi who devoted themselves to the perfection wanted to buy an Ampico B and a citizen of instruments through which men may of the Netherlands who wanted to utilize my powers and enjoy my find out where he could get information charms. I have myriads of voices about band organs. I have received news of an auction featuring automatic and instruments. I am in the hearts of Dear Michael, musical instruments in Scottsdale, all men and on their tongues, in all Thank you very much for the article AZ and news of two music festivals, written up in the bulletin about my late lands and among all peoples; the one in Thailand and another in Estonia. husband, Thomas Fryer. It was a beauti- ignorant and unlettered know me, not One of the most interesting was a ful article honoring Tom and informing less than the rich and learned. For note from a Victrola enthusiast who lives members of both AMICA & MBSI of his I speak to all men, in a language that only six blocks from my home.

4 continued. . .

The new AMICA web site is a good instruments and a wanting for AMICA to don’t know, but I’ll try to find out.” If one. Karl Ellison deserves a standing be of assistance in that interest. We need you should get an e-mail from me asking ovation for designing it and putting it to see to it that we can help those who are for help, help please. together. The responses I’ve been getting interested. I try to answer every note the shows an interest in automatic musical same day I get it even if the answer is, “I

Photo submitted by Bill Baab

Are you planning on attending the 2006 AMICA Convention? The 2006 AMICA Convention in the Chicago area will have a limit of 300 registrants. We antici- pate that all 300 spots will fill up very quickly. To be fair to our members, attendees must be a member of AMICA. We will be sending out the registration forms around the end of March or early April via first class mail. We will stagger the mailings with the hope that members worldwide will receive them around the same time. In 1992, we filled all 300 slots in six weeks. This year we expect the response to be substantially greater. We are planning an outstanding convention and hope to see many of you there. Mel Septon Convention Chairman

5 Don Teach HE FAMOUS COINOLA X

I have been fascinated by player pianos since I was ten years old. I read every book I could find on player pianos. I went to several musical museums as a youngster hoping to see all the player pianos. My goal was to see a Coinola X as I had read that the music they were capable of playing was among the best arranged. I heard they were a collector’s favorite. I went first to the Louisiana Dutch Gardens Museum and they had a great collection of nickelodeon pianos. They had a Seeburg E with pipes playing Bye Bye Blackbird that was great, Wurlitzer CX, Seeburg KT, and many other music machines but no Coinola X. Our next trip took us to St. Louis to the Gay 90’s Melody Music Museum where they also had some great music machines but no Coinola X. We went to Florida to Bellms Music Museum and had a great time. There was no Coinola X in that collection but I still enjoyed the music machines on display. On a trip to Eureka Springs in Arkansas I got to go to the Miles Mountain Musical Museum where I finally got to see a Coinola X. The tour guide only played it a few seconds so it seemed but I finally got to hear a Coinola X. Later on we went to Silver Dollar City and they had Coinola X outside in a little half covered shack that played weak- ly. It was many years later before I would see another Coinola C-2 Coinola X. On a trip to Chicago I was able to hear several Coinola pianos range from ragtime to popular tunes to playing the “O” roll. In one collection I the very best blues piano ever recorded heard a Seeburg H, Seeburg G, Seeburg for a coin piano roll. I had a classical “O” KT, and a Coinola SO. I was most roll I used to play on my Coinola C-2 impressed with the musical performance that made you either have tears in your of the Coinola over the other music eyes or want to order pizza. (Quote about machines. Its playing was more musical pizza from Arthur Reblitz) It was the best Midget O- inside than the other nickelodeons. There is a sounding American made orchestrion pianos made and only a handful of them big sound difference between the sound piano I ever owned. Currently I am are shown in any of the more popular of an original Coinola playing the “O” seeking original “O” rolls to copy. books. Another model piano they made roll verses many of the homemade Coinola pianos were made by the that plays the “O” roll is the Coinola orchestrions using the “O” roll. An Operators Piano Co. of Chicago, IL. model C-2 which is similar to the original Coinola piano playing the “O” These pianos were once popular sellers Coinola X but with pipes such as in a roll is still my musical favorite with its evidenced by the fact that quite a few of playing the solo part. The solo very listenable and what them are still in existence. There were part is orchestrated into the roll and plays I think of as relaxed playing. The rolls many different models of the Coinola the top two octaves of the music on the

6 continued. . .

and a late style X. The picture of the early X unfortunately shows a florescent light fixture in the bottom of the case that does not belong. I first saw this piano in the early 1970’s at Wallace McPeaks Music in Mesquite, TX. I really wanted it but had college expenses to pay. I later saw it at Reds Antiques before was sold to a collector in California. Years Early X X Late-full view later it was on the bulletin board at a MBSI meeting for sale. I begged, borrowed, and whatever else I had to do so my wife would let me buy it at four times the price it was when I first saw it. I still have it and it is time now for a full restoration. The late Early X-bottom style X is my latest purchase. I really X Early- top inside don’t “need” another piano but then I am a their needs. The rolls also have piano collector. It was restored in the PA perforations for the drums, area some years ago and needs attention. , and other functions I have it playing and I enjoy the music it the piano needs to play. provides. The Midget “O” has been in the There are limited expression collection for 20 years. It plays strong perforations for the hammer rail and looks good. This Midget “O” gets a as well as a swell or loud feature good workout when I am in the back for the piano with separate part of the house where it resides. The expression perforations for the Midget “O” models seem to have been drums. They also made a cabinet introduced somewhere around 1922. model known as the Midget The poor old Coinola C-2 I had went to “O”. These small orchestrions help pay for another piano. I still order had larger pianos than the pizza though the piano is gone. I still X Late-inside Seeburg K models or the Link have copies of that classical roll for sale cabinet models. There are few pipes or xylophone or orchestra bells. and probably should sell one of the original cabinet model “O” Coinola’s in Coinola also made the CO and SO Coinola X’s before my wife notices I existence today. The Coinola pianos models which are the largest orchestrions have two of them. I have been collecting made slight changes over their 20 years in their lineup of pianos. Unfortunately coin operated pianos for 40 years and in the market place. The Coinola X there are very few of these models in still think the Coinola “O” roll is one of model in the early years is most likely existence. The Empress Electric line of the best American made nickelodeon to have a pump that is vertical with pianos by Lyon and Healy also sold mod- rolls ever made followed by the ? roll. orchestra bells as the extra instrument. els with identical insides to the Coinola The later models have the xylophone as line of pianos. There was also a Welte Don Teach Ð Shreveport Music Co. the extra instrument with a box type model of the Coinola X. I think it was a 318 798 6000 ¥ Fax: 318 797 4572 pump. In the photographs with this compliment to Coinola that these other 1815 E 70th Street article you can see an early style X manufacturers used Coinola to supply Shreveport, LA 71105

7 By Ray Fairfield MITH LYRAPHONE THE LYRAPHONE PIANO PLAYER

valid. But this unique machine revealed Figure 2, some interesting design features that Power roller with Several years ago I was working at made it a fun restoration. drive belt my computer late, when the day’s from pedal Mechanical Music Digest (MMD) came The Mechanism crankshaft in. I opened it immediately, and one of The drive cylinder (power roller), those once-in-a-lifetime, right place at Figure 1, is extremely heavy, weighing the right time events happened my way. perhaps 30 pounds. It is a steel cylinder, One of the MMDers was offering two veneered with approximately 1/16” cork push-up piano players, free, to the first sheeting. The cylinder is approximately taker, and, as luck would have it, he lived 3.2 inches [8.1 cm] in diameter and about only 30 miles from me. The price was 36 3/8 inches [92 cm] long. One end has right too. I responded immediately, and a “sprocket” for the drive belt, and got the machines, along with a couple of the other end has a dish-shaped, leather boxes of 88-note rolls. They had been covered drive surface for power take-off stored in a commercial storage unit for for the spool box (Figures 2 & 3). The some time. The units came courtesy of cylinder is driven by a drive shaft Ralph Heintz, who told me that he operated by the foot pedals (Figure 4). believed they were from the collection of The consists of 65 striking Larry Givens, and that they had come assemblies (unfortunately, there were from Europe. Thanks again, Ralph. only 63 on this machine), each with a The Lyraphone (The Smith Lyraphone “shoe” with a friction sole, positioned Figure 3, Power take-off disk for spoolbox drive Company, Baltimore, MD) uses a unique just above the cork cylinder (Figure 5 design for playing the keys: It uses a shows one actuating rod, striking spinning power roller for the striking assembly, and playing finger, laid out as force for the keys. It dates from about it is installed in the machine: Figure 6 1901. I figured that this would be shows the cleaned striking assemblies interesting, and probably easier than the being installed above the roller). The other unit, a Chase and Baker, because shoes are attached to individual linkages it didn’t have striking pneumatics, so that actuate the “fingers” that play the that’s how the restoration order was keys on the piano. established. I remember telling myself The foot pedals operate in the normal “I’ll just knock this sucker out during my way, but instead of directly actuating spare time in the evenings, and I’ll exhauster bellows, each pedal turns the Figure 4, Crankshaft assembly and power roller be done in a couple of months.” Yeah, drive shaft by way of a woven strap right!!! That was October 2004. In wrapped around the shaft. The shaft retrospect, I’m not sure the logic was runs the width of the unit. Each half

Figure 1, Power roller and the striking action

Figure 5, Striking action pieces

Figure 6, Action being reassembled

8 continued. . .

Figure 7, Crankshaft clutch assembly parts Figure 9, Crankshaft assembly

Figure 8, Crankshaft clutch assembly (closeup) of the shaft has a mechanical, Figure 12, Pumping bellows one-way, self-actuating clutch that and reservoir transmits power when pressing down on the pedal but allows free formed by the upper and lower rotation when the pedal returns up. Figure 10, Tracker bar and controls rails of the tracker bar. The Pedal return is through a round interesting thing about this tracker leather belt from a spring located bar is that there are four distinct underneath (Figures 7, 8 & 9). (and different) hole widths. If A wooden pulley at one end the holes are numbered 1 through of the drive shaft drives the 65, beginning from the lowest cork-covered cylinder (roller) by bass note, then holes 1-6 and way of a sprocket and a leather belt 65-59 are approximately .276 that has holes in it corresponding inch [0.7 cm] pitch. Holes 7-12 with the teeth on the sprocket. The and 58-53 are approximately drive shaft has an offset at one end 0.204 inch [0.52 cm] pitch. that makes it into a crankshaft that, Holes 13-21 and 52-44 are through a wooden connecting rod, approximately 0.182 inch [0.46 drives the small exhauster bellows cm] pitch. The remaining holes and reservoir, which provides the 22-44 are approximately 0.164 vacuum for the tracker bar and inch [0.42 cm] pitch (Figure 10). A patent date is stamped into the pouches. The reservoir bellows Figure 11, Pouch chest regulates pressure via a long wood tracker bar: Nov. 13, 1900. (about 24”) torsion spring, which is A patent search of musical adjustable. The music roll drive is via instruments from this date revealed a wood power take-off disc at the other that this patent number is 661920, end of the cork-covered roller. This entitled “Self-Playing Musical disc contacts the leather-covered, Instruments and Notesheets Therefor.” convex dish at the end of the power This patent is for the variable-width roller. For faster music speed, the disc tracker bar holes. The patent explains is positioned further from the center that expansion and contraction of (Figure 3). Linkages clutch the take-up the notesheet (the roll) due to spool during normal play, and lift that humidity changes is a problem, shaft and engage another during reroll. especially for wide note-sheets. Therefore, the “apertures” in the This device plays a 65-note roll of Figure 13, Pumping bellows ready to recover approximately 13-1/4 inch [33.66 cm] tracker bar needs to be increased in width. The re-roll drive is from the round pin. The tracker bar “holes” are width as the distance from the center left side (the pin of the roll is flattened on actually rectangular apertures, being is increased. It is further stated that there one side), while the right side pin is just a made by inserting spacers in the long slot is sufficient aperture width to allow for lateral movement (poor tracking) of the 9 continued. . . music sheet. It is stated that control on the front panel of mis-tracking up to one hole- the machine, but, alas, the width of the paper and full business end of the control lever expansion/contraction of the is missing and I have no clue paper due to humidity can be how it is supposed to work. accommodated. Apparently, with no tracking device, a wide The restoration 1 music roll (13 ⁄4”), early paper, The restoration began by and varying climatic conditions, removing the case panels. Front this was considered necessary. and rear panel removal was The tracker bar tubing was straightforward. inserted directly into the back of The top pieces simply lift off. the tracker bar at one end, and The controls were disconnected directly into the pouch block and the top mechanism, at the other. The tubing was including the spool box and “potted” to prevent leakage. pouch board, was lifted out. There is only one row of tubing This was made easier because into the tracker bar, and as the the two leather belts that drive tracker bar holes are 6 to the the spoolbox were broken. The Figure 14, Completed mechanism inch at the center, the tubes action was then removed to were squeezed into an oval to fit allow removal of the power into the spaces. roller. The case sides were removed The power roller is supported by by backing out the height-adjusting cast iron brackets, which are in turn lead screws. The pedal mechanism is supported by the cast-iron end plates of mounted on a steel rod pinned between the mechanism. The brackets pivot at one the two case halves, and was also end, and have double adjustment screws removed at this time. at the other, secured by one lock bolt At this point, the pumping (machine screw). To install the roller, bellows/reservoir assembly was removed one bracket is installed, and one and the drive shaft and clutches pinned-end of the roller is inserted. The were removed. The lower case was then other end bracket is then fitted, and disassembled, cleaned, and sanded. All lowered into position in the end casting. wooden pieces were sanded and sealed A cradle is designed into the end bracket Completed unit with lacquer sanding sealer. to allow the bracket to rest slightly below All castings were bead blasted its bolted position while the assembler and painted with metallic silver engine inserts the machine screws. The adjust- enamel. The pedal return springs were ment screws allow for alignment of the painted black. roller with the player action. The roller The cork surface of the power roller can be removed without removing the was sanded using full sheets of 220 grit player action. sandpaper. The leather drive surface on The pneumatic chest (Figure 11) the end was similarly sanded, in both has 65 leather pouches with an outer cases preserving the original. All wood diameter of 1.25” (3.175 cm). A wooden surfaces were clear-coated with sanding lifter disc of 0.75” (1.9cm) diameter is sealer, taking care not to paint the cork or centered on each pouch. A small hole in leather surfaces. Similarly, the wood the center of the lifter disc serves as a rollers that are friction surfaces were not pouch bleed. When a note hole at the coated. tracker bar is uncovered, atmospheric Completed unit The drive shaft was disassembled, pressure lifts the pouch. The pouch during which it was discovered that the actuates the offset portion of a lifter rod, roller, and “voila”, the shoe kicks out clutch assemblies were pretty much which is bent into the shape of an causing the linkage to depress the playing “glued” to the shaft by petrified grease. elongated “U” and mounted horizontally finger, playing the note on the piano. All metal parts were either bead blasted over each pouch. The lifter button on the The whole system is really slick! or wire brushed to clean off 100 years of pouch has two felt dots that lift (rotate, I purchased an advertisement (from E- corrosion. The faces of the wood clutch actually) the lifter rod. The business end Bay) from 1902 for this machine. The ad discs were recovered with 1/16” leather, of the lifter rod pushes down on the really plays up the expression capabilities with the rough side out. The smooth side action causing the shoe to contact the of the machine. There is an expression 10 continued. . .

in excess of the rotational force: The more drive force generated, the more pressure on the clutch faces. At the end of the pedal stroke, the pedal return springs pull the pedal back, and the clutch free wheels. The clutches are set-up with a small clearance, perhaps 1/32”, so that minimal friction exists during pedal retraction. The action is mounted on a cast iron beam traversing the unit above the roller. To this is mounted the 65 striking assemblies that make up the action. This is all well and good, except that two are missing on my machine. Each striking assembly (for lack of a better word) has a cork shoe that, upon actuation, transmits power from the roller, through the action mechanism, to the finger called upon to strike the note. These 63 striking assemblies were removed and bead blasted, and new felt dots glued on the stop- and lifter-buttons. The cork shoes were carefully sanded to remove age darkening. The cork was all old and brittle, but other- wise in good condition. It was therefore left in its original (but sanded) state, as it will see limited use in the future. Each assembly was reassembled on the beam, in its original position, except that the striking assemblies were left off for the topmost and bottommost notes. Approximately 1/32” clearance was set between the bottom of each shoe and the power roller (in the non-actuated position). Next the pouch chest was disassembled. The pouch chest also serves as the main deck of the unit upon which all of the controls, shafts, pulleys, and of the leather was sanded to ensure a and are driven by the pedals. Power is spool box are mounted. All this was good glue joint to the wood clutch disc. transmitted to the wood discs via a 1/4” disassembled, each piece cleaned, sanded The clutch assembly is a self-actuating, diameter rod that is mounted at or polished as appropriate, and clear one-way design, utilizing a three-inch approximately a 45 degree angle. This coated. The 105-year old pouches were diameter serrated steel clutch face and a rod is mounted such that when a all intact, well dished, and supple. They leather-faced wood disc. The steel clutch rotational force in the drive direction is are a dark brown color. I believe they’ll faces are locked to the drive shaft. The generated, the rod also provides an axial survive the minimal use they will see, so wood discs rotate on the drive shaft, thrust onto the clutch faces that is I simply cleaned everything up, sealed 11 continued. . . the pouches with Dow-corning 111 The horizontally mounted, “U” shaped spool box moves left to right. The spool silicon vacuum grease, and put it back lifter rods are supported on each end in a box mounts on two 1/8” steel rods in the together. The pouch chest is made of a wooden groove on both sides on the rear, and two round-head screws, in slots, soft wood (fir?). A 1” x 2” hardwood pouch board (Figure 11). They are held in in the front. These screws have felt board is mounted on top of the pouch place with the leather gasket, and washers so that a slight friction drag chest, and serves to mount the tubing lubricated with graphite. holds the spool box in place, but will nipples for the pouches. I’ll call this the The pouch chest halves are sealed allow it to transpose side-to-side by using “tubing board”, for lack of a better name. with leather around the joints. After the thumb screw, to align the roll to the It’s sort of like an intake manifold, but re-assembling the pouch chest, it was tracker bar. The rear mounting rods rotate with 65 individual chambers within. The remounted in the push-up frame. At this in a parallelogram fashion as the original tubing from the tracker bar had time, all the controls were cleaned, spoolbox translates. been replaced at some time with clear sanded, clear coated, polished (in the The next task was the pumping plastic tubing, and the tubing has simply case of the nickel-plated metal pieces) bellows/reservoir assembly (Figure 12). been stuffed into the holes in the tubing and reinstalled. The drive pullies are all The pumping bellows operates via a board and “potted” with some type of made of wood, and these were cleaned wood connecting rod from the main white sealant, which was now petrified and sanded and clear coated (but not the crankshaft. A torsion rod connects to and brittle (Figure 10). It was also potted belt surfaces themselves). The main drive a wood arm pinned to the bellows to in this manner in the back of the tracker belt is a 1” wide heavy leather belt with provide a continuous opening force. bar. I drilled out the holes to 7/32” and 1/8” holes punched in the middle at about When mounted in the cabinet, the inserted reducing nipples into the holes, 1” spacing. Two attempts were required pumping bellows is to the rear, with and sealed them. The astute observer will to make a new belt that would track the hinge end down. Each bellows is note that the tracker bar hole spacing correctly. Alignment of the two pullies approximately 8 X 10 inches. The will not allow in-line mounting of for this belt was critical for proper belt pumping reservoir shares the center 7/32” nipples in the center where the hole tracking. Three smaller belts are utilized board with the reservoir. An internal pitch is the smallest. For these holes I for spool box drive. The original leather flap valve allows the pumping flattened the tubing end slightly, and belts appear to be half-rounds of bellows to evacuate the reservoir, and an staggered the nipples up or down to get approximately 1/8” leather. I tried external leather flap valve exhausts air them in. making new belts from 3/16” round from the pumping bellows. The center Each tubing hole enters the pouch belting, but it was too stiff and wouldn’t board has six half-inch holes sealed with board and goes into a “recess” drilled transfer power correctly. I ultimately a flap valve to allow air to be evacuated into the board. The recess is 1/2” (1.27 used heavy leather shoestrings for these from the reservoir into the pumping cm) in diameter and about 3/8” (0.953 belts, which are approximately 1/8” bellows (Figure 13). The reservoir has a cm) deep. This hole serves as a dust trap, square. spring-steel flap valve (with a piece of and a small hole from the top of this The “playing” fingers were all leather for the sealing surface) on the cavity is drilled to the pouch well. The taken off of their mounting board. The outside. The flap valve is opened by a tubing board is screwed to the pouch mounting board was sanded and clear screw on the inside of the reservoir. chest, and has a full leather gasket, with coated, and each finger assembly was When the reservoir is totally collapsed, holes punched out to accept the tracker bead blasted, repaired as necessary, and the screw pushes the steel flap valve bar tubing nipples. An interesting feature reinstalled. One finger was missing and open, relieving vacuum. When enough here is that sandwiched between the another broken beyond repair, so I again air enters to open the reservoir about a leather gasket surface of the tubing board left off the topmost and bottommost quarter of an inch, the flap valve closes and the pouch chest was a 2” (5.08cm) notes. The pad that strikes the keys is again. This is required because the spool wide piece of cheesecloth running the a white fabric of some sort, which box and power roller are mechanically entire length, to act as a further filter cleaned up fairly well in the blast cabinet. driven, requiring continuous pedaling to against dust and debris intrusion. Several had to be reglued to the end of keep them moving. The same crankshaft Interestingly enough, the cheesecloth and the finger. continuously drives the pumping dust traps were quite clean. The leather The spool box restoration was bellows, so some sort of vacuum relief is gaskets were replaced, along with the straightforward. Take it all apart, wire required. cheesecloth, and the entire assembly brush all the metal parts, polish and clear The bellows and reservoir were cleaned, sanded, and clear coated. coat the brass, sand and repaint all the covered with medium-weight bellows By the way, the vacuum enters the black wood pieces, and reassemble cloth. Removal of the old cloth was pouch well from the pump/reservoir with a little white grease on the bearing facilitated by heating with an iron. Small assembly via a 1” (2.54 cm) diameter surfaces. Upon remounting the spool box brass hinges are used at the pivot points, brass tube mounted with rubber-gasketed I finally figured out what the thumb instead of cloth. Bellows cloth is simply flanges. Upon rewind, a small wooden screw sticking out the middle of the glued over the hinges. The restoration of vacuum release valve, leather covered, control panel is for. It’s for aligning the the bellows and reservoir was fairly opens a hole in the vacuum chamber tracker bar to the roll. That’s not exactly straightforward, disassembling, cleaning, below the pouches. correct. The tracker bar is fixed. The sanding, sealing the wood surfaces, 12 continued. . . re-gluing a spot or two of loose veneer, paint. Metal rods are inserted into the to lift as well. The mahogany looked replacing the flap leathers, and gluing on sides of the pedals to keep the operator’s pretty blotchy so I ended up sanding the new bellows cloth. This last job was feet centered on the pedals. These were most of those surfaces to bare wood, and a bit tricky because the pumping bellows blasted and clear-coated. New drive belts re-staining with red mahogany stain. is smaller than the reservoir, and two to the crankshaft were fashioned from 1” After touching up light spots (several sides of the cloth have to be glued onto wide fabric belting. New pedal rubbers times), I was ready to apply the sanding the flat surface (rather than the edge) of were purchased from Player Piano sealer and, finally, the medium-rubbed- the rear board of the reservoir. This was Company and glued on with contact finish lacquer topcoat. accomplished by temporarily holding the cement. The pedals were longer than the The height of the mechanism is cloth in place with a 1/4” square wood pieces from PPCo, so each pedal pad had adjustable so that the push-up can be strip while the glue dried. to be “grafted” from two pieces to make adapted to virtually any keyboard height. The primary air (vacuum) tube is a 1” the whole. The diamond pattern made it The adjusting mechanism is a half-inch brass tube, inserted into 1” holes in the easy to match. diameter lead screw mounted in each side reservoir and the main pouch chest. The The last job was to refinish the case. of the case. A large screwdriver (these tube is held in place, and sealed, by a The case was totally disassembled so days you’d use a battery-powered cast-iron flange and 1/8” thick rubber each piece could be individually screwdriver – at least that’s what I use!) gasket at each end. The rubber gasket stripped/sanded/re-stained/finished. turns the lead screw. The lead screw was petrified, of course, so I used a 1/8” This job was made much more difficult raises and lowers the player mechanism cross-section “O” ring at each end. The by the manufacturer’s choice of wood. relative to the sides. These lead screws flange slides over the tube and then is Most of the wood is a veneer, with a solid were wire-brushed and re-installed. screwed into the wood. A little polishing core covered on both sides by a thick Figures 14 shows the mechanism and buffing (well, ok, more than just a veneer of mahogany. There are a few reassembled and ready for the case to be little) and some clear coat and the brass pieces of solid mahogany. And then there reassembled. Figure 15 shows the com- tube looks pretty good. are pieces on the back of the case pleted unit. Most of the metal pieces on the (presumably normally out of public How does it work, you ask? piano-player are nickel plated. After view) that are made of some soft wood, Remarkably well, but it doesn’t respond more than a hundred years, the plating perhaps pine. It was all done up as crisply as it would have if I wasn’t looking so good. But all of the handsomely in the (then) popular purple had replaced the pouches. There were pieces cleaned up fairly well with aniline dye, and finished with shellac. several vacuum leaks that had to be double-ought steel wool and metal The purple dye pretty much hid the grain. located and sealed. The roller is heavy polish, except for the rod assembly that The challenge was to strip the shellac, and requires quite a bit of force to come supports the pedals. That assembly was remove just enough dye so that the grain up to speed, but once rotating it drives badly pitted: I painted this piece with could be seen, but not remove all the dye smoothly. The unit makes quite a aluminum paint. They look pretty good if so the difference in woods would be racket during operation. The roller and you take a step back. In the old car obvious. The shellac was easily stripped associated mechanisms are not as quiet hobby, we call ‘em “20 footers.” with a mixture of equal parts alcohol, as I thought they would be, but the action The wood pedal assembly was acetone, and lacquer thinner. If the truth delivers quite a powerful keystroke. disassembled, stripped, sanded, and be known, straight alcohol worked nearly There you have it. My two-month clear-coated. The metal casting pieces as well. After continued working the restoration is done and it only took a that constitute the pedal “hinges” were surface with the stripping concoction and year. bead-blasted and coated with aluminum double-ought steel wool, the dye started

Workshop Presenters WANTED for the 2006 AMICA Convention in Chicago Contact: Curt Clifford at (630) 832-0904 or E-mail: [email protected]

13 Submitted by Karl Ellison INGUSASONG YOU’RE THE PIANO MAN

said. “It’s note on or note off. It’s been Boone was born in 1864, the Two men make it their mission digital for years, but piano rolls are easily illegitimate son of a runaway slave who to restore and preserve digitized and can be made to play on settled in Warrensburg after the Civil old ragtime music digital player pianos.” war. Boone was afflicted with “brain Piano rolls can be found in antique fever,” and the only way to reduce the Missourian News, December 18, 2005 stores for between 50 cents and $3. potentially lethal swelling of his brain By Caroline Dohack “They’ve been plentiful for years,” was to remove his eyes. Montgomery said. “They’re still plentiful Blindness was not a handicap for Bob Taylor has been playing, if you know where to look.” Boone, Salerno said. In fact, it was collecting and repairing player pianos And they are often in surprisingly a blessing because his world would for 30 years. He bought this player good condition. forever be one of sound. Although Boone piano from a dealer in Chicago in “These things are rolled up all the couldn’t see the keys, he had an 1974 and restored it himself. Taylor time, so air and acid don’t get in them,” impeccable ear and could play anything enjoys his hobby because he likes to he said. “Except for any flaws the he heard, helping spread ragtime around repair things and loves the music, which rolls acquire as they’re being played on a the state and later around North America. is stored on paper rolls that the pianos regular player piano, they’re like new.” “Boone’s real importance is that he play. Knowing where to find piano rolls is took what he heard and created ragtime Technological advances move at the only half the game of collecting them. compositions, but he did it in a way that speed of ideas nowadays, and a Buyers should be familiar with artists, he heard happening as a youth,” said performer’s work can be lost if it is not composers, titles and labels of the Salerno. reproduced with an eye on the future. era - although Montgomery admits he While Joplin is considered the most Since the 1980s, the music industry buys blind on occasion. There’s a natural sophisticated ragtime composer, Taylor has gone from eight-track cartridges to curiosity that goes with owning a piece said Boone’s music was more true to cassette tapes to compact disks and, most of history, he said. the genre’s roots; a folk ragtime that recently, to MP3s. But there are some “You’re never satisfied just getting reflected black, tent-meeting style. who make it their mission to preserve the somebody’s rolls,” he said. “You want to Because electric recording wouldn’t memories - and more importantly, the know as much as you can about the come until 1924, piano rolls were how music - of the past. performer; you want to know about his performers like Boone recorded their Mike Montgomery is one of those life, his photograph - everything, the music. people. From his home in Detroit, whole thing.” The most common method of Montgomery, who considers himself a Ragtime’s hallmark is its recording on a piano roll is by cutting natural historian, has been collecting polyrhythm, or multiple rhythms played holes into the paper to create the melody piano rolls since 1951. The survival simultaneously, said Lucille Salerno, a line. There are limitations: The person of these rolls is crucial to the survival of ragtime enthusiast and president emerita operating the player piano’s controls the genre. of the John William Boone Heritage must provide any note inflections Some of best - and most rare - Foundation. required. Directions were usually printed surviving piano rolls are by ragtime Because of its origins, some on the rolls, as were song lyrics. musicians, whose style originated in considered ragtime to be “brothel music.” Hand-playing rolls are made on a Missouri. While ragtime was most Its identity was sometimes masked piano fitted with a stylus, which makes popular between 1900 and 1917, it was by the more socially acceptable name, pencil marks on the roll as the musician a major influence on the emerging jazz “foxtrot,” said Bob Taylor, who repairs plays. The holes are cut into the paper and blues styles. and collects player pianos and rolls. later, and though these rolls required At the time, few blacks knew how to While this was not necessarily a more editing, they reflected more notate their music, so very little sheet common practice, there are some technique, said Taylor. music for popular ragtime tunes exists. instances where a song called foxtrot had A self-described mechanical nut, Racism also prevented much of the same characteristics as a rag. Taylor has been repairing player pianos this music from being published, Scott Joplin, of St. Louis, who wrote for 31 years. He owns five player pianos, Montgomery said. “The Entertainer” and “Maple Leaf Rag,” as well as a player organ. The music survives because of piano was the most famous ragtime composer. While the stereotypical player piano, a rolls, which allow scholars to transcribe However, much of his success followed Western movie standby in any saloon the music for future performers. the pioneering music of Columbia’s own scene, has a “rinky tink” sound to it, the “If you think about it, piano rolls are William “Blind” Boone. instrument is a sophisticated machine notes in a piece of paper,” Montgomery

14 continued. . . capable of reproducing myriad sounds. sister, Alta Rockefeller Prentice. While restoring his player organ, Some are operated by pumping the After her brother’s house was made Taylor has been storing much of the pedals to control the song’s volume; the into a museum, Prentice took a roll music as special computer files called faster the operator pumps, the louder the changer - a cabinet that holds several . Computer storage allows easier song is played. Levers along the sides of organ rolls and works much the same access to the thousands of songs in the piano control the speed of the song. way a CD changer does - from Taylor’s library and protects the rolls With electric player pianos, each roll Rockefeller’s house. She later gave it to themselves, some of which are highly has the correct tempo setting printed on Stewart, whose widow sold it to Taylor. acidic, from deterioration. it, and the holes tell the piano what notes To hear Taylor’s organ is to be inside Taylor plans to use the organ to put on to hit and when the damper or soft pedal the music itself. The pipes blare in front, small concerts, as well as to make new should be activated. while the echo sounds behind. The recordings that others can enjoy. Player organs are exponentially more melody comes in from the left and the Montgomery said such dedication complex, requiring two sets of holes to right. The player organ isn’t playing the can recapture a lost music and an operate multiple keyboards. Additional music; it seems as if the whole house oft-neglected element of popular music codes operate chimes, echo and other is - and all controlled by a single piece of culture. features unique to pipe organs. paper. “The thing you want to do, is rescue Taylor’s organ once belonged to John While piano and organ rolls aren’t as stuff that’s endangered of getting lost and D. Rockefeller Jr. Taylor bought it from a popular as other antiques, people like put it a little higher up on the shelf so the New Jersey man, Johnston F. Stewart, Montgomery and Taylor share a passion next generation of people interested who had been a friend of Rockefeller’s to pass along their knowledge to others. won’t have to look as hard,” he said.

Submitted by Robin Pratt EETHOVEN’S BONES SCHOLAR UNRAVELS THE STORY OF A FASCINATING DISCOVERY By Richard Scheinin http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | they would look into their authenticity - Seligmann - known as “The Wonderful” (KRT) Joan Kaufmann is thumbing Beethoven’s bones? - once Paul, whose in Vienna - who was a collector of skulls, through neatly cataloged volumes of career was going great guns, retired. an eminent physician, scholar and friend family letters and documents in her Paul Kaufmann, now 69 and not yet of Schubert. His best friend was Danville, Calif., home when she comes close to being retired, couldn’t quite wrap Ottilie von Goethe, the daughter-in-law across a page of scribblings of particular his head around just what might be lying of the poet Goethe, the other titan of 19th interest. Casually jotted on a piece of there in the bank vault until a Beethoven century German culture. Some of paper are the contents of an aluminum scholar named William Meredith entered Ottilie’s many gifts to Romeo - including lunchbox that once belonged to a relative the picture six years ago. the poet’s own silver pencil - now are named Tom Desmines in the south of It took Meredith, director of San Jose owned by the Kaufmanns. France: “11 silver spoons ... 1 gold chain, State University’s Center for Beethoven But for headline purposes, the bones 36 grams ... Chinese lock and ... box Studies, to uncover and explain the are unbeatable. Beethoven skullbones.” complicated chain of family history that Last month, Meredith and Kaufmann Kaufmann, who is 70, chuckles: he is convinced brought the bones to announced that the skull fragments had “I never assumed that I married into a Danville. And to overcome Kaufmann’s surfaced: “The first time the world has family like this.” skepticism: “The whole thing seemed so ever known where they are,” Meredith She did, 47 years ago. But it’s only fantastic to him,” Meredith says. “How said at a press conference. Already, the recently that the family history has come could part of Beethoven’s body wind up Kaufmanns had loaned the fragments - sailing out of the mists. In 1990, she and in Danville?” two slightly less than palm-sized pieces her husband Paul, a business executive, The journey of the bones is a real and 10 pebble-sized flakes - in perpetuity visited Desmines, an old bohemian who who-done-it, a grand 19th century tale, to the Beethoven Center where they will was badly ailing, and brought home the much of it set in Vienna amid what turns remain under lock and key for future bones that Paul had been hearing about out to be one of the most fascinating study. since he was a boy and which his Uncle families in that city’s fabled cultural Eventually, with as much sensitivity Tom had stashed in the lunch box. history. as possible, they are likely to be In Danville, they locked them in their Perhaps its most compelling character displayed in an exhibit explaining their bank’s safety deposit box and figured is Kaufmann’s great-great uncle Romeo history and the scientific testing to which

15 continued. . . they’ve been subjected. didn’t even raise the possibility of Reich, would have had a field day with Earlier this month, it was announced misidentification in an e-mail to the relics. that chemical testing of the fragments at Meredith. He simply urged against Though his family had converted to a U.S. Energy Department lab supports exhibition of the bones: “Oh, please, Catholicism, Albert also may have feared the theory that Beethoven died of lead don’t display them. Displays of that his own Jewish blood would be poisoning at age 56 in 1827. Excessively saints’ relics have nothing to do discovered and the bones seized as a high lead levels were found in the bones. with scholarship.” result. This was an important announcement: The story of the saint’s bones begins, Then there is Albert’s cousin, Ada In his famous Heiligenstadt Testimony, of course, in Vienna. The day after Rosenthal Kaufmann, a botanist, who written in 1802, poor Beethoven, who Beethoven died in 1827, his body was fled the Nazis and, along with her son suffered from terrible fevers, debilitating subjected to a brutal autopsy; the ears Tom Desmines, inherited the bones from stomach ailments and famously erratic were cut out and the skullcap was Albert when he died in 1945. Desmines, behavior, had confessed thoughts of roughly removed, a primary reason that a Nazi prisoner of war who survived to suicide and prayed that, after his death, Beethoven’s skull fell into nine large become a Nuremberg Trials translator, his doctor would be able to “explain the fragments. lived out his life in Vence, France, taking causes of my malady so that the world In 1863, the body was exhumed for baths in the Roman cistern in his garden may be reconciled to me.” study and reburial by the Society and drinking wine with his friend Marc The source of the lead poisoning of Friends of Music in Vienna. That, Chagall. remains a mystery, yet all of Beethoven’s Meredith is certain, is when Romeo Before Meredith began his research, ailments conceivably were attributable to Seligmann, Kaufmann’s great-great reading, translating and ordering the it - maybe even his deafness, though uncle, secretly was given the bones, one Kaufmanns’ voluminous collection of Meredith suspects the composer’s from the back of the head, one from the letters and documents, Paul Kaufmann slow-growing hearing loss had other left side. had known only the bare-bones outline of causes, possibly genetic. In the course of what was deemed a the succession of ownership of the skull That’s one reason he and the scientific inquiry into the composer’s fragments, from Romeo to Albert to Ada Kaufmanns took the bones last June to genius, he had been measuring and and Tom. the University of Munster in Germany. analyzing some of the bones at the “Can you imagine how I felt when There, researchers carefully drilled a half apartment of a man named Gerhard von I suddenly learned all of this?” he asks. -shaped crater the size of a pea in Breuning. As a teenager, Breuning had “I was in awe. I’m still in awe.” the underside of one of the fragments, visited Beethoven on his deathbed Kaufmann grew up in Honolulu, captured the drilled-out bone dust, and - and now believed the bones to be of such where his parents immigrated in first things first - attempted to match scientific importance that they shouldn’t the 1920s. His father, George Otto DNA extracted from the dust to that of a be reburied. Meredith posits a Kaufmann, born in Germany, trained famous lock of Beethoven’s hair that has “gentleman’s agreement” between thousands of residents and GIs in been part of the Beethoven Center’s Breuning, Seligmann and possibly the refrigeration, radio and other trades. His collection since 1994. (The idea being to Society itself, allowing Romeo to keep mother, Alma - sister of Tom, daughter of put to rest any fears that the bones might certain of the skull bones. Ada - worked at her husband’s trade not belong to the composer.) Romeo “The Wonderful” was an school and, when Paul was a boy, would Thus far, only a partial match has anthropologist, author, translator of call for him by opening the back door been made. Future tests and advancing Persian texts and doctor, the first and whistling the first notes of technology may or may not change professor of the history of medicine at Beethoven’s Fifth. that fact; given the age of the bones, the University of Vienna. Of special “My parents were very much Meredith cautions, a complete match interest, considering the recent DNA aficionados of classical music and may never happen, in which case testing of the bones, is the fact that his the arts,” says Kaufmann, who after the source of the deafness also might mother was a cousin of Gregor Mendel, graduating high school in 1953 attended remain a mystery. the father of genetics. “Romeo is just one the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in Yet the provenance of the bones - its of the most interesting guys of the 19th Connecticut, married Joan, and received chain-like history of ownership, laid out century,” says Meredith. “Nobody beats his MBA from the Stanford Graduate by Meredith in detail in the latest issue of him.” School of Business. The Beethoven Journal, published by the He also is just one of the characters in The couple began raising their two American Beethoven Society - appears the saga. Romeo left the bones to his son children and set off into what Joan calls so rock-solid that he and other scholars Albert, a distinguished painter and art “the corporate life.” Paul Kaufmann’s are convinced they are the real thing. critic in Vienna and a friend of Johannes most recent venture is as president and “I have every confidence that these . Albert seems to have hidden the CEO of Wellness Express Healthcare, bone fragments are genuine,” says Barry fragments during World War II (the only which is establishing walk-in medical , a British expert on Beethoven. gap in the provenance), fearful that the clinics in Longs Drugs stores in University of California-Berkeley Nazis, who turned Beethoven’s music California and Hawaii. musicologist Richard Taruskin into an advertisement for the Third For years, the couple only occasionally 16 continued. . . mentioned the bones to friends. lithographs and a number of engravings Biedermeier desk at which Romeo and Joan Kaufmann imitates the typical of European ruins, gifts from Ottilie to Albert worked in Vienna is in the reaction, a mixture of surprise and Romeo. bedroom and one of Albert’s engravings skepticism: “Oh, really?” she says, There is a portrait of Louis Pasteur - is in the living room. raising her eyebrows. Meredith figures he was yet another It is a colorful ballroom scene, two Touring the house with the family friend - and one by Albert of men in tails, looking a bit anxious as they Kaufmanns, one gets the feeling that the an Aunt Therese, noble and a little prepare to ask a pair of beautiful women Old World has at last become part of mysterious in profile. to dance. their New World. The most valuable A small table, around which Romeo, Another window into a rediscovered treasures have been stored elsewhere, but Schubert and their friends once sat world. the corridors are lined with paintings, smoking pipes, is in the vestibule. The

Submitted by Karl Ellison ENNETH J. CLARK NAMED DIRECTOR OF SALES FOR QRS MUSIC TECHNOLOGIES, INC. Tuesday January 3, 4:31 pm ET a strong leader in our sales efforts to technology. QRS Music Technologies, capitalize on our growing product line. Inc.’s stock is traded Over-The-Counter NAPLES, Florida.—(BUSINESS Ken will serve as a focal point to take on the OTCBB: QRSM. WIRE)—Jan. 3, 2006—Thomas A. QRS Music sales to the next level.” Forward-Looking Statements. Dolan, President and Chief Executive Mr. Clark will be at the annual Statements made in this news release that Officer of QRS Music Technologies, Inc. convention of the National Association of relate to future plans, events or (OTCBB: QRSM - News), announced Music Merchandisers (“NAMM”) later performances are forward-looking today that Kenneth J. Clark was named this month in Anaheim, California. He statements. Any statements containing Director of Sales. QRS Music is a world earned a B.S.B.A. degree from words, such as, “believes,” “should,” leader in the design, manufacture and Roosevelt University, Chicago, Illinois. “anticipates,” “plans,” or “expects” as distribution of pianos, piano-based The QRS Pianomation® system can well as other statements are forward- audio and multimedia products, music turn any piano into a reproducing player looking, and those statements involve and piano accessories. piano. A hardware and software process risks and uncertainties outside of the Mr. Clark has served during his career can store and transport MIDI (“Musical control of QRS and are based on as a Vice President in several capacities Instrument Digital Interface”) informa- current expectations. Consequently, with Baldwin Piano and Organ, tion as an analog signal. This process actual results could differ materially Cincinnati, Ohio, from 1985 to 1999. gives QRS the ability to store, and from the expectations expressed in these Most recently he was Vice President wirelessly transmit, MIDI performance forward-looking statements. Attention Digital Pianos (1995 - 1999), prior to that data in an analog format from a is directed to cautionary statements in Vice President Marketing (1993 - 1995) controller (CD, video, cassette, DVD, our filings on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal and prior to that Vice President Retail MP3, WMA, CF) to the receiver on the year ended June 30, 2005, and our other Sales (1985 - 1993). He began his career piano. This creates numerous filings with the Securities and Exchange with Baldwin in 1974. Since 1999 he has possibilities. For example, most off-the- Commission. All those filings are been Director of Sales and National shelf audio equipment has a left and right available on the Web site of the Account Manager with Marco Wood channel available for use. State-of-the-art Securities and Exchange Commission Products/Heartland Industries, Inc., technology permits QRS to store the at www.sec.gov. Warren, Michigan. digital signal in an analog format on the Contact: Tom Dolan, President and CEO, said: left channel of the software which QRS Music Technologies, Inc. “We are fortunate to have Ken Clark join operates those players. This leaves the Chuck , 708-798-9405 QRS Music at this important time in our right channel available for live www.QRSMusic.com development. He brings to us a vast prerecorded audio music, even vocal wealth of direct experience in our recordings. Pianomation® blends them Source: QRS Music Technologies, Inc. industry and will help QRS Music together in perfect harmony and perfect expand its sales efforts worldwide. synchronization. The Pianomation We have a strong line of pianos and ® MIDI System is the first product of technology products, and we need its kind to “marry” analog and digital

17 Advertise in the 2006 AMICA Directory Full Page $150 1/2 Page $75 1/4 Page $45 Business Card $30

Display Ads should be camera-ready and received before March 1st, 2006

For more Information please contact: Mike Kukral, Publisher Telephone: 812-238-9656 E-mail: [email protected]

18 By Stephen Kent Goodman OME THOUGHTS ON THE SURVIVAL OF THE HOBBY

“It’s the most beautiful, coolest thing to fully cooperate under my baton; is an electronic re-creation, or since the I ever saw or heard in my life!” were professionals (adults) thought of me advent of electronic organ oscillators and the words uttered with stunned as nothing more than a “kid” with a , an electronic realization. amazement by a 19-year old woman, little talent. It’s not that the sound isn’t real, it’s just after hearing a large orchestrion not non-electronically created. perform in my living room. She An entire generation has informed me that she never grown up knowing its music knew such things existed, and created as a product of a always appreciated antiques, but recording studio. Music today is experiencing this instrument had cheaply available, ultra-portable to be the zenith thus far of her and ubiquitous. Go just about interest with antiques and vin- anywhere and you will hear tage art. I gave her an AMICA music- free. Clearly, it does brochure and explained that my not have the special value as a humble grouping of instruments commodity or entity it once had, were small examples when and the prices charged for it compared to the incredible col- show this. From free MP3 lections and larger instruments downloads to giveaway promo lovingly housed in various CDs, it strains the imagination collections and museums around to realize that at one time a the world. A new automatic single Welte piano roll could set music fan was born. I am making an adjustment to the snare drum one back nearly $100 in today’s What enchanted her the most on a client’s Wurlitzer C. money (more or less). Yet, the was that here were musical time very reason I became interested machines; that without the use of any So when I first heard a WurliTzer in automatic music was to hear music speaker system, performed authentic Mandolin Piano Orchestra, even that was buried historically - the marches period music just the same as if they wheezing away on its last gasps from of Sousa and his contemporaries; songs were playing somewhere in time before decomposed leather and cloth, I was by Berlin, Donaldson, Von Tilzer and the First World War. These instruments at once enchanted and gripped. After hundreds of Tin Pan Alley geniuses of do have a future, and her experience of hearing it for the first time, it seemed American music; rags, early blues, dance discovery led me to recollect my own like every waking hour was spent and show music from the 1910’s - all not similar experience nearly forty years ago. pursuing some aspect of self-playing heard back in the late 60’s and certainly My love of automatic musical instruments - how did they work? Who forgotten today- except in the hands instruments dates from 1967, Easter built them and for what purpose? Where of a few dedicated collectors and Vacation, to be exact, when I discovered were they used? How was music created preservationists. This is music that is not that human hands and attitudes were not for them? What happened to them all commercially available today- one is needed for accurate performances of and where are the precious few today? lucky enough to find and hear it at all, acoustically generated music. Would it be possible to create more in any form. My own musical interests were music for them? The discovery of this huge musical definitely marching to the beat of a In time I started an automated legacy, representing America’s most different drummer. At age 16, I was instrument restoration business and also colorful, if not prolific, time in its hailed by the press as “the teenaged John pioneered electronic control of automated creative history, is what may hold Philip Sousa” alluding to the number of acoustical structures with many art promise to interest another generation in military marches I had already penned, gallery and museum showings in the the instruments that were designed, built and amongst other professional 1970’s, besides arranging for automatic and sold to perform the songs America accomplishments, being assistant musical instruments. Now as then, I wanted to hear. This is music based upon, conductor of two junior high and high was quick to point out that these at least in theory, a good melody one school bands, one in New York and instruments made music the can whistle (another dying musical the other in Los Angeles. Added to the old-fashioned way- they worked for it expression). It is NOT a cacophony of list of the usual adolescent frustrations without the deception of electronic electronic grunts, bangs and noises that was the necessity of dealing with human speakers. Deception? Most certainly. can only exist thanks (?) to modern musicians. Players my own age refused Every sound that is heard over a speaker electro-acoustical technology.

19 continued. . .

The music that I have always enjoyed of discussion and debate, it is my opinion synthetic (electronically originated) was either piano based (either originating that the “promise” for the preservation of sound - and with the exception of the at a keyboard or arrangable for same), or the instruments and the music they make Hammond Player Organ and certain starting out life as a or banjo (or falls into three broad and overlapping stops of Arburo Dance Organs, ) melody. It was not a recording areas: among others, automatic musical engineer’s composite that was eventually 1) The instruments were originally instruments perform a “living sound” to walk the line between electronic designed and built to convey the rendition of a musical work. rhythmical noise and what is loosely popular and serious music of their 3) The overall mechanical and artistic termed “music” today. We often hear era of origin. Therein lies their charm melding and collaboration required to those enthusiasts clamor for so-called and fascination - not necessarily in even manufacture such masterpieces “modern” music arranged for automated creating modern (and I am not of human ingenuity is awesome to acoustical instruments, but aside from referring to new “period” style music behold. These instruments combine new works written in period styles, I feel such as my own rags and marches) art, architecture, of course music and that it is inappropriate to keeping music for them. Somehow, the technology all under one lid. I can the instruments authentic and true to thought of hearing the latest think of no other antique that does their history. The very nature of the Pop Idol’s song being played on a the same. instrumentation of a band organ sophisticated orchestrion or Hupfeld The bottom line for the hobby’s or orchestrion is to support music of a Phonoliszt just doesn’t grab me - survival is the display and exposure completely and radically different style although admittedly, I am certain that of instruments to a pre-qualified public to what is being marketed as say there are more than a few “out there” (such as may be found at antique shows “popular” today. For example, the style who would disagree. I have seen and markets) and offering tours of one’s and orchestrational layout of, say, the evidence time and time again of collections to selected groups where drums found in any early 20th century younger people who have never heard there is a natural connection (perhaps as orchestrion would never be suitable or ragtime stop and listen in rapt a fundraiser for raising donations to assist usable in the droning, mantric electronic attention to the “strange music” school music budgets) between those styles of today’s hip-hop and rap based emanating from a coin piano or who might want to participate and the music - a second and third generation orchestrion as they walk or bicycle collection. to the rock we had in the 60’s. An past my studio; the “strange music” And above all, make certain that the appreciation of both the art or serious coming from a pre-WWI all rag or instruments are in TOP condition. There styles as well as the classic popular blues roll on a properly restored are no excuses for anything less; there styles such as early cakewalks, marches, instrument. This entire corpus of are many qualified, professional restor- rags and blues and show tunes is, in my American music has largely been ers ready to assist you in having the opinion, part and parcel of the enjoyment obscured and merits revitalizing and showroom-new collection that will of any antique music machine, or music bringing to life its optimistic and demonstrate what these happy machines machine built along traditional lines. refreshing melodies. are capable of. So to conclude this brief excursion 2) The education of the public between into what may be an unlimited universe natural (acoustically generated) and

Workshop Presenters WANTED for the 2006 AMICA Convention in Chicago Contact: Curt Clifford at (630) 832-0904 or E-mail: [email protected] 20 Submitted by Richard Reutlinger IANO MAN WILLIAM EDGERTON & THE MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS OF A BYGONE ERA From New Canaan Darien November 2005 By Jane Kendall Photography by ChiChi Ubina

If you collect first editions, all you need are bookshelves. Rare stamps? You can keep the albums in a drawer. But if you’re William “Bill” Edgerton , publisher, noted wine expert, and collector of player pianos, disk-playing music boxes and all manner of mechanical musical instruments—not to mention 3,500 bottles of wine—then the approach is somewhat grander. The music room in the Edgertons’ Darien house is a vast cathedral-ceilinged space, filled with vintage theater and opera posters, a comfy sofa or two, and a wonderfully entertaining array of mechanical musical instruments (“mechanical” meaning anything that plays by itself). The collection includes two reproducing grand pianos from the 1920s; player pianos, player organs and nickelodeons; fairground and carousel organs and music boxes; a French barrel organ that cries out for an organ grinder and a monkey; and numerous oddities and delights representing two centuries of popular culture, musical taste and the technology of the day. The tiniest is an antique French music box that fits neatly in the palm of your hand; the largest is a thirteen-foot-long, 352-pipe Gavioli fairground organ, a masterpiece of fanciful wood-carving and ornamentation, which takes center stage at the end of the room. This room is also a terrific place to party, which is why the desk of every piano—indeed, virtually every polished surface—sports a card that reads “No glasses here, please.” fall off by getting underneath it with was manufactured by top companies like Bill Edgerton’s forty-year passion for rubber bands, trying to put it back Steinway and Knabe, was motor driven. these rarities began purely by chance. together.” (All were traditional acoustic pianos to “I did not grow up in a musical house,” Rubber tubing because player which the player mechanism was added.) he says. “Neither of my parents was pianos—an umbrella term covering Paper rolls activated the notes, with a musical, but they felt when my brother automatic pianos, reproducing pianos, punched hole corresponding to each note and I were young that there should and nickelodeons—worked on a played. There were also player organs, be music in the house. So they bought a pneumatic system in which air pressure like the ornately embellished 1899 secondhand grand, which happened to be activated the mechanism. Pumping two example in Edgerton’s collection, which a Duo-Art [Steinway’s reproducing foot pedals kept the bellows filled in the were essentially mechanized versions of piano]. And over the years I kept it standard upright player piano; the more the Victorian parlor pump organ. playing when the rubber tubing started to sophisticated reproducing piano, which 21 continued. . .

bigger,” he says. “The 65-note player down and play and the machine would pianos are good for stuff that by the capture the notes, but it wouldn’t capture twenties no one was interested in hearing the dynamics. So there were musicians in anymore, like ragtime and Broadway the room who made notes on the score. shows. Ever heard of ‘Yankee Grit’? Then they’d play it back for the It was on Broadway at the turn of the performer, and he’d say, ‘No, in that spot century. This march and two-step roll the treble’s a little heavy,’ or ‘The may be the only record left of it. Ragtime melody could be brought out a little more didn’t last very long—other things came in the bass.’ So they would edit it down along. The only way to get true ragtime is to a satisfactory result. In some cases to do it on a 65-note system, and that’s the performer actually signed the roll, why I’ve got this piano.” (No need for a saying, ‘This is my interpretation.’” Stairmaster, as pumping your way Bill puts a roll into one of the through a number with triple repeats reproducing pianos—it hooks into a tray requires major thigh power.) that slides out from under the keyboard— Player pianos weren’t just for and turns it on. There is a sound like an “Too Much Mustard” or “The Kiss intake of breath (that’s the pump filling), Waltz” from The Gypsy Baron, two and then the room is filled with the Bill works on a rare barrel organ with bells long-forgotten tunes on Edgerton’s strains of “The Blue Danube.” Part of the made by German immigrant Bernhard Dufner in Buffalo, New York, in 1869. shelves. Classical recordings were enjoyment is watching the roll feed extremely popular and form the basis of through and visually matching the myri- Today a player piano is a curiosity, his collection of close to 700 Ampico ad tiny holes to the notes, and a glissando but it was once as intrinsic to America’s piano rolls. “There were twelve different goes by like a diagonal slash. They keys cultural life as the morning newspaper. reproducing systems in the world,” Bill go up and down and it’s a slightly eerie They were everywhere: not just in homes says, “but Duo-Art and Ampico were the sensation, like watching a ghost perform. but in restaurants and saloons and penny two major systems. Steinway was signed “This roll was made in the 1940s,” arcades, department stores and even up by Duo-Art; Mason & Hamlin, Knabe he says, pitching his voice over the concert halls. When he was ten, George and Chickering, for example, were flourishes and trills of what is definitely a Gershwin taught himself to play by signed up by Ampico. Between the two, show-off , “and it still works. slowly pumping the roll on a neighbor’s there were maybe a total of 3,000 to The paper they used was very good. It’s a player piano and putting his fingers over 4,000 rolls produced. It’s very hard to real creation of piano music, played on a the keys as they depressed. When a piano find many of them, as some were made piano and not on any kind of audio for brother Ira was delivered to the in very small quantities.” process, so you get some of the subtle Gershwin apartment, young Gershwin The piano roll boxes are neatly characteristics they may get lost in a promptly sat down, tore through a shelved along one wall, and the names on recording. The recording can be very popular song, and, as the saying goes, them represent the finest pianists of that, pure but this has presence. never looked back. or arguably any, era: and “Of course, there are different degrees The player system was developed at , Rimsky-Korsakov, , of subtlety in these things,” he adds. the turn of the last century, when there Gershwin and Percy , Josef “Sublime versus not so sublime. This I were some 700 piano companies Hoffman and Artur Schnabel and Arthur would call not so sublime,” he say wryly, worldwide, hit its apex in the 1920s, and Rubenstein. “Any famous pianists from picking up a small musical device from a was a of the Depression. “It was 1895 to 1930 made rolls,” Bill says. “In 1953 Westinghouse clothes dryer, that, also knocked out by improvements the 1920s this was the high point of the when your load was done, chimed out in audio performances, juke boxes, art. If you couldn’t afford to have Arthur that old barroom standard “How dry I phonographs,” Bill notes. “You could Rubenstein play for you after dinner— am, How dry I am, Nobody knows, How hear the real thing. However, not until the and who could?—you could put on one dry I am.” 1990s were electronics able to equal the of these and he was right there in the “When I found out about this thing quality level that was built into the room. from a friend, in the 1970s,” Bill says, “I pneumatic instruments that had been A reproducing piano also operates the went to an appliance store in Darien and engineered eighty years before.” dynamics (soft and loud, the pedals) of the guy said, ‘Oh, I remember that. We Bill does the lion’s share of the the instrument, and these holes run along had a couple of replacements on the shelf restoration work himself, in a spacious the sides of the roll the way a sound for years, then we took ‘em to the dump.’ and well-appointed workroom that is track runs along the edges of film. But he had kept records of customers, so every ’s dream. Past projects “They reproduce music the way it was I called this woman and asked her if she include a 1908 mahogany player piano recorded,” Bill explains. “As a result, had the dryer. She did. I said, ‘I’ll give that plays 65-note rolls. (A reproducing they can play classical music the way you fifty dollars for a part in it you don’t piano, by contrast, plays 80 of a piano’s other pianos can’t because it’s done the need!’ She said, ‘Come and get it!” 88 notes.) “You can tell a 65-note way the pianist intended. When these The oldest instrument in the collection roll immediately because the holes are were recorded upon, the pianist would sit is a 1795 barrel organ called a seronette. 22 continued. . .

Bill and Ann Edgerton in front of their 352-pipe Gavioli fairground organ made The partially assembled instrument—with some pipes by Italian craftsmen in Paris and missing because the workshop ceiling it too low. restored by experts in England. “Most of them survived because they cabinet-maker’s art or the sheer pleasure many collectors. There are maybe three were stuck away in the attic,” he says. of decoration for decoration’s sake. An or four major collector organizations “They were defined at the time as the eight-foot-tall German-made fairground worldwide, with a total of about 5,000 organ that taught canaries to sing.” And organ, which was sold to a carousel members.” the tiny pipes do sound like a bird when owner in Stone Mountain, Georgia, in the This brings us to the Seeberg KT played, a charming, slightly asthmatic 1920s, is as richly carved and brightly Special nickelodeon and the story behind and very French little bird. painted as the carousel horses it once the one on display. It’s about two-thirds As you go around the room taking accompanied. “I got it from the man who the size of an old-fashioned upright, with “the five-dollar tour,” the variety of these restored it, so it’s not been through that gleaming pale oak cabinetry and a instruments is a revelation. Long before many sets of hands,” Bill says. “You stained-glass window so you can watch LPs and CDs and IPods, it seems, there know, whatever your collecting interest the fun. And the fun includes not only was music to be had at every level of is, there are going to be experts out there. the piano but snare drum, wood block, taste and income, some of it encased in Unlike clocks and coins, which hundreds castanets, triangle, cymbal, tom-tom, a wooden boxes as plain as a coffin, some of thousands of people collect—and there honky-tonk rail that comes down over the in what represents the acme of the are lots of suppliers—there aren’t too piano keys and creates that “Old timey”

23 continued. . . effect, and a full xylophone. When you however, and when the Gavioli plays, it’s put the nickel in, not only does loud enough to wake the dead—let alone everything start jumping and pumping bring fairgoers running from a nearby and whirling and beating and dancing, town—and gives new meaning to the but colored lights flash and sparkle. “You phrase “bells and whistles.” But when it just can’t be in a bad mood listening to launches into “The Entrance of the something like this,” Bill says, grinning. Gladiators,” you can practically smell the In the late 1970s, the Edgertons sawdust and the popcorn, and you visited a nickelodeon collector with a suddenly understand why all little boys similar Seeberg. “My wife, Ann, said, once wanted to run away to join the ‘I like that, give me some nickels,” circus. he relates. “So I said in a moment of And then there is a the wood-paneled weakness, ‘I’ll get one for you,’ without wine cellar (Bill made the racks in his realizing that in about 1960, when these workshop) that features two Spanish things were coming out of bars and rococo armchairs that look as though jukeboxes were going in, you could have they might have belonged to a bishop, or gotten one for a few hundred dollars. perhaps John Barrymore. Just as Bill’s By the 1970s the Seeberg KT Special interest in mechanical instruments nickelodeon cost $25,000 restored. Can’t sparked a successful business venture, so buy it, I said, so I’m going to have to too did his appreciation of fine wine lead build one.” Bill disassembled an original, Classical recordings form the basis of Bill’s to Edgerton’s Wine Price File, an annual measured all the parts, had a pattern collection of close to 700 Ampico piano guide he published from 1985 to 1998, made for the harp (the frame holding a rolls, which neatly line the walls of the sold to Vinfolio and continued to edit Edgertons’ music room. piano’s strings) and the other metal until 2004. “I’m compiling the same castings needed, and built sixty data—thousands of wine auction replicas. “We sold them to process—with Winecommune.com collectors—it was a four-year and we’ll publish on the Web starting project,” he says modestly. “During in January,” says Bill. “It’s just that time the Edgertons ran a business another passion, and a self-taught one, in Darien, restoring and repairing like the music.” (He also founded the and selling mechanical musical New England Lyric Opera Company, instruments.) and his daughter, Annie, is pursuing The tour ends with the piece de a career in musical theater, but resistance, the Gavioli fairground that’s another story.) organ, named after the man who “What I have now is the result of patented the -hinged, winnowing out,” Bill says of his pierced-cardboard “book” that oper- remarkable collection of mechanical ates the elaborate machinery (no paper instruments. “As you learn about a roll could cope with this massive subject, you tend to get much more beauty). It was made by Italian crafts- particular and the subtleties are more men in Paris and spent its life in Eng- of consequence than they used to be.” land before being shipped to Long No collector is ever truly done, Island, where it languished in storage The wine cellar, with racks made by Bill, however, and this year the Edgertons for ten years. When Bill came across it houses a 3,500-bottle collection. finally ran out of room. In April they at the Sotheby’s auction in 1979, it sold their house, put all the goodies in you want to hear that thing play in your was in pitiful condition. Entire ranks of storage and moved temporarily. They are lifetime, do something.’ So I sent it to pipes were missing or rusted, large strips looking for a lot on which to build, when, two guys in York, England, the world’s of veneer were peeling off the case, and as Bill say, “We can catch our breaths.” experts in fairground organs, who took every surface, inside and out, was coated In June he and Ann and fellow collectors four years to work on it. It took me four with a quarter-inch layer of soot and coal toured Germany and Holland, where they years to pay for it,” he adds. dust from the steam engine that had heard something like 400 fairground and It is lovely to behold, festooned with driven the bellows. It came home to carousel organs in two weeks. Mozartian wooden figures in delicately Connecticut on a flatbed truck, pieces of “The result of this trip,” says Bill, “is painted breeches and powdered wigs (the it blowing off in the wind. (Naturally, it that Ann discovered another type of one in the middle conducts with a baton), wouldn’t go through the front door, so organ—a Belgian dance organ—that she the entire palette in original Gavioli ice the windows of the music room were covets. So the new music room we build cream colors like raspberry and mint and hinged and refitted as a six-foot-wide will be even bigger!” peach, and liberally embellished with door.) “I fiddled with it for a long, long gold leaf. Appearances are deceiving, time,” Bill says. “Finally Ann said, ‘If 24 Submitted by Robin Pratt

25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 MICA 2006 CHICAGO JULY 26TH THRU JULY 30TH, 2006

The 2006 AMICA Convention will be treated to a piano concert by AMICA’n Attendees are encouraged to wear held at the Hyatt Regency Woodfield Nathan Bellow, a true piano genius. His patriotic clothing. Saturday we will start Hotel in Schaumburg, Illinois, a performance was one of the highlights of with the annual membership meeting, northwestern suburb of Chicago. Our the 2003 convention in Portland, Oregon. a departure from the usual Sunday room rate will be $85.00 plus tax per Thursday will again be allocated morning slot that AMICA membership night for single, double, triples or quad. to optional collection tours during the meetings usually occupy. Following the Directly across the street from our hotel day with the annual Pumper Contest membership meeting, we will depart for is the 2.3 million square foot Woodfield Thursday night. On Friday morning we a full day at the home of Marian and shopping mall that contains many top will have many diverse workshops and a Jasper Sanfilippo. Back at the hotel, end stores as well as fine dining and large and varied mart is scheduled for Saturday evening we will have our inexpensive restaurants. Friday afternoon. Friday evening, Dr. banquet with entertainment by the West The annual Board meeting will be Ron Bopp will present a program “A End Jazz Band. Sunday morning you held on Tuesday, July 25. On Wednesday Musical History of Patriotic Music”. may sleep late or rise for the continental the 26th we will start with a welcoming Ron’s many presentations at both breakfast before departing for the many breakfast followed by optional collection Musical Box Society and AMICA open houses in the area. The following is tours. Wednesday night, we will be conventions have always been a big hit. a partial schedule of events:

AMICA CONVENTION 2006 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Tuesday: Board Meeting (A.M.) Wednesday: Welcoming Breakfast (A.M.) Collection Tours (all day) (optional) Nathan Bello Piano Concert (evening) Thursday: Collection Tours (all day) (optional) Pumper Contest (evening) Friday: Workshops (A.M.) Mart (P.M.) Ron Bopp Presentation (evening) “A Musical History of Patriotic Music” Saturday: Membership Meeting (A.M. with breakfast) Tour of Sanfilippo Collection w/lunch (all day) Banquet w/Entertainment (evening) The Sanfilippo’s 1890’s Eden Palais Carousel Sunday: Farewell Continental Breakfast (early A.M.) Open Houses (various times)

COLLECTION TOUR NOTES: We are scheduled for tours of the Krughoff collection on Wednesday (150 limit) and Thursday (150 limit), the Choffnes collection on Thursday (150) and the Sanfilippo collection on Saturday. In addition, we are currently putting together several other optional tours as this goes to press. Attendance to this convention will be limited to 300 registrants. This is nearly twice the number that usually attends an AMICA convention and is the maximum number that we can take to the collec- tions. We will be sending the registration applications out via first class mail in late March 2006 and we will stagger the mailings to hopefully arrive around the same time world- wide. We expect the 300 limit to fill up very quickly. Mel Septon 6’2” Mason & Hamlin Ampico “B” Convention Chairman

39 Massive 115 key Mortier dance organ 9’ Knabe Ampico “A”

Beautiful interchangeable cylinder music box. 5 manual console of the Sanfilippo’s 80 rank Choffnes collection theater organ w/8,000 pipes

Very rare Style 161 Regina desk w/phonograph attachment

Late Louis XV Steinway Duo-Art

The grand music salon with large European Orchestrions around the perimeter

Some of the many disc music boxes in the Choffnes collection

40 Submitted by Ken Snowden ELTE “ORIGINAL” INSTRUMENTS

41 continued. . .

42 EW PIANO ROLLS & RECUTS

New from Caldwell 400 Lincoln Lake Ave., N.E. Lowell, MI 49331 ¥ Phone (616) 897-5609 ¥ [email protected] ¥ www.malli.net/~uni/Caldwell Ampico New Recut Medleys Large Medley Rolls 68853F Musical Comedy favorites No. 10 Selections from “Funny Face”, Gershwin. P/B Vic Arden. (1) ‘S Wonderful; (2) What Am I Gonna Do; (3) He Loves and She Loves; (4) Funny Face. 71103 Outstanding Hits of the Day, Trot Medley No. 11 P/B Bob Edgeworth (1) My Cousin in Milwaukee; (2) Suzanne; (3) Forty Second Street; (4) Why Can’t This Go On Forever; (5) Hey Young Fella. 71113 Outstanding Hits of the Day, Fox Trot Medley No. 12 P/B Bob Edgeworth (1) Goofus; (2) Strike Me Pink; (3) A White House of our Own; (4) Farewell to Arms; (5) Give Me a Roll on a Drum (6) Goofus. 71233 Popular Hits of the Day, Fox Trot Medley No. 19 P/B Frank Milne (1) Our Big Love Scene; (2) You Alone; (3) No More Love; (4) Flying Down to Rio; (5) Coffee in the Morning. 215923 (1) You Came to my Rescue (Robin-Rainger); (2) Here’s Love in Your Eye (Robin-Rainger); (3) Swingin’ the Jinz Away (Cole Porter) Played by Victor Lane.

Ampico New Recut Long Play Medley Rolls 71333 Popular Hits of the Day, Fox Trot Medley No. 26 P/B Frank Milne (1) I’m in Love; (2) I’ll Close my Eyes to Everyone Else; (3) Out in the Cold Again; (4) Fun to be Fooled; (5) Sweetie Pie. 71473 Outstanding Hits of the Day, Fox Trot Medley No. 35 P/B Frank Milne (1) I’m the Echo; (2) Life Begins at Sweet Sixteen; (3) If You Were Mine; (4) I’ve Got Love; (5) Hypnotized.

New from Magic Melodies & Keystone 360 Lawless Road, Jamestown, KY 42629 ¥ Phone (270) 343-2061 Jumbo Rolls for the Model B Ampico Item Roll No. J-1027 100075 1) Serenade, B Flat Minor-Rachmaninoff, 2) Lilacs-Rachmaninoff; 3) Prelude, C Sharp Minor-Rachmaninoff; 4) Waltz, Op. 18, E Flat-. Plyd by Sergei Rachmaninoff. J-1028 100085 1) Amour Coquette (Vagrant Love); 2) Concert Waltz; 3) The Firefly Selections: “Introduction; When a Maid Comes Knocking at your Heart; Sympathy; Giannina Mia”. Plyd by the composer Rudolph Friml. J-1029 100315 1) The Rosary, by Nevin-plyd by Brockway; 2) The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi, by Vernor-plyd by de Bert; 3) Little Boy Blue, by Nevin-played by Fairchild; 4) Ay-Ay-Ay-arranged and plyd by Savino; 5) Bird Songs at Eventide, by Coates-plyd by Black; 6) Italian Street Song, by Herbert-plyd by Fairchild. J-1030 100335 1) Andante Spianato-Op. 22; 2) Ballade, No. 3-Op. 47, A Flat; 3) Waltz-Op 42, A Flat; 4) Waltz-Op. 64, No. 2, C Sharp Minor. By Chopin; plyd by Leopold Godowsky. J-1031 100425 1) Indian Love Call; by Friml-plyd by Fairchild; 2) Marcheta; by Schertzinger; plyd by Fairchild; 3) By the of Minnetonka, by Lieurance-plyd by Suskind; 4) Musetta’s Waltz Song, by -plyd by Fairchild; 5) One Alone, by Romberg-plyd by deBert. J-1032 100465 1) Serenade-“The Student Prince”, by Romberg-plyd by Fairchild; 2) Pagan Love Song, by Brown-plyd by Shipman; 3) Wasn’t it Nice?, plyd by the composer, Rudolph Friml; 4) Rio Rita, by Tierney-plyd by Carroll;

43 continued. . . continued. . .Jumbo Rolls for the Model B Ampico

5) The Hills of Home, by Fox-plyd by Suskind Item Roll No. J-1033 100515 1) Open The Gates of the Temple, by Knapp-plyd by Abbott; 2) Ave Maria, transcription by Schubert-plyd by Volavy; 3) Sanctus, “St. Cecilia Mass” by Gounod-plyd by Suskind. J-1034 100585 1) Berceuse, by Schytte; 2) Au Printemps, by Gounod; 3) Melodie, by Huerter; 4) Silver Moon, by Loth; 5) I Love You Truly, by Bond; 6) II Bacio, by Arditi. Plyd by L. Leslie Loth. J-1035 100745 FOX TROT MEDLEY NO. 12 1) Help Yourself to Happiness, by Gordon-Richman-Revel-plyd by Arden and Carroll; 2) Dancing in the Dark-“ Wagon”, by Deitz-Schwartz-plyd by Carroll; 3) I “Wanna” Sing About You, by Friend--plyd by Arden; 4) Do the New York-“Ziegfeld Follies 1931”, by Murray-Triver- Oakland-plyd by Arden and Carroll J-1036 101775 NYIREGYHAZI PROGRAM: 1) No. 63253-Ballade, No. 1 D Flat-by Liszt; 2) No. 64603-Ballade, Op. 8, E Flat-by Cleve. Exceptional long playing program plyd by Erwin Nyiregyhazi, coded for “A” plays beautifully on the “A” and “B”. J-1018 100605 PAPILLONS (Butterflies)- by Schumann; played by Josef Lhevinne. This very long playing program includes all 12 parts of “Papillons” from early sketches. Robert Schumann was at his best in the smaller pieces for the piano in which he varied reveries and fancies. His larger works, such as “Papillons”, are actually made up of many small pieces. J-1019 100775 CONCERTO-E Flat Major: Mvt. 1-allegro maestoso; Mvt. 2-quasi adagio; Mvt. 3-allegretto vivace. By Liszt; played by Marguerite Volavy. J-1023 100185 MOONLIGHT SONATA-Op. 27, No. 2-C Sharp Minor. Mvt. 1-adagio sustenuto; Mvt. 2-allegretto; Mvt. 3-presto agitato. By Beethoven; played by Josef Lhevinne. J-1015 100305 BROADWAY AND HOLLYWOOD HITS: 1) Love, Your Spell Is Everywhere; 2) If I Had a Talking Picture of You; 3) Gotta Feelin’ For You; 4) When The Real Thing Comes Your Way; Various Composers. Played by:

Program Rolls for the Model A and B Ampico Item Roll No. P-1014 101610 POPULAR PROGRAM NO. 2-Includes: 1) I Found a Million Dollar Baby - 213691; 2) Ooh That Kiss -213771; 3) Time On My Hands - 213791. By: 1) Rose-Dixon-Warren; 2) Dixon-Young-Warren; 3) Youmans. Plyd by: 1) Arden; 2) Shipman; 3) Rickenbach. Coded for B. P-1015 101620 POPULAR PROGRAM NO. 3-Includes: 1) By The Sycamore Tree - 213921; 2) Who’s Your Little Who-zis?- 213911; 3) River, Stay ‘Way From My Door - 213891; By: 1) Gillespie-Wendling; 2) Hirsch-Goering-Bernie; 3) Dixon-Woods. Plyd by: 1) Lane; 2) Rickenbach; 3) Valerio. Coded for B. P-1016 101630 POPULAR PROGRAM NO. 4- Includes: 1) A Faded Summer Love - 213831; 2) Soft Lights and Sweet Music - 214001; 3) I Apologize-213821. By: 1) Baxter; 2) Berlin; 3) Hoffman-Goodhart-Nelson. Plyd by: 1) Arden; 2) and 3) Lane. Coded for B. P-1017 101660 POPULAR PROGRAM NO. 5-Includes: 1) You Try Somebody Else - 213841; 2) I’m Through With Love - 213671; 3) It’s The Girl - 213681. By: 1) Henderson; 2) Kahn; 3) Oppenheim-Baer. Plyd by: 1) Rickenbach; 2) Lane; 3) Shipman and Lane. Coded for B. P-1018 101690 POPULAR PROGRAM NO. 6-Includes: 1) It Was So Beautiful - 214041; 2) Lazy Day - 214031; 3) Living In Dreams - 214021. By: 1) Freed-Barris; 2) Kahn; 3) Green. Plyd by: 1) Madden; 2) Milne; 3) T. Kerr. Coded for B. P-1019 101760 AVE MARIA –Op. 52, No. 6; transcription by Schubert; plyd by Marguerite Volavy; 2) AVE MARIA-by -Gounod; plyd by Wilbur Chenoweth. Magnificent program for the season-combines Ampico 69673 and 2863, both coded for B. P-1020 101600 ROMBERG PROGRAM-Includes: 1) The Desert Song; and 2) One Alone-from “The Desert Song” by Sigmund Romberg. Plyd by 1) Fairchild; 2) de Bert. This “soaring” program includes an excerpt of “If One Flower Grows Alone In Your Garden”, apparently taken from Mr. Fairchild’s rendition of “One Alone” as recorded under the Ampico Popular Series. Also coded for B.

44 continued. . . continued. . .Program Rolls for the Model A and B Ampico Item Roll No. P-1021 100800 MUSICAL SELECTIONS FROM THE AMPICO CHIMES ROLL. Ampico Jumbo Roll No. 100805, which included chimes marking the hours of the day and evening with appropriate selections for each, was intended for use only on the Ampico with the “Ampichron”. Here, Keystone has adapted the original jumbo for playing on all Ampico pianos. Only the hourly chimes are missing. A very large program, it consists of many popular songs of the day and classical compositions. Coded for B. P-1022 101740 JANSSEN PROGRAM-Includes: 1) Marche Mignon-66441; 2) Valsette - 66093; 3) Bric-A-Brac (Novelette)- 66801. Played by the composer, Werner Janssen. This is a delightful program of “lilting” tunes. P-1023 101780 FAIRCHILD AND CARROLL PROGRAM-Includes: 1) Anitra’s Dance-63393; and 2) To Spring-F sharp (64523)-by Edvard . Dance and fox trot arrangements by Fairchild and Carroll of these well known classics by Grieg result in a very pleasing and bright recording. Highly recommended! Thank you John Farmer! P-1024 101680 TANGO PROGRAM NO. 2-Includes: 1) La Seduccion; 2) La Rumba (70463). Various Composers; played by Lewis Fuiks. (Fuiks was the natal name of Victor Arden.) Coded for B; 3) El Choclo; 4) Cigarette; 5) La Violetera P-1025 101720 BALLAD PROGRAM NO. 1-Includes: 1) Home On The Range; by Kelley (2911); 2) Old Folks at Home; by Stephen (2283); 3) The Hills of Home; by Calhoun-Fox (2423). Played by: 1) Leith; 2) Black; 3) Suskind. P-1026 101710 BALLAD PROGRAM NO. 2-Includes: 1) The Lamplit Hour; by -Penn (2601); 2) Last Night; by Winther-Kjerulf (2701); 3) Somewhere; by Waters (2373); plyd by Corrine de Bert. We recommend this program of lesser known titles. P-1027 101700 VICTOR HERBERT PROGRAM-Includes: 1) Neapolitan Love Song-2171; 2) Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life-2011; 3) Italian Street Song-2141. plyd by Edgar Fairchild. P-1011 101570 SCRIABINE PROGRAM; 1) Etude, Op. 2, No. 1-C Sharp Minor-63711; 2) Etude, Op. 8, No. 10-D flat-67271; 3) Op.8- L’Ocean Tranquille-No. 2 (65521); 4) Etude, Op. 8, No. 12-D Sharp Minor (65321). Plyd by: 1) Ornstein; 2) Orloff; 3) Peters; 4) Levitzki. P-1028 101730 PROGRAM BY JULIUS CHALOFF-Includes: 1) Elle Danse-Op. 10, No. 5; by Friedman; 2) Wiener Tanze No. 2-G Major; by Friedman-Gartner; 3) Wiener Tanze No. 1-G Flat, by Friedman-Gartner. P-1029 101750 LISZT PROGRAM-Includes: 1) Waldesrauschen-2) Concertetuda-No. 1; Polonaise, No. 2 E Major. Plyd by Phillip Gordon. Combines Ampico 66653 and 67053. Coded A/B. P-1030 101670 PROGRAM BY GEORGE KERR (Pseudonym for Marguerite Volavy)-Includes; 1) Amaryllis; transcription by Ghys (69721); 2) L’Aurore, Op. 36, No. 1; by Friml; Serenade; by Toselli (67103); 3) Die Lotosblume (The Lotus Flower); by (66783). One of the most beautiful programs offered. P-1031 101650 BALLET PROGRAM-Includes: 1) Naila Ballet Waltz-62693; 2) Coppelia Ballet Waltz-69533; By Delibes- Dohnanyi; plyd by: 1) Munz; 2) Dohnanyi, Coded for B. P-1032 101640 DEBUSSY PROGRAM-Includes: 1) Hommage A (Homage to Rameau), “Images” Series 1, No. 2 (66363); 2) La Damoiselle Elue, “Prelude” C Major (65853). Plyd by W. Wilhelm Gieseking. P-1003 101460 TANGO PROGRAM-Includes: 1) El Tango Del Perroquet; by Kahn; 2) Tango Noir (Black Tango); by Kazounoff; 3) La Rosita; by Dupont; 4) Rio Tango; by Crossing. Plyd by: 1) Black and 4) Black; 2) Kazounoff; 3) Burt. P-1005 101490 LEE ROBERTS PROGRAM: 1) Valse Parisienne (90003)-Coded for B; 2) Lover’s Lane (1983)-coded for A; 3) T’ Jours A Moi (Always Mine)-(66923)-Coded for A. Played by Composer, Lee S. Roberts. P-1007 101510 “ZEZ” Confrey Program: 1) Fantasy of Today (65713)-Classical and Jazz versions; 2) Waltz Mirage-66941; 3) Dizzy Fingers-65581. Played by composer, “Zez” Confrey. Coded for A. P-1009 101530 MUSICAL COMEDY PROGRAM NO. 1- Includes: 1) Hallelujah; 2) Why, Oh Why?; 3) Sometimes I’m Happy; 4) Headin’ For Harlem; 5) Play-Ground In The Sky; 6) Goldfish Glide; 7) Wherever You Are. Composers: 1 thru 3-Youmans; 4 thru 7-Dowling-Hanley. Played by Fairchild and Ranger. From masters for 68063 (Coded A) and 68743 (Coded B). P-1010 101560 MARCH PROGRAM: 1) National Emblem-69021; 2) El Capitan-70281; 3) Semper Fidelis-69981. Composers: 1) Bagley; 2 and 3-Sousa. Played by: 1) Carroll; 2) Shipman and Lane; 3) Arden and Carroll. Coded for B. P-1012 101580 WILLIAM AXT PROGRAM NO. 1-Includes: 1) Toddling-67001; 2) Promenade-67223; 3) Merry Pranks Intermezzo-67811; 4) Ambling Along-67891. Composers: 1 and 3-Rapee-Axt; 2 and 4-Axt. Played by 1) Carroll; 2, 3, and 4-Dr. William Axt. Coded for A.

45 continued. . .

Other Keystone Rolls Suitable for all Ampico Reproducing Pianos (Models A and B) Item Roll No. 5044 211971 Singin’ in the Rain-by Nacio Herb Brown; plyd by Arden and Carroll. 5045 70083 Scherzo Waltz-plyd by the composer, McNair Ilgenfritz. 5046 209913 -210211 1) Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man-“Show Boat”, by Kern; 2) Ma Belle-“The Three Musketeers”, by Friml. Plyd. By J. Delcamp. 5047 212471 What Is This Thing Called Love?-“Wake Up And Dream”, by Porter. Plyd. by Arden and Carroll. 5048 212411 You Do Something To Me-“Fifty Million Frenchmen”, by Porter. Plyd by Shipman. 5049 212391 A Little Kiss Each Morning-from “The Vagabond Lover”-by Harry M. Woods-plyd by Adam Carroll. 5050 63693 Aida by . Plyd by Vincent Lopez (assisted) 5051 2581 -2711 1) The Kerry Dance-by Molloy; 2) Dear Little Boy Of Mine-by Brennan-Ball. Plyd by Gene McCormack. 5052 63041 Gloria-By Hager-Ring; Plyd by Vincent Lopez. 5053 53354 Pasquinade-by Louis Gottschalk-Plyd by Andrei Kmita. 5054 63551 Barcarolle, Op 50, No. 3, G Minor (Boat Song)-by Rubinstein Plyd by Alexander Sklarevski. 5055 63051 Nola-by Felix Arndt; plyd by J. Milton Delcamp. 5056 67241 Polly-by J. C. Zamecnik; plyd by J. Milton Delcamp. 5057 57965 Humoresque, Op. 10-plyd by composer Sergei Rachmaninoff. 5058 66713 Cordoba “Chants d’Espagne”, (Songs of Spain)-Op. 232, No. 4-by Isaac Albeniz; plyd by Josef Lhevinne. 5059 60383 The Herd Girl’s Dreams, Op. 45-by August Labitzky; plyd by Andrei Kmita.

PLEASE VISIT THESE SUPPLIERS OF RECUT ROLLS Rob Deland: Blues Tone Rolls Don Teach: Shreveport Music Co. Steve Bentley: Playrite Music Rolls www.bluesrolls.com 1815 E. 70th Street, Shreveport, LA 71105 1536 N. Palm St., [email protected] [email protected] Turlock, CA 95380 U.S.A. Phone: (847) 548-6416 Phone: (318) 798-6000 Phone/Voice: (209) 632-5784 Fax: (318) 797-4572 Fax: (209) 667-8241 David Saul: Precision Music Rolls 1043 Eastside Road Magic Melodies & Keystone QRS Music Technologies, Inc. El Cajon, CA 92020-1414 360 Lawless Road 1026 Niagara Street, Buffalo, NY 14213 [email protected] Jamestown, KY 42629 Phone: 1-800-247-6557 Phone: (270) 343-2061 Fax: 1-716-885-7510 Bob & Ginny Billings: Rock Soup www.qrsmusic.com 14010 Rim Rock Drive, Reno, NV 89521 Robin Pratt: Artist Choice Music Rolls toadhall @sprynet.com www.wiscasset.net/artcraft/pratt.htm Scott Boelman: Lazy Dog Piano Rolls Phone: (775) 853-4659 [email protected] www.lazydogpianorolls.com Phone: (419) 626-1903 [email protected] Leedy Brothers Music Rolls One Olive Street, Ladera Ranch, CA 92694 4660 Hagar Shore Road Tim Baxter: Meliora Music Rolls Phone: (949) 218-0108 Coloma, MI 49038 www.members.aol.com/meliorarol/index.htm www.leedyrolls.com [email protected] David Caldwell Phone: (269) 468-5986 400 Lincoln Lake Ave., N.E. Fax: (269) 468-0019 Joyce Brite: Player Piano Lowell, MI 49331 & Musical Music Exchange Phone: (616) 897-5609 Larry Norman: Rollertunes http://mmd.foxtail.com/Exchange/ DavidWFrom [email protected] www.home.earthlink.net/~rollertunes http://mmd.foxtail.com/Exchange/rollpage.htm www.malli.net/~uni/Caldwell [email protected] Phone: (504) 721-7188

46 Registration applications will be sent out by first class mail the end of March with a limited amount accepted. News Immediate response is highly recommended. From The Chapters

CHICAGO CHAPTER Reporter: Curt Clifford President: Mel Septon - (847) 679-3455

Our final meeting for 2005 was held at the home of Jasper and Marian Safilippo. President Mel Septon opened the meeting by thanking our generous hosts for opening their home and providing a wonderful evening of musical entertainment. Special thanks went to Marty Persky for coordinating this entire event, which included a catered dinner. Mel updated everyone on our plans for the 2006 national AMICA convention. The convention starts on Tuesday July 25th with the annual board meeting. Wednesday and Thursday optional collection tours will be available to those who wish to participate. These tours will include the homes of Jim and Sherrie Krughoff and Al and Sue Choffnes. Thursday evening will bring the annual “Foot Pumper Contest” and the awarding of the prestigious “Footsie” trophy. On Friday morning workshops are scheduled with the topics to be announced. That afternoon will bring the mart with many musical items and related items up for sale. In the evening Dr. Ron Bopp will provide a presentation of “Patriotic Music”. We will end the day with an ice cream social. On Saturday morning all members will meet at the Sanfilippo home for an all day excursion including lunch to this wonderful musical collection. That evening will conclude with a banquet back at the hotel with music provided by the West End Jazz Band which plays music of the ‘20s, ragtime and big band era. On Sunday local collectors will host open houses for members to come and explore.

47 records and even German piano rolls, played by Don on his Schumann pumper-electric upright piano. We watched a DVD of the actual Oktoberfest celebration, and though most of us couldn’t understand it all, it still looked fun. A roll sale in the garage completed the evening. The next morning, we were ready for our tour of the Edsel and Eleanor Ford Estate in nearby Grosse Point Shores, Michigan. It is a huge home, finished in 1929 and built in the English Cotswold style with Tudor influences. Most of the furnishings and décor are original to the house, and they even updated two rooms in a beautiful art deco style, including a Bauhaus-inspired grand piano designed by Walter Teague. Of course their art carved Steinway Duo-Art was beautiful as well. And Edsel himself enjoyed pumping his own player piano - perhaps on camping trips outside on the porch! Their daughter Josephine received a miniature Tudor house of her own for her 9th birthday, complete in every detail. The outbuildings house a power plant and a tribute to Ford automotive engineering, with an original Town Car and Mrs. Ford’s personal limousine on display. A roundhouse-style turntable in the garage allowed drivers to pull in, rotate the car, and head out without backing up. After the tour, we shuttled back to the Visitor’s Center for brunch and a visit to the gift shop. Then it was on to downtown Detroit and the Senate Theatre for the performance by Dick Kroeckel and Patti Simon. You may remember their entertaining duets from the Denver Convention. Again, we enjoyed their selections on piano and organ. We’d like to thank our hosts for a wonderful weekend and we look forward to a possible visit to Cincinnati in the Spring.

Liz Barnhart (and friend) and Hilda Merchant enjoy the beautiful backyard.

MIDWEST CHAPTER Reporter: Christy Counterman President: Don Johnson - (248) 879-7713

Saturday Oktober 15 was a perfect Fall day for our Chapter’s Oktoberfest, hosted by Don Johnson and Bob Andersen in Rochester Hills, Michigan. We began with the business meeting and then moved outside to the backyard for our first ever AMICA bocce challenge. Competition was tough, but the red team prevailed. Many members looked the part - the Barnharts, Flints and Estrys, as well as our hosts, dressed in their Barvarian finest. After working up such an appetite, Don announced Guten Appetit and it was time for the authentic German buffet. Each dish was labeled in German and could be a possible preview of the AMICA 2007 convention menu! No Oktoberfest is complete without singing, and we had official handmade German songbook to help us along. Hilda Merchant and Bob Andersen led us in Host Don Johnson the famous “Ist nicht eine Schitzelbank” song complete demonstrates a selection on the Steinway Duo-Art. with charts to help us remember all of the verses. We had German flag tablecloths and official AMICA fans to make the occasion even more festive. I’ve never seen so many German

48 Wes Neff tries his feet at pumping the Schumann pedal-electric. Edsel Ford enjoyed his player piano outside on the porch!

Pat Markey and Dennis Burchett discuss Bocce strategy.

The German buffet was wonderful! Ben Rasmussen tries the on Bob Andersen’s 1955 Olds.

The Ford’s daughter, Josephine, had a miniature Tudor Sing along with AMICA! playhouse-Sherri Neff and Liz Barnhart duck to go inside. Official Oktoberfest fans are put to good use by Nan & John Flint, Liz Barnhart and Charmaine Haas. Carole Harrett, Liz and Mike Barnhart, Dick Kroeckel and Patti Simon enjoy Mike’s restored monkey organ.

Bob Andersen leads us in the German Schitzelbank The Midwest chapter champion Bocce team. song -practice for 2007?

49 Aeolian Themodist player piano decked out with patriotic sheet music.

PACIFIC CAN-AM CHAPTER Reporter: Mark Smithberg President: Halie Dodrill Pump organ with bunting and patriotic June 2005 sheet music. The Pacific Can-Am Chapter of AMICA met June 18, 2005 at the Everett, Washington home of Larry and Jackie Slosson, where we have had numerous meetings in the past. Every season brings new decorations at their house. At this meeting the theme was the good ol’ Red, White and Blue! Flags, bunting and patriotic colors were everywhere. Oct 2005 In honor of Father’s Day, Peg Kehret and Mark On Sunday, October 2, the Pacific Can-Am chapter of Smithberg sang a new rendition of M-O-T-H-E-R (newly AMICA met at the home of Francis Riley. Francis’ large written by Peg Kehret) retitled F-A-T-H-E-R. We are both still home is in the Wallingford area of Seattle, not too far from waiting for our recording contracts. Our third Band Organ the University of Washington. Francis has a number of Rally was discussed. It is to be held August 20 and 21 in fascinating things in his early 20th century home. Included are scenic Leavenworth, Washington. This picturesque Bavarian collections of bells, clocks, electric cigarette lighters, and style village in the Cascade Mountains will be a perfect antique electrical equipment. Musically speaking, he has a 2 backdrop to our mechanical music. We hope many of our manual theatre pipe organ driven by both a Wurlitzer console members will attend. We also extend an invitation to other and a Moller rolls player. He can also run his Gulbransen 88 local musically oriented chapters to join us. There are many note upright player piano through the pipe organ. In addition, shops and other interesting things to do. he has a Reproduce Organ/Piano which also drives his This was our last meeting before the AMICA convention system. In another room he has a Chickering Ampico B grand in Minneapolis, so we congratulated Ron Babb and Kurt piano. Morrison in advance for winning the AMICA International During our meeting, we had a report from Kurt Award. Morrison about the Knabe Ampico at the Seattle Paramount Our usual potluck followed, and then said our goodbyes Theatre and Silent Movie Mondays. Peg Kehret reported that until next time. the Enumclaw Historical Society’s Grand Opening is to be next week. Our chapter voted without dissent to donate an organ bench belonging to our chapter to them for their pump organ. The Puget Sound Theatre Organ Society is hosting an Larry and Jackie open house on October 23 and has extended a welcome to Slosson’s house where we have AMICA members. met numerous We dispensed with our usual potluck and enjoyed hors d’ times. oeuvres instead. Our next meeting will be in December.

View of part of Francis’ kitchen showing early GE Hot Point range with built The backyard in egg cooker. also carried the patriotic red, white and blue theme.

50 Moller roll player for organ.

SIERRA-NEVADA CHAPTER Reporter: Nadine Motto-Ros Wurlitzer President: John Motto-Ros - (209) 267-9252 organ console NEWS FLASH – December 11, 2005! Doug and Vickie Mahr hosted our chapter Christmas Party at their Orangevale, CA, home. They do a great job with decorations, and it was easy to get into the Christmas spirit. Afternoon activities featured the new, wonderfully exciting “AMICA GAME” (AKA Bunco). It was fun moving from table to table mixing with the members. Everyone was a winner. Doug has done a marvelous job with all of their instruments. The Chickering Ampico “A” grand is superb. Of course, the 18-1/2” Regina music box got a good workout, but perhaps the Seeburg was played a few more times. The Mahr’s home is full of musical instruments in various rooms. An outstanding Knabe upright shares a room with a 1917 Pease 88-Note Player Upright Piano and a delightful Stroud Duo-Art. It was exciting to have 16 members gathered for the festive Christmas Meeting. Check out the photo gallery to see everyone. Reproduco organ console The Mahr’s always host an interesting meeting, and it was a pleasure to visit and enjoy the sounds of the season. THANK YOU.

Gulbransen player piano

Hosts Doug and Vickie Mahr.

Bob Lemon and Ron Edwards with the Duo-Art, Ampico and Pease foot pumper.

Chickering Ampico B

51 Bing Gibbs and George .

Ron Edwards and Bob Lemon (Bunco grand prize winner) and Tom Hawthorn.

Sonja & Bob Lemon.

Rick & Tricia Simms and Sally and Don MacDonald.

Sharyn Cunningham and Vickie Mahr. Bing Gibbs, Dale Fox with daughter Rose, and Rick Simms.

Chip Lusby, Billie and Ron Edwards.

Terry Casebeer at the Seeburg. Note the beautiful 18-1/2” Regina on the right.

Sonja Lemon, Terry Casebeer, Rick & Trica SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAPTER Simms, and Fred Deal. Reporter: Shirley Nix President: Frank Nix- (818) 884-6849

It’s hard to believe that Christmas has come and gone and the New Year is only a few days away. Time seems to fly by so fast, and somehow it seems I have so much I plan on doing, but never seem to get around to. Is that a sign of old 52 age? Or maybe it’s just that we have so much fun, and the old Rochelle and Herb Mercer saying is “Time flies when you’re having fun”, right? in front of the tree. Anyway, I’m off the subject, as usual. The December meeting for the Southern California After the gift exchange… Chapter was held at the home of Frank and Shirley Nix, and Fred and Deanna Roth, we had a large group attending. As usual, MBSI was also Mike Argain, Dave Reidy, invited, and there were new members and guests. In point of Diane Lloyd, Diane Reidy fact, three of the guests, Travis and Scott Garner and Rick and Bob Lloyd. Someone needs to tell Bob that Shaw became new members. isn’t a cell phone. We did have a short meeting, and the slate of officers was announced by Roy Beltz. As it happens, all the “old” officers had agreed to serve for another term, thereby becoming the “new” old officers, by a unanimous vote. We seem to have a short supply of nominees willing to serve. Our new treasurer, Lloyd Osmundson, gave us a report, and he seems to be keeping us solvent so far. As of the December meeting, he had a total of 55 paid members. We tried to push the rest to get their dues paid, too. Our next meeting was to be in April at the home of Reese and Terry Banister, with Josh Rapier presenting the program. Well, now that has now been pushed to the second meeting for 2006, since we have been invited to the home of John Ledwon for a farewell concert on his wonderful organ. After having owned the instrument since he was 14, John has decided to sell both his home and the organ, so this will Our own So. Cal. Royalty, be our last chance to see and hear John play in his Don Henry wearing his beautiful home. crown presented to him The upcoming convention in Chicago in August was by Brooke Osmundson. discussed briefly, with members urged to sign up as soon as the registration came out, since this is always such a popular The NEW officers: Frank Convention site. Nix, Vice-President, We did have one bit of bad news, since the organ rally at Shirley Nix, Secretary, Descanso Gardens has been cancelled for 2006. There has Jerry Pell, President, been a change of management at the Gardens, and the new Lloyd Osmundson, people decided they didn’t want us every year. Time will tell Treasurer whether they put us on every other year or not at all. It’s too bad, because the public seemed to be very receptive to our being there, and many people told us they call the Gardens each spring to see when we’ll be in attendance because they love the music and feel it adds to the ambience. As the meeting adjourned, we had our gift exchange, and every year we have some of the most original musical gifts, with this year being no exception. Everything from a dancing Frank Nix demonstrating pig to music rolls and lots of novelty items. It’s always so the Regina changer to much fun seeing how creative people can be. Herb Mercer, Dave Bernstein and Bill Of course, no AMICA meeting at the Nix home is Chapman. complete without music, and whether one stayed inside to hear the Steinway, the Unika, the music boxes or ventured outside to the Musik Haus to hear the array of instruments ranging from the smaller American Nickelodeons up to the Hupfeld Helios or the Duwyn the music was there, and the group seemed to enjoy each and every instrument. We all had a lot of fun, and look forward to 2006. I should mention also that earlier in the evening we had a The glamour set, meeting of the Convention Committee (our second) to plan Shawn Baumbach, Diane Reidy, Deanna for the 2008 Convention in Southern California. The group is Roth and Brooke enthusiastic, and things are underway. Osmundson.

53 to search for one of these instruments. A word of caution, be sure to check out the casework and mechanics. Be prepared to look behind the front shutters and look for evidence of its past. As Bill says, you become an ‘history detective’ and discover many possible mishaps. Bill discovered this instrument had been in a flood caused by overflowing of the Missouri River. This Reproduco now has a new life, is enjoyed and is in a protected environment. With the high cost of heating fuel, Bill and Marg often reduce the heat in the music room but keep it a constant level of temperature and The ’08 Convention Committee: Jack Conway, Bob Lloyd, Lloyd humidity. Osmundson, Diane Lloyd, Roy Beltz, Bill Whitney, Bill Blair, Department stores also used mechanical instruments to Frank Nix, Jean Hurley, Beverly and Richard Ingram. We had an attract and entertain customers. The violano is certainly honored guest, Mike Argain, peeking out between the two Bills. a novel creation. A mechanically played violin that has a continuous bow would certainly catch the viewer’s attention. The magic continues as the instrument also has an automatic piano. What the viewer-listener does not realize is that the harp is unlike any piano harp in that the bass section is located in the middle. The early listeners must have been amazed to witness this machine automatically recreating the sounds of musicians. To make this instrument work today, the ‘amps’ and ‘electric supply’ were modified to control the voltage level. A ‘variac’ was also added to re-configure the motor from direct to alternate current. These historic instruments were at the height of their popularity in the early 1900’s and S.O.W.N.Y. CHAPTER the then recently constructed hydro electrical plants at Niagara Falls provided the power. Although Nicolas Tesla is Reporter: Garry D. Lemon commemorated for his experiments and development of President: Mike Walter - (716) 656-9583 electric currents, many of today’s younger generation will recognize the name Tesla only as a rock musical group from FALL GET TOGETHER 2005 the 1990’s. As these instruments often age gracefully, so too Reported by Garry Lemon do some of the original hydro electric plants that created Photographed by Nancy Group the electricity. They remain as reminders of our industrial ingenuity, human creativity and the inter-connected role of the Bill and Marg Whittemore’s home is on a tree lined arts and sciences. street in Hamburg, New York. Maples, elms and chestnuts The Whittemore violano was built by the Mills Novelty form a canopy and outline the colonial facades of the Company in Chicago but was purchased from a collector in traditional homes of this neighborhood. The Whittemores Laceyville, Pennsylvania. Bill is a natural story teller and this greet us while their pet dog anxiously meets each of his new is his story—he was visiting a long time Navy friend who friends. So far, everything seems quite natural. told Bill about another friend who was selling off some As we walk down the driveway, Marg tells how much fun mechanical instruments. After viewing several instruments, her P T Cruiser is to drive while Bill demonstrates how his Bill just knew that he had to have the violano. Was it for sale? truck is a more practical and capable long distance hauler. If so, would the price be agreeable? The answers were ‘yes’ Onward we walk, through the side door garage entrance, and ‘yes’ and so the purchase was done. Several instruments down a narrow hallway and into a large room with a cathedral were purchased by other buyers and as they were being ceiling, no windows just skylights and lots of insulation loaded onto the truck, Bill realized that there was just enough behind the wall paneling. This is not your normal garage space for his violano. As the instrument was being lifted onto addition. This is not your average instrument collection. the truck, a representative from an absent bidder offered Bill attributes much of his collection to perseverance, incrementally larger sums of money for Bill’s instrument. good luck and an ever helpful hand from Marg. Bill’s interest With each step up the plank, the bid was increased! A in mechanical instruments started in the early 1970s with substantial profit on a short term investment is hard to refuse. a player piano. Since then he has acquired locally made Could Bill resist the offers? Would the restoration headaches instruments such as the Wurlitzer Band Organ model 146B. be worth the effort? The nearby carousel factory in Tonawanda specified this type The Whittemore collection contains several other of instrument for its installations. The band organ still has its goodies…an Aeolian Orchestrelle with metal reeds. It is commanding voice and the military tunes gave it and our ears operated by pressure rather than by vacuum. As a waltz was a good workout. convincingly played, Bill told another story…underneath the Bill and Marg traveled to Saratoga, Florida where they elaborate Russian walnut case are the swell panels. The seller saw a Reproduco Organ. Small theatres often used the readily stated that one panel was missing and he had no idea Reproduco and large towns and cities are often good sources where it could be. Bill, however, realized that things often go 54 missing and asked if he could have a look around. Thirty minutes later, Bill discovered the panel behind a wood pile! It Bill and his pays to be persistent. Wurlitzer The largest instrument and a real crowd pleaser is the Arburo Dance Organ. It was built in Belgium in the 1940’s and is from the Arthur Bursen’s collection. Marg helped with the re-tubing. Thirteen hundred feet of tubes would be quite a task. Bill learned that the aluminum cigarette liner from the Marlboro brand is a handy tool for depth measuring the screens. We were treated to an European arrangement of Cole Porter’s ‘Begin the Beguine’. What a treat! The smallest instrument was The Talk-o-Phone from 1901. A very fluid sound encouraged the ‘parrot’ on the label to learn a new song. This is certainly an early Juke boxes example of trademark branding. Could the ‘dog listening to its master’ of RCA been inspired by the parrot learning a new song? Bill and Marg led the SOWNY caravan to a nearby restaurant in the valley for dinner. Thank you to the Whittemores for the tour and to the chapter members for encouraging and suggesting our adventures.

Close up of Arburo Dance Submitted by Garry D. Lemon Organ The Globe and Mail Tuesday, November 22, 2005 CHOOSING A PIANO Some advice for people looking for a piano, from Stacey Downs of Knight-Ridder news: • It’s easy to be intimidated by a piano’s price tag. A European-made Bosendorfer can cost $148.000. Reproduco However, it’s considered the Rolls-Royce of pianos. Organ A good used upright can be purchased for about $1,500 or a grand piano starts at $2,500. • Sometimes experts will advise against a grand piano that’s less than 5 feet 7 inches long because it might have shorted strings and less soundboard than a good upright piano. • “Most people are going for pianos in a flat, satin black,” says piano dealer Mike Vaccaro of Lenexa, Kan. “It’s more elegant than a shiny, high-gloss finish.” • Compact disc systems, bolted underneath the piano, “create player pianos.” Another trend is hooking up karaoke machines and a flat-panel television to a piano to create a high-tech entertainment system.

Visit the AMICA Web Page at Mike, Janet, Audrey and Muriel listening to www.amica.org Bill tell his stories

55 Advertise in the 2006 AMICA Directory Full Page $150 1/2 Page $75 1/4 Page $45 Business Card $30

Display Ads should be camera-ready and received before March 1st, 2006

For more Information please contact: Mike Kukral, Publisher Telephone: 812-238-9656 E-mail: [email protected]

56 ADVERTISING FOR SALE NEW BOOK: A HUNDRED YEARS OF THE WELTE-MIGNON, GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT prepared by the Augustiner Museum in Freiburg, 186 pages, hundreds ALL ADVERTISING IN THE AMICA BULLETIN of never before published photographs, biographies, technology, All advertising should be directed to: orchestrions, organs, recording processes, and of course the Welte- Mike Kukral Mignon reproducing piano and rolls in Europe and America, TEXT 216 Madison Blvd. WRITTEN IN GERMAN. I have only 10 copies available. Send your Terre Haute, Indiana 47803 check for $36 (includes shipping within USA) to Mike Kukral, 216 Phone: 812-238-9656 Madison Blvd., Terre Haute, IN 47803 (6-06) e-mail: [email protected] CHICKERING AMPICO A GRAND (1929) 5’4” in a scarce Ad copy must contain text directly related to the product/service Spanish-Mediterranean style artcase, with 9 legs, spreaders being offered. Extraneous text will be deleted at the Publisher’s and wrought-iron furniture. Older restoration, plays well. A bench, roll discretion. All advertising must be accompanied by payment in cabinet and numerous rolls included. $9995.00 OBO. Charlie Poulton U.S. funds. No telephone ads or written ads without payment will Tampa, FL 813-973-7030. [email protected] (3-06) be accepted. This policy was established by a unanimous vote of FOR TRADE: Nice original unrestored 5’2” HAMILTON WELTE the AMICA Board at the 1991 Board Meeting and reaffirmed at the 1992 meeting. AMICA reserves the right to edit or to reproducing grand. Will trade for a good slot machine, music box or reject any ad deemed inappropriate or not in keeping with whatever. Don Janisch 4794 Wildflower Ct. Dousman, WI 53118 AMICA’s objectives. Phone 262-965-2627. (1-06) 1924 WURLITZER BABY GRAND 4’10” professionally refinished The BULLETIN accepts advertising without endorsement, walnut plain case with bench. Serial #61388. Restored ART ECHO/ implied or otherwise, of the products or services being offered. Publication of business advertising in no way implies AMICA’s with 20 original rolls. $5000.00 OBO. More rolls available. endorsement of any commercial operation. Ina Spady 425-746-7182, Seattle area or [email protected] (6-06) WEBER DUO-ART GRAND PIANO 5’8” beautiful walnut Florentine AMICA PUBLICATIONS RESERVES THE RIGHT TO art case. Piano soundboard refinished, pin block replaced, new strings ACCEPT, REJECT, OR EDIT ANY AND ALL installed $4,500. Paul Weger 815-459-3881 call after 7:00 p.m. (1-06) SUBMITTED ARTICLES AND ADVERTISING. 1928 BALDWIN WELTE-MIGNON reproducing player Grand Piano All items for publication must be submitted directly to the reproduces sound as the pianist originally recorded it. Restored by Ron Publisher for consideration. Wehmeier. Refinished mahogany case includes fully restored sound board & player mechanism & new hammers, shanks, pin block, strings, and CLASSIFIED AD RATES FOR AMICA MEMBERS: dampers. Welte reproducing piano rolls and bench included. 5.5 feet in 1-50 Words ...... $10.00 length. Appraises for $30,000; asking $15,000. Call 513-967-1241 (1-06) 51-100 Words ...... $20.00 CHICKERING AMPICO A compact upright with top-spool drawer. 101-150 Words ...... $30.00 Electric motor restored, pump bellows, expression pneumatics recov- Non-member rates are double for all advertising. ered. Fifty-two rolls original boxes, test roll, tracker bar cleaner. CHASE AND BAKER PIANO PLAYER. Motor pneumatics recov- DISPLAY ADVERTISING ered otherwise excellent original. 247 65-note-rolls, most excellent, Full Page — 71/2 " x 10" ...... $150.00 original boxes. $900, Alan Houston 970-259-3151, Durango, CO. (1-06) Half Page — 71/2 " x 43/4" ...... $ 80.00 NEW PIANO ROLL BOXES - Duo-Art Audiographic series -Exact- Quarter Page —35/8 " x 43/4" ...... $ 45.00 1 ly like the originals! Marroon with Gold Printing, all 3 sizes available! Business Card — 3 /2 " x 2" ...... $ 30.00 (small & medium are “Top Hat” style) $7.00 ea. Quantities are limited, Special 6 for 5 Ad Offer - Place any ad, with no changes, for a so get them before they are all gone! AMPICO “Top Hat” boxes- full year (6 issues), and pay for only 5 issues. Payable in advance. Black Leather with Gold Printing and False Bottom, Exactly like the Photographs or halftones $15.00 each originals, $5.00 ea. 88 note roll boxes in two sizes- Large (fits 2 3/4 Loose Sheet or Insert Advertising: Inquire flange) covered with Black Alligator paper (Top), Black Leather (Bot- We recommend that display advertisers supply camera-ready tom). or Brown Leather Paper (Top & Bottom) $3.00 ea. Small (fits 2” copy. Copy that is oversized or undersized will be changed to flange) Covered with Black or Tan Leather Paper (Top), White Litho correct size at your cost. We can prepare advertisements from (Bottom) $1.80 ea. Other repair supplies available- Parchment Leaders, your suggested layout at cost. Tabs, Tubes, Flanges, Repair Tissue. Quantity Discounts available. Rich PAYMENT: U.S. funds must accompany ad order. Make check Ingram [email protected] (760) 244-ROLL (7655) (6-06) payable to AMICA INTERNATIONAL. Typesetting and 1920 HAINES BROS. AMPICO REPRODUCING UPRIGHT layout size alterations charges will be billed. PLAYER PIANO with Bench. The Ivories are Near Perfect, and DEADLINES: Submissions must be received no later than the Original. The Player Action was rebuilt about 30 Years ago (I was told) first of the odd months (January, March, May, July, September, and still sounds Great! The Case is Mahogany, and does not have the November). The Bulletin will be mailed the second week of the original Finish. It has a Dampp-Chaser Humidifier/De-Humidifier even months. (Rev. 5-05) System installed. 30 Ampico Rolls are Included. $3,000 Please email [email protected] for Photos. (6-06) WEBER UNIKA, COINOLA X, SEEBURG E, Contact J. Uhler, Box 126, Ingomar, PA 15127. Phone 724-940-4331 (1-06) SAVE THESE PIANOS! 88 note uprights—need restoration. “No tyranny is so irksome as petty Clarendon, Milton. Claviola missing stack, matching roll cabinet. 1923 tyranny: the officious demands of police- Chickering baby grand, not a player. Christy 330-864-4864 (Ohio) (1-06) 4’-8” AMPICO GRAND, 1931 HAINES BROS. William and Mary men, government clerks, and electro- case with matching bench, restored A/B player works beautifully. mechanical gadgets.” $15,000. offers. Available: 5’-4” Knabe AMPICO “A” mahogany - Edward Abbey (1925), 5’-2” MW AMPICO “A” mahogany (1924), MW studio AMPICO A/B (1930), Knabe, large upright AMPICO “A” (1919). 404-378-1949 (Georgia) (1-06)

57 PIANOLA “PUSH UP” piano player. Very rare 65-88-note version (one of two known). Mfg. by The Orchestrelle Co., London, circa 1908. Restored circa 1995. With 80 rolls, including original 65-note test roll. Photos available. $7,500 firm. Dick Howe, 73 Saddlebrook Lane, Houston, TX 77024, 713-680-9945 [email protected] (2-06) STEINWAY RED WELTE GRAND (T-100), Hamburg Model O, with original rolls. Please contact [email protected] for additional information. Alejandro Radchik, Av. Mexico 37-507, Condesa 06100, Mexico, DF. [Mexico City] Tel.: 011- 52-555-419-5374 (6-06) AMPICO, DUO-ART, WELTE, AND 88 NOTE PIANO ROLLS. New Recuts and Originals, including “Jumbo” and Program Rolls. Also N.O.S. QRS 88 Note rolls. Dave Caldwell, 400 Lincoln Lake Ave. N.E. Lowell, MI 49331; Check out my website: www.revealer.com/caldwell email: [email protected]; phone: 616-897-5609. (1-07) 1924 STEINWAY OR Duo-Art walnut Art case w/veneer damage from fire on one side, rebuilt player, in crates, w/new Ivory keys $11,500 Condition: D; 1995 BALDWIN 4’7” red polish Mah. W/Pianodisc $8,900 Cond.: A; 1987 YAMAHA G2 Ivory polish s/Pianomation $8,900 Cond.: A; 1920 FRANKLIN 56” Ampico Mah. $3,500 Cond.: B+; MARIONETTE AMPICO GRAND original complete w/matching bench $2,500 Cond.: C-; 1995 STORY & CLARK 42” Wal. $2,500; AMERICAN PLAYER PIANO 48” Studio, $2,900. Contact: Schroeder’s Pianos 562-923-2311 (1-06) WANTED http://www.revealer.com/caldwell/ FILMUSIC, PICTUROLLS, AND SUPERTONE PIANO ROLLS wanted. Call Alex at 209-478-0099. (6-06) RED WELTE MIGNON piano rolls (T-100). Paying top dollar. Mike Kukral 812-238-9656 or [email protected] (6-06) WELTE-MIGNON LICENSEE AND DELUXE REPRODUCING piano rolls. Mike Kukral 812-238-9656, email [email protected] (1-09) ARTRIO ANGELUS rolls and literature/catalogs/brochures/bulletins. [email protected] (1-06) Also want combination motor/generator set for Tel-Electric/Telektra piano player system. Motor 110 volts A.C., 1/4 h.p., generator 15 volts, D.C. 10 amps. Various makes ok such as Westinghouse, GE, Robbins & Meyers. David Krall, phone 219-932-2322, email [email protected]. (6-06) UPCOMING Ð AMICA EVENTS Ð

MIDWEST CHAPTER April 29-30 ...... It won’t be long until it’s time for our Spring meeting in Cincinnati! Save the weekend of April 29-30. We will see the collections of Alvin Wulfekuhl, Ron Wehmeier, Harry Garrison and we hope to go to a surprise collection we have never seen. More details on schedule and hotels will be available as it gets closer to April. Hope to see you there.

’s Player Piano Ser vi Ben A Complete Restoration Service ce For The Pneumatic Piano Complete pianos and player systems restored using factory original techniques by an experienced professional. Complete or partial systems can be sent to my shop for restorations. I supply special UPS cartons for this unique service. Ben Gottfried 464 Rd. • Richfield Springs, NY 13439 315-858-2164 (6-06)

58 JOHN WRASSE PIANO MOVING Specializing in: Player Grands, Nickelodeons & Orchestrions Anywhere in Continental US ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ 25 years experience Knowledgeable Rebuilder Well-known - References Available Insured ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ Your instrument is wrapped, padded and secured for transport in an insulated, clean custom-built heavy-duty trailer. Professional and personal service.

John P. Wrasse, Piano Pro 31449 216th St., Bellevue, IA 52031 Cell (John): 563-580-2472 E-mail: [email protected]

(1-06) (3-06)

WANTED TO BUY MUSIC BOXES MUSICAL CLOCKS MECHANICAL ORGANS Always in the market for better quality disc and cylinder music boxes, musical clocks, singing birds, band organs, player organs, monkey organs, Wurlitzer 78 rpm jukeboxes, slot machines. Any condition. MARTIN ROENIGK 75 Prospect Avenue Eureka Springs, AR 72632 (800) 671-6333 • (479) 253-0405 www.mechantiques.com • [email protected]

(3-06)

59 OPPORTUNITIES Silver Anniversary Museum Estate Auction Newnan, Georgia Where Rare is Common March 17 & 18, 2006 The Albert Schalfmann Private Museum of Turtle Lake, North Dakota was closed in 1981. Both Mr. & Mrs. Schalfmann have recently passed away, and now the contents of the museum will be sold. The list of musical items is extraordinary and includes By Preston GAL #1287 many items that seldom turn up for sale. An Opportunity to Expand Your Collection! Offering Includes: 1. The ultimate in Phonographs: Opera with Mahogany horn, many Victors with Wooden Horns including Victor VI, and most other Victor models, Columbias, Edison (Opera) and Others (Over 50). 2. Early Specialty Items: Upright Edison with 4” record (huge cylinder) Hexaphone, Reginaphone, various percussion instruments, and more. 3. Dozens of Musical Boxes: Outstanding Cylinder and Disc Types (27” Changer, etc.) 4. Various Nickelodeons: Seeburg KT, Peerless, Western Electric. 5. Various Band organs: a “uno-fon” circus organ with bells (operated with 8 volt battery), Wurlitzer and other military 1 band organs, German Barrel organ with 133 pipes ranging from 3” to 4 ⁄2 ft. 6. Numerous coin-operated machines including very uncommon arcade machines. 7. Roller organs and Cob organs including Grand with 17 cobs 8. Unique musical devices, unique steroptican collection, and various collections of great collectibles. We are accepting qualified consignments if notified early. There are countless items to be sold at this Opportunities Auction. This offering is extensive and a second auction will be held at our Midwestern location in Alcester, South Dakota, June 16 and June 17. Examples of items to be sold in June: Seeburg G (oak, original and nice), oak Peerless upright 44 note Piano, Seeburg Piano nickelodeon, , National-Gambling Piano, etc., over 50 phonographs: large and small Nipper trade mark dogs, lots of phonograph records and much more. Details of Auctions are on our FREE 4 page brochure which will become available January 15, 2006. Our color illustrated brochure/catalog for both of our scheduled auctions will be available in early February. The cost is $25.00 which will apply to purchases at either auction.

Preston Evans 31 Redbud Trail, Newnan, GA 30263 or 770-502-0028 All information on our website trumps any written information. www.prestonopportunities.com

60 CONTENTS OF ALBERT SCHLAFMANN MUSEUM TO BE SOLD

The contents of the Albert Schlafmann Museum, originally located at the family farm in rural North Dakota, five miles eat of Turtle Lake, will soon be sold at auction by Preston Evans of Opportunities Auction.

An eclectic array of collectibles gathered over a lifetime makes up the contents of the museum. Albert Schlafmann began collecting Indian hammers, tomahawks, and arrowheads when he was barely nine years old. His collecting continued throughout his adult life, but his interests expanded to include major items in lots of categories. After a number of years, the collection grew to become of museum size. Schlafmann and his wife, Ruth, opened the door of their museum to the public from June 1 through September each year. After closing each fall, the Schlafmanns would make excursions throughout the area to secure additional items for the museum.

The museum continued in operation for nearly twenty years. It was closed in 1981 due to a lack of visitors to this extremely remote location. Mr. and Mrs. Schlafmann passed away recently, and the treasures will now be sold.

There are hoards of antiques and collectibles, and many of them are certainly unique. There are dozens of phonographs with outside horns, including one that is a coin-operated upright Edison that plays a large 4” cylinder. Also, there are a number of the trademark Nipper dogs of various sizes. The list is very long and impressive in the area of phonographs.

There is no lack of musical boxes, nickelodeons, band organs and other rare musical devices that will please anyone who likes things that cannot be found for sale anywhere. There are lots of upright music boxes including a 27” Regina Changer music box, a large disc Symphonion upright music box with a matching stand. In addition, there is a coin-operated Regina as well as other disc boxes. There are even many more old Swiss cylinder music boxes and unique musical instruments.

The band organs include a Military Band organ with lots of brass horns, a Wurlitzer model, and others. There is one KT nickelodeon and one Western Electric nickelodeon among the group of piano type instruments. Of importance is a large German Dance barrel organ with 133 pipes. There are lots more important items as well.

A part of the collection will be sold at the Opportunities Auction in Newnan, Georgia on March 17 and March 18. The balance of the collection will be sold at auction in June, 2006, in Alcester, South Dakota which is located in the southeastern corner of the state just a few miles from the border of Iowa. Both sales will be conducted by Preston Evans. An opportunity such as this is seldom offered to aficionados of musical instruments. You may find more information at the website www.prestonopportunities.com.

61 Motivated Buyers-please make an offer!

Richard S. Comras Post Office Box 1826 Rancho Mirage, CA 92270

Potential Buyers,

For the past thirty-five years we have lived in Tarzana and have recently moved to Rancho Mirage. We have no room in our new desert home for our wonderful upright Steinway Duo-Art Player Piano. We’ve had this instrument for the last thirty years. It is in excellent condition, has rinky-tink, electric playing, and also has foot pumps. The piano was manufactured in 1925 and carries the serial number 230525. It comes with a beautiful bench and many player rolls.

We are motivated sellers and have placed a reasonable price of $18,500.00 on this wonderful instrument. A friend of ours who owns the Ivy Antiques Shop at 12318 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604, has allowed us to leave it with her for viewing and sales. Ms. Dio, the owner, has full authorization to handle the transaction.

While looking at the piano be sure to look through the shop. It is large, beautiful, and has many unusual and fantastic items.

Sincerely, Richard S. Comras

(4-06)

62 WHEN DOWNSIZING! THE BIGGEST & BEST GO FIRST.. The “Dutchess” wants a new home. Having been completely gone through by restorer Ed Schmidt, she has never sounded so beautiful. 21’ long, 11’ high, 644 pipes, 2 , 8 pc. Percussion with over 25 books. Built in Belgium 1938. Beautiful carved art deco front-3 sections.

To hear her play call 785-537-2010 CST. Ask for Blaine Thomas. (1-06)

63 REPLACEMENT LEADERS These 11 1/4” x 17” reprints, not trimmed and without tabs, are excellent replicas of the more popular types of reproducing piano roll leaders. While intended for roll repairs, they may also be used for decorative purposes. To splice, overlay new leader on old roll, lay a straightedge on an angle, cut through both papers with a sharp knife, discard scrap, and butt-join with magic mending tape on top surface.

A. Brown on buff B. Black on ivory C. Black on ivory D. Black on ivory (For early red label boxes) (Area for reusable (Most common) (Very late rolls by combined artist photo) Aeolian/American)

Note: Early Welte’s with blue leaders may be repaired with this brown leader. Many of these when reissued had brown leaders.

E. Green on ivory F. Green on ivory G. Welte (Most common) (Favorite Fifty & Brown on buff Selected Roll Service) (Most common)

Please make checks payable to Checks or money Price: $ 1.00 each Style Quantity AMICA INTERNATIONAL, orders from foreign Minimum Order: $10.00 A ______And send to: countries must B ______be drawn on C ______BRIAN K. MEEDER U.S. bank. D ______904A West Victoria Street Postage and Handling $ 5.50 Santa Barbara, CA 93101-4745 E ______Roll Order $ ______F ______e-mail address for orders: G [email protected] Total Amount (U.S. $) $ ______Total Quantity ______

64 A Laurel and Hardy Crossword {\ Pure and Simple 1,"---"".1

••• ACROSS ••• i<1fif DOWN * ...... 1 Sonoran offspring? 1 George McFarland 8 Symbol of hospitality and welcome 2 Ya, das ist ein __ Z-.-../ 11 Stan's Dad for short 3 It was a lot of 12 They always had one 4 "Stowaway" on Cruise '96 13 Babe's favorite team 5 Finlayson exclamation 15 members of Tree in a Test Tube Tent-1 6 a celebrity laison par excellent 16 Marcia, a jewel ofthe Son's of the Desert 7 Mr. Stanley 19 it's hard to get out of 8 Jerry Tucker's studio 20 a ridiculous article 9 Many of us were in this in '96 22 Laurel 10 Selective astronomy? 24 Lubin later 14 ubiquitous topper 26 Jeanie Weenie 16 just a little twist 28 Channel Surfer? 17 a kind of writer 29 Arthur Housman? 18 itj 32 Roach radio station 21 where great minds make grand plans 33 get oudda heeah 23 Founding tent locale 34 Stan employment in 1913 25 Alternate to New Inn in '98 36 Dorothy DeBorba 27 Arthur or Thomas 37 Babe's sport 28 Neighborhood leaders 39 one of a toasted duo 30 Founding member 44 Roach and 9000 31 Stanley J. Sandford 45 Wrote many Roach Studio melodies 35 Utopia 46 A "floozy" was in their '92 wedding party 38 Founding member 40 Robinson Crusoe Land 41 PA's favorite flower 42 Happy Harry 43 The boys used 3000 in a day