,e... . Jnfernafional JtcNJrBJt '~
of you who would like to attempt starting up a group, please contact Anita N. Johnson, or myself.
We had a great "mini-convention" in Joplin last sum mer, thanks to Bill Pohl and his fine local group of Amicans. It doesn't seem fair to use the term "mini" convention to describe these get-togethers in the "between" convention years, for although the attendance is smaller, our mini conventions are every bit as much fun for those of us who attend. As most of you know, revised AMICA Bylaws were en acted at the Joplin meeting. The new updated ver sion was nesessitated by many changes resulting from the expanded character of AMICA International.
This year's AMICA International Convention is to be held in San Franci~co Thursday, September 1st through Monday, September 5th. I urge all of you to start planning for it. This is where it all began, back in the early sixties when a group of local San Fran cisco Bay Area enthusiasts got together and launched AMICA from a local club to a nationwide and later, an international organization. The first AMICA con vention was held in 1970 in San Francisco, so we have corne full circle so to speak. Those of us who were fortunate enough to have attended in 1970 are certainly looking forward to returning to San AMESSAGE FROM YOUR PRESIDENT Francisco. Sally Lawrence, who did such a magnif With this issue of the Bulletin, your club is enter icent job as Chairperson at the first Convention, is ing another year. AMICA continues to grow in mem again serving in this capacity. All I can add, is bership and chapters. At this writing, we have a start thinking and planning San Francisco AMICA. membership of approximately 950. The past year wit You should be receiving further details of this in nessed the forming of two additional chapters, The a future Bulletin. Rocky Mountain group, encompassing Colorado, Wyo ming, New Mexico, Western Nebraska and Western Kan Your Honorary Membership chairman, Al werolin, is sas, and the New Jersey Chapter. To both these new continuing his fine efforts in locating and contact Chapters, I wish to express best wishes on behalf ing former recording artists. Please help him and of AMICA International. Speaking of new chapter AMICA by sending any information you may have as to formations, AMICA's Board of Directors is always the whereabouts or other information of such indi anxious to hear from any of you who are interested viduals to AI. His address is 2230 Oakdale Rd., in organizing a local group. We are especially de Hillsborough, California 94010. And don't overlook sirous of seeing a New England Chapter started if the possibility of inviting these artists to a local there is enough interest. The Southeast and Pacific get-together, regardless of whether they wish to Northwest are also areas of potential local chapters, play the piano or not. as is the Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin region. Any I can't close this message without expressing my thanks to all of the officers of AMICA International. Torn Beckett, as Editor of your Bulletin, is doing a fine job. Please help him by continuing to send material for publication, whether it be original ar President's Message 1 ticles, newspaper items related to our onterests, International AMICA 2 or whatever. Anita Johnson, your Membership Chair AMICA Forum 7 man, can't process your membership renewal unless Rolls & Music 8 you send in your check for 1977. So those of you Northern California 10 who haven't already done so, get busy and mail it in. Southern California 13 Texas 15 Write to me if you have any suggestions or criticism Midwest 16 for the good of the Club. I look forward to seeing Philadelphia Area 18 many of you in San Francisco next September. Best SOWNY 20 wishes for the New Year. Rocky Mountain 21 Technicalities 23 Biographical Ske~ches 28 Bob Rosencrans, President
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FROM THE PUBLISHER HONORARY MEMBER CARL SCHNEIDER Welcome to the first issue of "THE AHICA" for 1977. PASSES AWAY If you are a new member of AMICA I would like to give BY ALF. E. WEROLIN you some details about the c9ntent of your Club's n~arlY Word has just been received that AMICA honorary publication. Our material is comprised of 100% member Carl L. Schneider passed away on November member donated items, including personal art1cles, 18th, 1976 in Brooklyn, New York. Mr. Schneider was news clippings and historical material loaned for . reprinting. New or returning member, I hope you w111 associated with the Ampico Corporation in the very early days and helped in the developement of the re support AMICA by contributing to our news BULLETIN producing mechanism as a laboratory technician work this year. SUBMISSIONS: Please send typwritte, text when pos ing under George Stoddard, the inventor. sible. Glossy black &white photographs reprodu~e better than color. News clippings and Xerox cop1es When the Ampico was marketed in the early 20'5, Mr. if the original is not good contrast and has washed Schneider transferred to the Service Division where out areas the reproduction will be even worse. he conducted schools for piano technicians. These Returns -'I will return donations for reprint from men were instructed in the operation, servicing, and repair of the Ampico. These schools were conducted your files if you so request. Of cou:se~ mat~rial I can keep makes layout easier. Subm1ss1ons 1n all in many cities throughout the country. categories are welcome, particularly "Technicalities." I would like to see some technical discussion of In addition, Mr. Schneider travelled with many of some of the less familiar instruments, complete with the recording artists, assisting them in their con tubing layouts. How about something on the Violano? certs in which the Ampico played a part. "THE AMICA" is hoping to hear from you in '77. Upon retirement from the Ampico Corporation, Carl HONORARY MEMBERS: As provided in the Bylaws, M1ICA Schneider continued to service Ampicos and other automatic musical instruments in the New York area. awards several Honorary Hemberships each year. Po He ~lso developed an interest in the optical field. tential tandidates' names, sponsored by 2 members of AMICA, may be submitted to the Board fo: approval. Any pertinent information as to the nom1nee should also be sent to Honorary Hembership Chairman, ALF E. WEROLIN, 2230 Oakdale Rd., Hillsborough, CA 94010 for FLORA MORA contact, biographical information and acceptance. In the June, 1976 (page 93) issue of the BULLETIN, I reprinted a portion of a letter from Senora Flora TECHNICAL INFORMATION: Although I make every attempt Mora who was seeking photos of Enrique Granados for to answer technical queries personally or through the a biography she is writing. In her letter she men BULLETIN there is a time delay. For matters requir tioned that she previously recorded for Duo-Art so ing a mo;e lengthy and prompt response, please w:ite I requested more information. to the Technical Committee Chairman, He1 Lucheth, at 3449 Mauricia Ave., Santa Clare, CA 95051. I receiVed a reply dated 12/3/76 portions of which follow: t. ~: ~: l...i~ +J.:..:-:..:..:..:..:..:·<..:...... :.. ..:..:..:..:-:.. ..:..X..:· Dear Mr. Beckett: ~. : ·r WI LL THIS BE YOUR LAST BULLETIN? ::: Please pardon my delay in answering your letter, but ::: OR - RED SLASH LABELS I have been very busy planning and writing the main .1. parts of a theatrical play which I am composing and :~: If the mailing tabel on this issue of ::: also preparing on the piano a program in homage to ..~ the Bulletin has a red slash at the .:• the Bicentennial •••• ..~ lower right hand corner, it indicates .:. ..~ that the Membership Secretary has not .:. I needed time to look over in the first volume of ~. received your dues payment for 1977. .:. my Book of Programs some facts in regard to the Duo A Don't delay - send Anita that check .... Art rolls that I recorded and I have found only an ~- today and enjoy uninterrupted BULLETIN ..~. evidence of them in back of some programs where Mr. .:- service in 1977. ..%. Giralt - the representative of the Aeolian Company ~~~: :-:.<..:-:.. in Cuba - announced that Enrique Granados and I .:.J - 2 - Jnfernafional JlcJ&JfBJl a very dramatic composition from "Libro de Horas" (Book of Hours). Possibly also the Allegro do Con cierto which I used to play very often in those days. Paderewski 'In Concert' The recordings must have been ~ade between October 19, 1919 when I made my debut in Aeol ian Hal I and November 25, 1920 when I offered my second piano At West Chester recital in Carnegie Hall, in New York. I t was also on 1919 when G. Schi rmer, Inc. publ ished Paderewski, Hofmann, tion), the concert will be played Gabrilowitsch and other "ele on a Steinway Duo-Art piano my Modern Piano Method for Beginners. brated pianists of yesterday win from the collection of Dr. Robert 'play' a concert at West Chest Rosencrans, president of the I hope you will find these facts of interest for er State College on Thursday, organization. It was built in your archi ves or your Bullet i n. I f you wi sh to October 14. The recital, made 1921 and completely restored in possible by a historic Duo-Art 1967-68. know something else please let me know. I am sorry reproducing piano, will be pre Narrating the program will there are no more recordings today for the Duo-Art. sented at 8:15 p.m. in Swope be C. Alan Lightcap and John There are many compositions which are worth to have Hall Auditorium, College Ave., A. Stralkowski, specialists in them recorded as those of the last American program on the West Chester campus. It the restoration of such pianos which I offered recently and many others of Granados is free and open to the public. who restored the instrument to The Duo-Art system utilized be featured. The West Chester and myself. the familiar rolls to record the concert is the first to be pre pianist's exact touch including sented by AMlCA on the east Best Greetings for the season. all the dynamic and artistic coast. Several very well received gradations. Thus while some of concerts have been prGSented at Sincerely yours, these recordings predate early the University of California at phonographic recordings. they Berkeley. are many times truer to life. The program has been care Ftolta liolta The system reached its peak fully selected from the works during the 1920s, waning as available to include many short Ed. Note: Sra. Mora is presently being nominated the less expensive phonographic pieces rather than a few long records improved in quality. for Honorary Membership in AMICA. ones. This will give the audience Sponsored by AMICA Inter the opportunity to sample a national (Automatic Musical wider variety of artists playing Instrument Collectors' Associa- many different types of music. Public Concert by Phila. Amicans After weeks of preparation, AI Lightcap and John Stalkowski arranged the first public performance of a reproducing piano at West Chester College on October 14. AI and John co-shared the introductions and explanations of each selection as nearly (j) '0'" (j) 150 applauded in unbeleiving delight. It was (j) :2 quite a jolt to the twenty or so Philadelphia c >, Amicans in attendance, let alone the rest of rl (j) > the audience, to see Bob Rosencran's Duo Art w on the stark stage, going through its flawless >, .Q paces without the benefit of a human pianist. '0 1) .j.J AI, and John, and Bob - Thanks for a ::l .Q great evening. ·rl .j.J '"c o u NEW HONORARY MEMBERS Two new members have been added to the Honorary JACKIE LISTENS Membership I ist of AMICA - recording artist Leo Ornstein and player piano and reproducing piano Jacqueline Onassis sits next to a piano technician of over 50 years standing Elmer H. last night as jazz pianist Eubie Blake Hunholz. More information about these gentlemen plays a tune during a prerehearsal party will be forthcoming in a later issue of the for the "Tribute to Josephine Baker" BULLETIN. gala in New York. - 3 - Jnfernafional JlJKJ8Jl ceived, such as that, before we by-pass AMR or Kla LIVE BOARD MEETING vier, we publish peoples' wants, so that recutters TO BE HELD IN DALLAS may know that there is a demand for something better. The first 1977 meeting of the Board of Directors of AMICA International will be held February 19, at the Almost all included ISLAMEY - both Ampico and Duo home of Tom and Carole Beckett in Dallas, Texas. The Art. Being impossible to play, it is a natural for meeting will begin promptly at 1:00 p.m. Any mem the reproducing piano. Arranged by the same com ber of AMICA may attend the meeting and voice and poser, Glinka's THE LARK received several votes. opinion, but only regular members of the Board may Then we break down into Ampico owners who want vote. (among just about everything else) more DOHNANYI, RACHMANINOFF, and the impressionistic composers in The Texas Chapter of AMICA is holding its first which I believe Ampico excelIs. Many of the ballad meeting of the year on the afternoon of Sunday the rolls are among the most beautiful and little-known 20th •. , .All_.visitors to the Board meeting are encour recordings for this system. aged to stay over for this gathering. Out-of-towners desiring information on transportation and accornoda- Far more replies were received from Duo-Art enthu -tioRs. are welcome to call the Becketts at (214) 239 siasts, who crave above all for CHOPIN. The SCHER 5019 for details. ZOS, BALLADES, ANDANTE SPIANATO and GRAND POLONAISE, SHEPHERD'S BOY and AEOLIAN HARP etudes are among the most wanted. BACH must be the composer most neglected by those in the recutting field today. Two writers asked for anything by MOSZKOWSKI. There NICKELODEON CABINET RESEARCH were several requests for the orchestrated version BY ART REBLI TZ of the GREIG A minor concerto played by Grainger. I would like to make a smal I correction to the above The SCHUMANN Concerto in G major played by Katherine titled article in the November 1976 (page 199) issue Goodson, and CHAJ1INADE preferably played by the com of the BULLETIN. poser, were suggestions received from Texas. From Southern California a member asks for all the MYRA Haddorf probably made some cabinets for Seeburg, HESS rolls. CORTOT and HOROWITZ, PADEREWSKI and Link, Nelson-Wiggen and Western Electric as evi FRIEDMAN should not be ignored another member writes denced by identical piano plates in some Seeburg K, saying, "How about the Tannhauser paraphrase on one KT and KT Special, Link 2E, Western Electric X and roll, as the first part (which we all have) just Nelson-Wiggen models, but I didn't mean to give the tails off in the midst of nowhere. The LISZT etudes impression that they made cabinets for Mi I Is or are nearly all superb on the Duo-Art." Wur I itzer. I was Ied to the discovery when I noticed that of al I the above models, Link is the Several writers suggested that rolls be combined only one which used al I of the bass notes in the that belong together. An excellent idea as I have piano. had to tape together and rebox no end of recuts which were issued separately (or was it so they would take up more space on the shelves?). Readers TRACKER SCALES tell me the printed leaders are either not wanted or should be authentic (one thing QRS does better I have been compiling tracker scales for future than the others). pub Iication for the past severa I years. If anyone is wi.11 ing to help, I sti II need the Encore Banjo, No list would be complete without the name of ADAM E~press Twin-Tracker L rol I, most models of Imhof CARROLL, both Duo-Art and Ampico fans are especially &Mukle, and most of the more obscure European or keen on medley rolls of his playing. (No replies chestrions such as those made by Kuhl & Klatt, were received from owners of Welte or other re Popper, Dienst, et~. I already have most of the producing systems.) Pop music buffs suggested scal~s for Phi IIips, Hupfeld, Gebr. Weber, Welte "Bebe," "Nancy," and "Nobody Knows What a Red Head and most American machines, as wei I as about 150 Marna •••" all on the Duo-Art. different band organ scales. Art Rebl itz, 3916 N. Azalea St., Colorado:Springs, CO 80907. NEW RECORDINGS of classical music coded for repro ducers are another dream at the moment, but not an impossible one. LISZT compositions were most often mentioned, but then two writers asked for "A Very ROLL SURVEY RESULTS Special Love" by Sammy Fain. BY NICK JARRETT One final suggestion: That particular attention be Many thanks to all those of you who sent in sug given those rolls, that, on a properly working piano, gestions and encouragement. Replies came from as sound as though they were being played by hand. far away as Australia and I want to thank all those who shared their views with me so freely. While several expressed dissapointment with the present offerings, many more positive suggestions were re- -~ - 4 - ~ q,"'.?t 'i;? Take a ride on the carousel .... -tr From THE BURLINGTON RECORD - August 19, 1976. It cost $1,250 in 1928 when the Kit Carson County Commissioners purchased the carousel from Elitch Gardens. In all The next time the carousel with its probability, residents of the county in 1928 Wurlitzer Military Band Organ is running, thought it was a tremendous amount to give yourself a treat.....go for a ride on one spend on a carousel. of the most unique pieces of heritage in Kit The last 48 years have proven the carousel Carson County. to be an outstanding purchase as it has been valued as hign as $1 million by appraisors. The carousel has 45 carved animals and 45 paintings which were deemed "magnificent" by John Pagzeba, a con sultant, conservator and appraisor of fine arts from Denver. It is the sixth of 89 manufactured carousels by the Philadelphia Toboggan Co., and there is only one other of the original six remaining today. The Military Band Organ by Wurlitzer, which has been completely restored, is the only one of its kind in existence today. Complete restoration of the carousel has been undertaken by the Kit Carson County Centennial-Bicentennial ::ommittee. Ex penditures to date have been: 1. $7,000 to restore the Military Band Organ by Wurlitzer. 2. $7,000 for the new steel siding around the carousel and a new roof. This was paid Art RebUn, Colorado Springs, has completely restored the Military ~nd Orpn on the for by the county commissioners. All other carousel. The project took months to complete as he had to hand make many parts that improvements have come through local were not working properly. donations and through a $5,000 grant from the Colorado Centennial-Bicentennial Commission. 3. Extensive landscaping around the facility, including a waterfall, underground sprinkler system, sod etc. More money is desperately needed by the county committee. Norma Pankratz of the county extension office stated they will need approximately $100,000 to restore the paintings and the hand carved animals. The committee is still selling Centennial jewelry and Heritage Cookbooks for funds. Donations may be left with Norma, Bob McClelland, Mabel Scheierman, or atanv of the banks in the county. Is it worth it? That is a difficult question tha t. obviously, has many answers. However, when one considers there are only two like it in the world... then it should be Kids pose with Ted Wickham, county commll"-r; Bob McClelland, chairman of the preserved and enjoyed by people of the area county Centennial·Bicentennial Committee; and John Pagzeba, appraisor and con for hundreds of years. sultant from Denver. The kids and adults love to ride it. During the county fair several weeks ago 3,824 in dividuals paid to ride the carousel over a POST SCRIPT TO THE ABOVE ARTICLE three day period, and there were an ad BY ART REBLITZ ditional 500 who rode free. (The first ride of each day is free.) El itch Gardens amusement park in Denver bought Phi ladelphia Tobaggan Company's carousel #6 in 1905. The original organ, if any, is unknown today. - 5 - Jnfernafional JlJJrJ8Jl In 1909 the Wurlitzer Monster organ #2453 was added. I chose to U5e high quality plywood for the wind Elitches sold the carousel and organ to the Kit chest tables and bottoms and poplar for everything Carson County (Colorado) Commissioners in 1928 when else inside the chests. (The cost of poplar alone, Elitches acquired their present carousel which is in rough 2" by 14' planks, was over $70 wholesale). still in use today, minus organ. The flat belt and small wooded pulleys connecting the two large crankshafts were replaced with chain Contrary to the above article, three Monster organs and sprockets upon recommendation of Mike Kitner, are known to exist today: #2453, complete with oak who restored Jim Wells' Monster, and who came to case and leaded glass windows (the subject of the the rescue for two weeks i"n Colorado Springs to present article); another, which has no cabinet (in help finish the organ in time for the county fair. the collection of Jim Wells, Fairfax, Virginia); and At about 2 AM on August 2, the organ was ready to a third instrument (also in the eastern U.S.). be loaded later that morning into an 18" Ryder truck in a cold heavy drizzle (the same storm, in The Monster was conceived by its designers to be a cidentally, which tragically flooded the Big Thomp barrel orgah··but #2453 was never fitted with a bar son Canyon in another part of the state) for use at rel. Instead, a vacuum valve chest and pneumatic the fair on August 3 - minus the drums and four deck. were installed in the cavity normally occupied ranks of piccolos, flageolets, viol ins and stopped by the barrel and tracker assembly, and an extra flutes, which were finished and installed shortly crankshaft for the vacuum pump was installed at the thereafter. end opposite the pressure pump, requiring a huge flat belt running across the width of the case. The actual rebuilding process was one of the most Because the bass pipes stand vertically in back of frustrating experiences of my life due to the pre~ the organ, instead of under the bottom, the spool box sures exerted by the Kit Carson County Attorney who had to be installed in front, hiding many of the kept reminding me that I had signed a contract beautiful brass clarinet pipes. Several bass pipes which specified a June 1 completion date. Neverthe had their toe holes plugged and had new holes drilled less, the whole project was worthwhile after hearing off to one side to accomodate long brass extension the large, incredibly loud, organ play like new and toes which put the pipes high enough to clear an ad seeing the expressions on the faces of the county ditional countershaft for driving the spoolbox. The residents who, for the past 45 years, had only been whole contraption (and contraption it is) ended up able to imagine how the organ once sounded. with six belts; motor to countershaft,-Countershaft to marn-(pressure pump) crankshaft, main crank to vacuum pump crank, main crank to mechanical snare drum driveshaft. The original spoolbox (still present in Jim Wells' Monster) had a 100-hole wooden THEATER ORGANS IN SAN DIEGO tracker bar and used style 155 rolls with indepen BY EVELYN MEEDER dent sections for trombones, basses, accompaniment, During a previous chapter meeting in the San Diego melody, trumpets and piccolos not unlike large area, Evelyn writes of an interesting side trip. Gavioli organs. Unfortunately, the original spool box in #2453 was replaced long ago with a standard •••Reading one of the San Diego tourist brochures we Wurlitzer 165 spoolbox, requiring the coupling of discovered a place called Organ Power Pizza. It the piccolos to the melody, the trombones to the sounded interesting so with map in hand and a bunch bass, and using perhaps only 80% of the pipes. of wrong turns we finally found the place at 5375 Kearny Villa Road. We knew we had the right place as In 1929 or 1930, after only a short year or two of the melodious sounds emanated from within. As we use by its new owners, the carousel building, organ walked through the door it was a sight to behold. and all, was filled bottom to top with grain, grass Here in front of us, up on a stage, was a large Wur hopper and rat poison, and other mundane necessities. litzer theater pipe organ. A young man by the name Subsequently the roof went bad and the organ was of Tommy Stark was playing up a storm. This partic water-soaked, some of the bass trumpet and trombone ular organ came from the Wilson Theater in Fresno, resonators and all the music rolls were stolen, California. It was installed at 'the Wilson Theater and according to local natives, it never uttered February 3, 1926 and used extensively to accompany another peep of music until August 1976. silent movies and occasional stage shows right up to the 60's. Organ Power Productions purchased the Restoration required many hundreds of hours of work organ in 1973 and, after its removal, had it completely and over $1000.00 worth of parts and materials. All restored to mint condition. of the bass pipes and many of the accompaniment pipes and piccolos had reverted to little piles of The restored instrument is comprised of 12 ranks of wooden pieces and the wind chests were cracked and pipes. It has well over 100 stops with a theoretical unglued beyond repair. As a result, the main wind potential of one million different tonal combinations. chest, containing 95 pallet valves and playing three The volume of sound is controlled by the swell shut ranks of pipes, and a 95-channel offset chest hold ters (in this case glass louvres in front of the pipes~ ing the other five ranks had to be built new. In which are operated by the organist's feet by means of light of the unheated location of the organ and the controls which are like car gas pedals. The pedal extremes of humidity to which it wi 11 besubjec.ted, keys are also operated by the feet, produce the bass - 6 - Jnfernafional JlJRJf8Jl notes and the thrilling foundation to the big pipe What you see before you' is the famous Foort Moller pipe organ ("Mighty Mo") in its entirety. all 50,000 pounds of it. Today, this instrument holds many organ sound. records: It has been played over 30,000 hours Half-way through the evening a young lad, 21 years It contains the world's largest scaled rank of tibia pipes It is the most traveled pipe organ in history old, by the name of Chris Gorsuch, took over at the It has been erected and dismantled over 180 times keyboard. Needless to say, we closed the joint up After over 25 years of international broadcasting it has been heard by more and then some, staying on and talking to Chris and people than any instrument in history It is the first 5-manual organ in San Diego and also is the first double organ his dad. Well, as usually happens, one thing led to installation in this city. another and Chris said, "You think this organ is It is the only 5 manual Moller theatre organ ever built. great, you haven't seen anything yet." He instructed us to stop in at the new Organ Power Pizza at 1165 The smalle'r, 2-manual WurliTzer organ was originally installed inthe Straod Theatre, Delaware, Ohio, in 1923. Removed from the theatre in 1961, 'the orga!'l Garnet Ave. at Pacific Beach the next day a take a was owned and installed by several owners in Columbus, Qhio; Kawanee, Illinois; look at what was happening there. and Gladstone, Missouri. Harry Rupf purchased and installed the instrument in Kansas City, Missouri in 1968. Organ Power Productions acquired 1IIe or!lBn in 1973. About noon of the following da1 we walked in the back The instrument can be played in solo or can be combined with several key door of this place crawling with workmen, plaster, boards on "Mighty MO", thereby combining the vast musical resources of both wood, wires, you name it. As we entered this gigantic organs. room of clutter and disarray we were stopped dead in our tracks. There in front of us sat Organ Power Anyone who is planning a trip to San Diego any time Pizza's "Mighty Mo." It was the largest organ I'd in the future be sure to take in these musical wonders. ever seen. On the right side of it was a smaller two manual Wurlitzer Organ, and to the left of it a Steck DUO-ART reproducing piano all hooked up together. I guess we just kinda stood there dumbfounded for a while catching our breath. Finally we edged up closer Jlmica Jorum to this mighty mass of wires, parts, and tubes with technicians busily putting everything together. The place was to have its grand opening in a few days. We were wondering if they ever made it. Any way, we can hardly wait to go back to San Diego to hear this masterpiece. Any Amican or organ lover please don't ROLL INFORMATION NEEDED ~ pass this place up if you are in San Diego. Dear Fellow AMICAns: The history of this great organ is as interesting as Will someone please give aid and comfort to your the organ itself: resident ignoramus? I am molto furioso, and only To illuminate the history of the falt:lous Foort Moller pipe organ, one should you can help. first know some of the background of its creator, Reginald Foort. Born and raised in England and schooled in the musical classics, Reggie, at an early age, Earlier. this year I heard a public performance of adopted the theatre pipe organ as his favorite instrument. In his career he has opened organs in over 42 new theatres. In 1935, he played a spectacular la-week a Brahms Intermezzo, Opus 117, No.2. In October engagement at the New York Paramount. Upon returning to England, he became I saw a PBS television repeat of Artur Rubinstein senior staff organist for the BBC (British Broadcasting Company). His name soon playing this same Intermezzo. It fascinated and became a household word throughout England and the rest of the world, wher ever the Overseas Service of the BBC beamed his familiar theme song, "Keep charmed me - it sounded like a movie theme, or Henry Smiling," over the wireless. He was England's most popular entertainer. Mancini, or some of both. Very contemporary, and I determined to learn to play it. After a number of years with the BBC, Foort decided upon the most daring instrumental venture in musical hiuory. He designed an enormous, five manual, 50,000 pound, theatre pipe organ that could be transported around I bought the G. Schirmer edition, had a go at it, England in five. huge. custom-built vans. In 1938, he engaged the M.P. Moller and the more I played it the better I loved it. And Company in the United States to build this one-of-a-kind musical wonder. now comes the maddening part: I found a Duo-Art It took a staff of 14 specialized technicians to keep Foort on the road with roll reposing on a back shelf of our collection, this amazing instrument, frequently playing one-night stands with barely enou!tl DA 6559, played by Harold Bauer, same opus and num time between concerts to dismantle the organ, move to the next theatre, and set up again. As World War II hit England, Reggie's concerts became increasingly ber, and the DA catalogue said it was in the key of risky. German incendiary bombs once hit and were burning in the loft above the B-flat minor, also true. But when I played it it stage where Foort was performing at the organ console. Quick action by the organ technicians avoided a panic and disaUer. Reggie never missed a note, com was the No. I in E-flat Major, which is the roll pleting the concert. listed just before the Bauer (page 23 in my catalogue) and it was played by Rudolph Reuter. Now, who or The BBC pipe organ was eventually obliterated by a direct bomb hit. Foort then offered them this famous Moller "portative," which they eagerly accepted. what played that number - Reuter or Bauer? I admit The organ was in constant service during all of the remaining war years. Foort that I can't tell. It's a slow, precise number, and his family then came to America as permanent residents. Frequent national which does nothing at all for me. but what I really radio concerts on the mammoth organ continued for the next 18 years featuring want to know is this: did the DA people know they hundreds of the worlds most renown artists until, in 1963, the Dutch govern got their opus numbers mixed up, or did I get a cut ment expressed a keen interest in "Mighty Mo" and purchased it. Once again the Foort organ was on the move, this time across the English channel to Hilver with the information of one roll and the punched sum, Holland, where it was used in concerts over NOS Dutch Radio. holes of another? In 1973, Organ Power Productions purchased "Mighty Mo" and brought it in containers on ship board back to the United States into the Moller factory for Surely more than one of you has this roll. Will a complete rebuild. someone please play theirs, and the Reuter one too, - 7 - ~olls and cJJrusic if they have it, and tell me if both are the same? I would appreciate an answer in the BULLETIN so STORY ROLLS we'll all know, if it's not inconvenient. BY BILL &DEE KAVOURAS Ampico #68671 - Deux Contes Op. 20 (Two Fairy Tales) Thanks to all of you who heed my plea. Holly Yeckley, No.1, B Flat Minor 612 Main Street, Castalia, Ohio 44824. Medtner played by Getrude Huntly Nicholas Medtner, the Russian composer, is consid PIANO ROLL REVIEW ered by many to be one of the greatest living masters BY DAN TUTTLE of music. His later works display the modern trend, but he is not unaware of the value of melody and 88-NOTE ROLLS ------pleasing harmonic progressions. This lovely piece, "Boo Hoo" -A foxtrot written by Edward Heyman, one of Two Fairy Tales is richly covered with romance, but the story it would tell is not of fragile, elfin Carmen Lombardo and John Jacob Loeb. Published by structure but one of greater circumstance - a tale Shapiro, Bernstein and Co. in 1937. This is a snappy foxtrot song which usually is featured every of golden argosies sailing the sea, perhaps the voy age of the Princess of a poet's dream, journeying New Years Eve at Guy Lombardo's New Year's Eve Party. with her retinue to meet her kingly spouse - highly Carmen Lombardo, Guy's brother, and one of the imaginitive and beautiful in every page of the love writers of the song, used to always sing the song ly music in which its poetic story is told. at the party until he passed away a few year~ ago. The roll is Imperial Song Record #09229 and 1S a very good version of a 1930's style song. Ampico #68351 - Bal Masque (Masked Ball) "Normandy" - This foxtrot song is written by Ilgenfritz Robinson and Britt and music published by Henry played by McNair Ilgenfritz Waterson, Inc. N.Y. in 1925. This Jewell Roll is. The ever delightful rhythm of the waltz brought to #4628 played by L. Bradley and is a re~l Jewe~l •. The arrangement is very full and uses Jazz tr1ll1ng the picturing of a brilliant ball, its personages for the melody. It is the opinion of the writer charmingly mysterious under their masques and dis- that this is the best arrangement of the song avail guises. The music is full of gaiety and festival '- able on roll. spirit and there is every now and then a suddenly checked enthusiasm as if expected recognition of one "Bow Wow Blues" - This is QRS roll #1766, a very of the masqued characters ended in dissapointment. nice foxtrot with words and music by Cliff Friend The waltz is superbly played by its composer. Pic and Nat Osborne. Copyright by Irving Berlin, Inc. turesque, delightfully arch and capricious it is an in 1921. This QRS roll is played by Pete Wendling unusually successful setting forth of all the roman- and being a blues song is played the way you would tic charm suggested by its title. expect Pete to play it - nothing less of excellent. The music is good and lyrics are also humorous such as "I used to be a lamb I vow, but woof, woof, woof, Ampico #68511 - Valse Charmante I'm a bull dog now, just because she treats me like Chenoweth played by Wilbur Chenoweth a dog." "Lonely Night" (Angel Face) - The roll is QRS #10-556 Mr. Chenoweth's waltz is indeed charming, and one may anticipate a great pleasure in hearing and pos played by Rudy Martin. ~fusic and ~ords writt~n by Neil Sedaka and published by Don K1rshner Mus1c, Inc. sessing this very unusual and graceful piece of work. in 1976. The song was recorded on record disc by. He has conceived contrasting themes of real beauty, and has embroidered and decked them with musical fil the composer, but was made popular w~en the Ca~ta~n and Tennille recorded it. The roll 1S fantast1c 1n agree and garlands that glisten and glow like jewels arrangement. I don't say this about many of Mr •. in the sunlight. It is a long time since so original Martin'·s rolls, but he really knew what he was d01ng and tasteful a concert waltz has been heard, and he on this one. The roll is not an exact copy of the has played his lovely piece most beautifully. Al record but can stand well on its own. Neil Sedaka, together it offers a recording of exceptional charm when first writing this song and first playing it and fascination. said it sounded terrible on the piano. It is a hard song to carry across on the piano, but Rudy STORY ROLLS Martin's talent showed through. BY MARK D, ZAHM Ampico #56643 - Berceuse (from "Jocelyn") Godard played by Andrei Kmita This exquisite selectio'n is the "Cradle Song" from - 8 - J!offs and cf!{usic .to..,--.. Godard's opera of "Jocelyn" and is the only number Frid.y, M.y 28, '1976, TIlE 'WASIDNGTON POST which has survived in an otherwise uninteresting ) work. Like all cradle songs it speaks a mother's love and tender care of her little one. Her heart is in every cadence of her lovely song, the spiritual THE DISTRICf LINEe beauty of which has endeared it to an ever widening circle of music lovers. It's popularity is evidenced ·.... · By' Bill Gold by the fact that it has been transcribed for almost A Song tlons In wording as it's passed along," every known solo instrument. he said. "Don't worry about It." And Its. Before I could get around to writing about my ch~t with Wayne, another let· Story ter about the song arrived. This one Ampico #50665 - Melody In F was from Caroline C. Simonson of Reading, Pa, She wrote: Rubinstein I reported to you recently that the "Having recently moved to Pennsyl played by Leo Ornstein grandmother of the world's greatest vania from Vienna, Va., we subscribe to grandchildren was dismayed to find The Washington. Post as a means of With what freshness and charm this lovely melody that they listen to country music. My keeping up with old friends, including comment was that there's nothing your column. I was Interested in your falls upon the ear! It comes like a song - without wrong with country music. 1 said one mention of 'The Baggage Car Ahead.' words to be sure, but instinct with an eloquence ought to enjoy all types of music "This ballad happens to be the true that only music knows and a tenderness inseparable from the classics to "The Baggage Car account of my great grandparents Ahead." (maternal) and their newborn daugh· from the telling of a romantic tale. The world has Why did 1happen to pick that tune? I ter. The father In the song was on a found it beautiful, and it will ever remain among reaIl6' don't know. It was just some· rallroad coach with a fretting baby, the brightest jewels that adorn music's crown of thing that seemed to me to typify the and was reproved by the other pas' kind of lowbrow folk tunes 1 used to sengers because of the baby's crying. favorite and unforgettable melodies. hear in Ohio, Kentucky and West Vir When somebody suggested that he ginia many years ago. take the baby ro its mother, he reo After I finished that column, 1 won plied, as the ballad relates, that he' dered whether anybody would recog· couldn't do this; the baby's mother Ampico #2093333 - (I'm In Heaven When I See You Smile) nize the song or know what type of was dead In the baggage. car ahead. DIANE. Song F major music it represents. "My mother told me the story when I Rapee-Po 11 ack 1 needn't have wondered. Seven or WliS very young. Later I read an article played by Adam Carroll eight letters arrived at once.to in· 'in a Syracuse newspaper that named form me I had goofed. It's not "The my grandmother, NeUle Munson Rice Baggage Car Ahead" but "The Bag· of 319 Erie St., Syracuse, as the baby. All who have seen the film version of that delightful gage Coach Ahead," they s.aid. "While we lived In Vienna, a neigh· play "The Seventh Heaven" will recall this theme song I phoned the music division of the Li bor acqUired a collection of player brary of Congress and put my question piano rolls - anti the ballad 'The Bag· which makes even more touching the romance of its to reference librarian Wayne Shirley. gage Car Ahead' was among them. delicately told story. Its charm, however, is such "The correct title," he said at once, "is "I shall share your column and that it needs no knowledge of the drama to make its 'In The Baggage Coach Ahead.' You'll your mention of the song with my. find the words printed in 'Music of mother. I'm sure she'll be glad to effect and it will be welcomed also by those who have Black America' because it was written know that the song and the story are not heard it in its place in Will iam Fox's popular by Gussie L. Davis, who was black, and still remembered." film production. also male, inddentally, despite tbat first name. The song is also in 'Favorite POSTSCRIPT Songs of the Nineties,' which was ed Incidentally, if you're intere!ited in ited by Robert A. Fremont and pub· music and occasionally want to check For the benefit of our newer members to AMICA the Iished in paperback by Dover." on facts relating to it, you might want "Story Rolls" reprinted are actually taken from "You have to be putting me on," 1 to clip and save what follows: said. "Do you mean to say you knew all John Newsom, head of the refer certain Ampico rolls which include descriptive infor that orf the top of your head, without ence section of the music division, mation as to the music or the recording artist on the even looking anything uP?" tells me you can reach a reference roll leader. We have been reprinting these for about Wayne langhed. "I can't answer too librarian by dialing 426-5504 between many questions that glibly," he said. 8:30 and 5 on weekdays. The Library a year and will continue to do so as long as there "It just happens th.at I collect this of Congress welcomes calls from the "seems to be an interest and as long as members send sort of music and that the lyrics to public and does its best to answer all in a copy of the text for us to publish. TB 'Baggage Coach' are pretty potent questions. stuff. Once Y1lU hear them, you're not "Our reading room is also open from likely to forget th.em real soon." 8:30 to 5 on Saturdays," New&om said, ''True,'' I said. "But how come 1 re '''but please ask your readers not to member it as 'Baggage Car' instead of phone on Saturdays. That's our busiest 'Baggage Coach'?" day, and we just don't have the staff to "Folk music develops minor varia- cope with calls on that day." DISTRICT LINE ARTICLE FOLLOW-UP BY JOHN R. GRANT After reading Bill Gold's article I became curious about the subject roll and, not finding it in my collection, prevailed upon Dick Dahlberg to loan me his copy for reviewing purposes. Considering the somber message of the story I was a little surprised when the roll started out in lively Ab Major. But, come to think of it, I guess minor keys are usually reserved for classical music as far as piano rolls - 9 - ~olls and cJ!(usic rBalilornia are concerned. A melancholy tone is conveyed by the playing style of Osborne &Howe whTCh recalls the OCTOBER MEETING AT THE MCCOYS - SANTA CLARA "pathos" themes of silent movies' "sad" scenes. BY DIANE LILLIBRIDGE This is characterized by the trilling octaves which can be seen (if not heard) in my photograph of the We, the members of the Northern California Chapter roll's climax line. Following is the full lyric. of AMICA met once again at the home of Phil and Although the meter of the words seems to be irregular Phyliss McCoy who have to be one of the most hospit when read aloud, it flows quite smoothly with the able couple in our chapter. (Or maybe Phyliss just music. likes to show off her exceptional baking abilities!) As usual, a wide choice and array of tantalizing "IN THE BAGGAGE COACH AHEAD" desserts graced the lovely old dining room table. QRS 2574, Blue Bird Ballad Series, Marimba Waltz, Key of Ab words and music by Gussie L. Davis, played by Osborne &Howe. Verse 1 On a dark storm- (sic) night, as the train rolled on, All the passengers had gone to bed, Except one young man with a babe in his arms, Who sat there with a bowed-down head. The innocent one began crying just then, As though its poor heart would break, One angry man said, make that child stop its noise, For it's keeping all of us awake. Put it out said another, don't keep it in here, We've paid for our berths and want rest; But never a word said the man with the child, As he fondled it close to his breast. Phil and the Goldfarbs discuss a disc recording. Where is its mother? Go take it to her, This a-lady then softly said. Phil is always where we can find him - behind the bar I wish that I could, was the man's sad reply, dispensing the liquid refreshments and Paul, their But she's dead, in the coach ahead. son, was busy putting on and taking off the rolls of two pianos - that's talent! Chorus While the train rolled onward a husband sat in tears, The 1926 Fischer Ampico living room grand is super. Thinking of the happiness, of just a few short years. Beautiful sounds eminate from it and the family room For Baby's face brings pictures of a cherished hope that's dead. But Baby's cries can't waken her in the baggage coach ahead. Verse 2 Ev'ry eye filled with tears; when his story he told, Of a wife who was faithful and true, He told how he'd saved all his earnings for years, Just to build up a home for two. How, when Heaven had sent them this sweet little babe, Their young happy lives were blessed. His heart seemed to break when he mentioned her name, And in tears tried to tell them the rest. Ev'ry woman arose to assist with the child, There were mothers and wives on that train, And soon was the little one sleeping in peace, with no tho't of sorrow or pain; Next morn at a station he bade all goodbye; God bless you softly he said; Each one had a story to tell in the home, Of the baggage coach ahead. Chorus Dick Reutlinger and Bob Whitely by the Fischer Ampico. (Repeat) - 10 - eafi[ornia produces music fro~ a 1927 Cable expression reproducer Now we have to find Paul another place to sleep model P.W. upright. Newest addition to the McCoy when a funeral organ moves into your bedroom there collection is a Reproduco funeral organ recently is no direction to go but out! purchased fro~ the Bartlett collection (It's found a good home Bob!). Many me~bers attended from both sides of the Bay plus San Francisco. Sally Lawrence was there drum ming up business for the forthcoming AMICA Convention to be held in San Francisco September '77. Howie, Iz and f'fel were observed with the \'ihiteleys in the serene Tea House overlooking a pond in the fantas tically landscaped back yard of the McCoys - not drinking tea I might add! - and possibly discussing the anticipated annual Christmas party or "Golden Ankl es '" birthday or "health", any or all. Best wishes to the McCoys along with our many thanks. A splendid evening! NOVEMBER MEETING AT THE LLOYD'S IN WOODSIDE BY DIANE LILLIBRIDGE On November 20 we members of the Northern California Chapter of AMICA had a chance to see and hear the four manual, 56 rank (over 4,000 pipes) Kilgen re producing pipe organ located in the Jackling mansion in Woodside. The organ is one of the largest re producing pipe organs west of the Mississippi. It is installed in a "live" room some 25 feet wide, 75 feet long and with a 15 foot high ceiling. The orqan is unique in that it remains today as installed by Margaret Carroll, Phyliss McCoy, Diane Lillibridge and Dale Lawrence in the Tea House. Mel Luchetti explaining the workings of the organ. the Kilgen Co in 1938. The voicing and finishing has not been changed. This affords an opportunity to hear an organ that has not been "modernized", revoiced or "Bachized." The organ has 2 reproducing players - an Aeolian Duo-Art and a Kilgen Dual Con trol. The organ has been restored and maintained by Jim Crank.* Recently the Duo-Art was restored by Mel Luchetti and all the stops now operate. The ex tremely sensitive tracking system is now also op erating properly and all rolls can now be played. Sally Lawrence establishing aid for the Convention. The program started with a demonstration by world- - 11 - fBali[ornia famous Dr. Fred Tulan from Stockton, California. Dr. Tulan has played concerts on major pipe organs here and abroad including Notre Dame, Paris; St. Paul's, London; St. John the Divine, New York; National Ca thedral, Washington D.C.; and St. Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco. His St. t1ary's concert won highest critical acclaim and was chosen as the outstanding musical event of the year by the combined San Fran cisco critics. Dr. Fred Tulan at the console. Dr. Tulan demonstrated various organ voices and uses of the organ using classical, show tunes, and salon music. He also demonstrated the difference between romantic and classical voiced organs and how the Kilgen (top) and Duo-Art (with roll) player Jackling organ was an excellent example of an or mechanisms. chestral organ. * A comprehensive historical and technical study After Dr. Tulan's contribution to the program, we on this organ by Jim Crank will appear in a forth saw a 1934 travelog film depicting an automatic coming issue of the Bulletin. musical in SWitzerland. Also some of Thomas Edison's work with phonographs - excellent. As various members of AMICA as well as their guests DECEMBER MEETING - RICHARD REUTLINGER'S from the Musical Box Society wined and dined, selec VICTORIAN SPLENDOR IN SAN FRANCISCO tions chosen from the vast library of rolls were BY DIANE LILLIBRIDGE played and the "Nights of Gladness Waltz" produced mapy couples dancing on the ballroom floor - oh, The brisk winter evenings of San Francisco kept very such gaiety! few of the members of the Northern California Chapter of AMICA home by the fires - instead they chose to re-enter the past by attending the ever-famous, ever - 12 - d. enjoyable Christmas Party at Dick's. the other furnishings date from the period of the re producing piano. A midnight supper preceeded by a gift exchange. A movie of Charlie Chaplin in "The Drunkard" in the theater below (accompanied by Mel Luchetti on the American photoplayer) and many trips to the punch bowl enhanced the gathering of so many good people. Happy New Year - we're looking forward to seeing all of you, we hope, at the upcoming Convention. Think San Francisco! BANISTERS HOST OCTOBER MEETING BY BILL TOEPPE The AMICA Southern California Chapter held its October meeting at the home of Reece and Terry Fischer studio baby Ampico AlB (oriental art case Banister on Saturday, 23 October 1976, from 2:00 to upright) • 5:00 pm. The piano house is modern construction with the in terior styled in the period when the reproducing pianos were popular. The piano house contains a Weber WR Duo-Art grand, a late Fischer upright Ampico A in an oriental art case, and a 1918 Angelus upright Artrio reproducing piano. The piano house also con tains a foot-pumper upright player and an Aeolian Orchestrelle. The piano house also contains the workshop where the Banisters do their restoration work. Reece Banister at the 1924 Marshall & Wendell Ampico A. The Banister brothers live in their grandparents' former home in south-east Riverside, California. The house was in existence in 1893. In the house itself are a 1927 Chickering 5-foot, 8-inch Ampico A grand and a 1912 Hehlin & Sons upright Welte-Mignon. The house shows the general modernizing which took place over the years. (The house has electric lights and indoor plumbing, but is heated with a pot-bellied furnace.) Some of the electric lights are from the Terry Banister at the 1909 Apollo upright pumper. period just following the gas-light era. Many of - 13 - &. Balilornia Mary Lilien and hosts Dick and Millie Rigg. 1918 Angelus upright Artrio. Photos by Evelyn Meeder. RIGGS HOST CHRISTMAS MEETING BY BILL TOEPPE The AMICA Southern California Chapter held its annual Christmas party at the home of Dick Rigg and Millie Rigg in La Habra, California. A short business meet ing was included for annual election of chapter The meeting chairman asked three times for nominations from the floor. There were none. F. Cherney moved that nominations be closed and that the secretary be instructed to cast one white unanimous ballot for the publ ished slate. The motion was seconded and was passed unanimously. The slate was declared elected. There being no further business, the meeting was ad journed and the guests returned to the festivities. officers. In the absence of both the chapter pres ident and vice president, host Dick Rigg chaired the meeting. Nominations Committee Chairman, Mary Lilien, advised the published slate of officers applied: President Prentiss Knowlton Vice President Ell iott Lacy Treasurer Lewi s Troffer Secretary Evelyn Meeder Reporter Bi 11 Toeppe - - "" ~ 8._ (Balilor/lia c!lexas - - = =: loaned to Bill by Dick Barnes and the Ampico version will soon be available to members from Frank Adams, according to Dr. Flynt. Jack Perry tries out the Marshall & Wendell. The guests were entertained by music from the Mar shall and Wendell baby grand Ampico A and the Violano Virtuoso as well as several music boxes. The meet ing culminated with an exchange which was restricted AMICA-Texas 1977 officers 1. to r., Dick Barnes, to musical related gifts of great extrinsic if nom James Guinn, Tony Palmer, Haden Vandiver. Not ina lint r i ns i c va I ue. pictured - Steve Chapman. - c!le-ras - ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY AT THE ARMSTRONGS' BY JAMES GUINN The Christmas dinner meeting of AMICA-Texas was hos ted by Dr. and Mrs. John Armstrong of Fort Worth. Saturday afternoon, December 18, found about thirty members and guests on hand for a most enjoyable even t. The Armstrong collection includes a 14-rank Aeolian Duo-Art pipe organ whose player mechanism is still The Armstrongs replenishing the punch. undergoing restoration, a 1917 Knabe Ampico A grand piano of 6' 5" size, a Mills Violano Virtuoso, a Regina Corona automatic music box which plays 27" Officers for 1977 were elected during the business discs, a Concert Roller Organ, a Mojon Manger music meeting. The president will be Dr. Anthony Palmer box with interchangeable 6-tune cylinders and match of Arlington. James Guinn will be vice-president, ing table, and a Hupfeld orchestrion. We heard the Haden Vandiver secretary-treasurer, Steve Chapman Violano in a rendition of the Sextette from "Lucia board representative, and Richard E. Barnes bulletin di Lammermoor," by Donizetti. The Mojon Manger box reporter. played "Annie Laurie," and the Knabe Ampico gave a noble performance of Mendelssohn's "Fingal's Cave" A delicious dinner of ham, beef brisket, sweet po Overture, which Bill Flynt has recently converted tatoes, green beans, fruit salad, and assorted rel from the Duo-Art roll played by Hutcheson and Ganz. ishes was enjoyed by all. All of this good food was The original Duo-Art roll for the conversion was followed with outstanding desserts of chocolate cake, - 15 - crezas white cake, mincemeat tarts, and Claire Armstrong's two extended meetings which could be attended by delectable chocolate mousse. Mrs. Frances Vandiver our members in Houston, San Antonio, and other towns made the fruit salad and co-hosted with Haden. We and cities which are located many miles from Dallas also enjoyed being in the Armstrongs' 1929 Spanish and Fort Worth. style home, with its two-story living room providing a balcony for the pipe organ chamber, and its beau tiful stained glass windows and spacious rooms. Thanks to the Armstrongs for their hospitality and to Mrs. Vandiver and Haden and the Bert Ploniens for helping out with the meal. Host John Armstrong chats with Linda and Richard Claytor. - - Dick Barnes, Noble Stidham and Bill Flynt discuss cJJ(idwesf a perforation project. AL COOPERMAN HOSTS DECEMBER MEET BY MOLLY YECKLEY Al Cooperman was kind enough to give us all brief respite from gift lists, Christmas cards, and all the holiday razzle-dazzle and hustle and bustle with a morning meeting and lavish lunch in Toledo, Ohio, on 12 December 1976. The weather was semi-disgusting, an Ohio habit this time of year, and the cul-de-sac (or do I mean key hole?) drive that is Bronson Place was covered with ice and a real challenge to all of us. We perser vered and were welcomed into AI's late-teens home with the latticed porch. A sharp left turn brought us into a large living room resplendent with three grand pianos. A Symphonique, and back-to-back with it, a 1932 Stroud Duo-Art, and across the room a 1929 Chickering Ampico "B." And Al hasn't had the Symphonique too awfully long, and I'm not sure what Mills Violano in the Armstrong collection. year he said it was. The house was subtly decorated for the holidays, with garlands winding 'round a living room pillar, but being true, dedicated We.·are looking forward to 1977's meetings, which Arnicans, I doubt we noticed it much, not wanting to probably wi 11 incl ude at least one weekend event. take our eyes off the pianos! Tom Beckett made the suggestion that we have one or - 16 - posed amendments will be sent to all chapter mem bers and we will vote upon them at the next meeting. We adjourned at about noon. But let me get on to the social part! We had a guest from Michigan and four from Ohio, and Al Cooperman's friendly, neighborhood piano technician among us, so between quizzing all three and com plimenting Francis Adams on his fine tuning (no pun intended) we had much socializing to do. Al provided us with drinks and mix, pink and green punches, "untidy Josephs" and sliced ham, surrounded by po tato and macaroni salads and one of those divine, fattening icy-cold fruit salads simply swimming in whipped cream, maraschino cherries, pineapple, etc. you know the sort? and I not only ate, I over-ate. Standing, 1. to r. John Snyder, Francis Adams (back to camera), Bob Elder (partially hidden), and Carl and A1 Theil. Seated at the piano, Bennett Leedy. On sofa, Marv Moeckly, Lee Yeckley, and guest "Mac" McCoy. I was especially taken with the shawls draped over the pianos, a pink Spanish one with fringe a foot long taking my eye. If it wouldn't have been so ob viously-missing, I would have left the meeting with a "hasty-lavista" and a shawl flung over my coat. Where did you find these gems, AI? So, on to the meeting. The weather, being touch and-go, prevented some members from venturing out, so we failed to have a quorum by two people and postponed our election of officers until the March L. to r., Leilani and Don Leik, A1 Theil and his meet in Cleveland, but those of us present did dis son Carl. cuss other business, the main concern being an amend ment to the chapter bylaws. A notice of these pro- We played all sorts of rolls on all three pianos and Al showed some of the guys a neat trick to get the Symphonique to play SS-note rolls at much louder levels than the usual pussy-foot renditition. Aha! It must have been a Model "B" or it wouldn't have posed the problem. So, I will leave you dangling with my usual expertise (thank AMICA for providing us with Kuharski, Torkelson and assorted other REAL experts to offset the dummies like me) because I don't remember what he did. You all probably know anyway, and I'm the only one who doesn't know the trick. AI, how about an article explaining all, ha-ha? We listened to many rolls of all sorts, that being the general purpose of the get-together, and I found out after we pulled reluctantly away that Francis Adams played for the group, and very, very well. I'm sorry we missed it. We firmed up our plans for the meetings in 1977 and it will be obvious when you read them that we had more Michigan thaQ Ohio people with us; three Members and guests enjoy A1's culinary delights. out of four meetings will be in Michigan in 1977. - 17 - Our March meeting will be in Cleveland, Ohio, where Don and Leilani Leik have added to their collection the Musical Box Society has invited AMICA to join since we last saw them; a grand baby. No, I didn't in the opening festivities of the Western Reserve transpose those words ..• his name is Jonathon Andrew Historical Society's instrument display. MBS's Leik and he was the Leik contribution to the bicen headquarters for this event will be Park Plaza, tennial, born 5 July, 1976. near University Circle. We Amicans will begin our festivities with open house at Jim and Sue Worgull's Last and certainly not least, I wish to thank Al in Euclid, Ohio, from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March Cooperman and his friend Carl Blair for hosting a ~. There is a reception at the WRHS from 5:30 to meeting in Toledo. It takes a lot of effort to 7:30 p.m. and a dinner Saturday night after the re plan for such a nice affair, and we all appreciate ception at the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum. AMICA the time and trouble you went to. I mentioned be will have a continental breakfast at 10:30 a.m. on fore that Bronson Place is sort of a cul-de-sac or Sunday, with the business meeting to follow, at the keyhole street, and it was for us that Sunday a home of Jim and Ede Prendergast in Highland Heights, musical and culinary delight, with the added at Ohio. I strongly suggest that, if you plan to at traction of good friends, genuinely nice people, tend, you get in touch with Jim Prendergast, 1040 and a chapter president who CARES. Oakview Drive, Highland Heights, Ohio, 44143, tele phone 216-442-4779, to finalize your plans. Jim is in charge of many MBS operations for this Big MIDWEST SCHEDULE Event and is capable of juggling two hats, which he will probably kill me for saying! It's just that March 5 &6 Cleveland. Chapter members will he knows the most about both groups. receive notification of specifics, others please contact Jim We would like to urge that you pay your chapter dues Prendergast. if you haven't already done so because we have a great line-up of meetings for the entire year. In June 25 and/or 26 Jim Weisenborne, Rochester, June we will get to hear Jim Weisenborne's Moller Michigan. organ, plus one or two pianos he has just purchased and which I will leave for him to tell you all about, October 22 &23 Bennett Leedy, Middelton, and in October we can boggle each other's minds over Michigan. the San Francisco convention many will have attended, plus hear Bennett Leedy's Welte, Ampico, Duo-Art and December 2 & 3 Don and Leilani Leik, Milliken, other instruments at the meeting he will host, then Michigan. in December we will meet with Don and Leilani Leik, also in Michigan, to hear their fine collection of pianos. These will all be two-day meetings in 1977, so plan now to attend them. The dates are published elsewhere in the Bulletin and they are always sub ject to change for various reasons, but we would dRiladelpllia like you all to know that we think we have a great AMICA year lined up for you and we urge you to join in it with us. PHILADELPHIA CHAPTER NOVEI~BER ~IEETING BY BILL PILGERMAYER A fall meeting with a real down-home flavor was just what members were treated to at the charming country home of Jeff Kaiser in Sumneytown, Pennsylvania on Sunday, November 21st. Although it was the last meeting to be held here, due to the sale of the property, Jeff promised bigger and better things at his new homestead just a short distance away. There were two words that described the day - Charm and Excitement. The charm was fortified by the rustic atmosphere and the fact that every room had its own wood stove. The living room has a beautiful fireplace and a large Last to feed is Molly - or is that a second visit picture window overlooking a pond. Quite a setting. to the buffet? - 18 - r1'RiladelpRia The excitement, of course, was the birth of the Steinway "KR" Duo-Art. Jeff did what many of us have thought ahout but were discouraged by the magnitude of such an undertaking. He started the project by finding the best piano he could obtain, a beautiful 7 foot Steinway B, built in 1910, and had it moved to the Trefz Piano Company in Philadelphia. Stage one in the creative process I,as now underway. Edwin Trefz of the Trefz Piano Co., a master at sound board and case work, 'vent to work extending the case to make room for the Duo-Art mechanism. A new set of keys and key bed had to be built. The piano was then regulated and refinished. The Steinway was transformed from a "B" to a "K." Quite a turnout on a cool autumn dayl Stroud 65-88 note player against a wall decorated in early QRS. Stage two now was in order. The "R" would be added Model KR Duo-Art spoolbox made up of mostly model at Jeff's home. An exact copy of the early Duo-Art B Ampico parts. Music rack and spoolbox covers are stack was made from scratch. The three different new o sizes of pneumatics were used but Jeff chose round valve seats instead of the cross type. The standard Duo-Art accordion expression system was used, except for a unique innovation .- the "K" reservoir, also knOl-lI1 as the "K"a iser reservior. This is tubed in between the modulator and accordion valve block. Those accordions really snap. The spool box and upper action parts are mostly model B Arnpico. All controls are in the spoolbox as in the late Duo-Art grands. All tubing is on junction blocks enabling the piano action to be removed in about three minutes for touch-up regulation. Yes, I must admit, I wondered if all the effort was worth it, hut now that I have seen and heard, I believe. Jeff is proud of his accomplishment and he should be for now he has the only Steinway KR Duo Art in the world! It was said that the following was found scratched on a piece of paper in a cookie jar behind the stove: L. to R.: Ron Swanson and Bob Molesworth engage in horsetrading while Edwin and Mrs. Trefz just relax. - 19 - &'RiladelpRia I t'r----. Recipe for Steinway "K"R Duo-Art one - finest Steinway B you can find one - Jeff "K"aiser one - Edwin Trefz one - bushel of model B Ampico and Duo-Art parts one - can inspiration one - cup of dreams Work carefully together and continuously for two years at all temperatures. Receipe makes unlimited servings of beautiful music. What could be more cozy on a cold winter's night? A sheet of ragtime music, a Leabarjan perforator and a red-hot old-time wood stove. LIVE MUSICAL PROGRAM AT JEFF DEPP'S BY JIM BREWER Members held captive by the new Steinway KR's rich tone. The SOWNY Chapter of AMICA called it's meeting to order Saturday, November 13, at 8:00 P.M. at the residence of Jeffery Depp in Lockport, New York. The main business was the nomination of officers. The nominations were as follows: Board Rep. - Dave Gaudieri President Stan Aldridge Vice Pres. - Chuck Hannen Treasurer Tom Zorn Secrerary Stella Gilbert Janet Drewniak Reporter Jim Brewer Jeff Kaiser plays rolls for the mini-concert portion of the meeting entitled "Americana classics - fron tier style." Congratulations are in order for the new officers for 1977. President Donald Wood Vice President Larry Cornell Secretary Barbara Macartney Treasurer Doris Berry L. to R.: "Bud" Hattioli, Jeffery Depp, and Paula Reporter Dick ~1erri 11 Dorrell at the piano. - 20 - cfJ(ounfain Election forms wi II be sent to all ch?~ter members. ~lith the business formalities over, t~,ere was a so cial hour before the entertainment. Jeff had ar ranged a musical program with several local musicians. Starting out was Laverne Griffith, who played two violin solos by Kreisler. We then went to a vocal solo, a beautiful hymn, sung by Laverne's talented wife Pat. Next on the program was Mozart's "Sonata No. I; K. 304." expertly interpreted by Paula Dorrall on the violin. Jeff proved to be a very able accom paniest throughout the entire program. The grand finale was a trio, violin, viola, and piano, per forming Hoagy Carmichael's "One Morning in May." L. to R.: Host R. Moore putting a roll on his Kim ball-Welte while Peter and Barbara Levine, Anita Johnson, Dick Hull and Roy Garish await the "tune."! Robert Moore hosted the meeting which was attended by practically the full membership. After much discus sion and fun making, the business meeting got under way with election of Officers: Robert Moore, Pres ident; Sharon and Carl Paetzold. Secretary and Trea urer; Mrs. Toni Hart, Board Representative and James Bratton, Reporter. Dues were set at five dollars a membership for the following year. Fred Buckwald at the Brombeck Recorda. Setting meeting dates during our unpredictable winter months posed the biggest problem. So, after much Jeffs capabilities in restoring pianos was clearly in debating, the following Sundays at 2:30 pm were ac evidence that evening. His Recordo was operating cepted: 22 March 1977 at the Levine's; 22 May at well with terrific expression. Unfortunately, his James Bratton's; 9 October (open); and 11 December Ampico was justa bit short of completion, but this did not put a "damper" on the evening. Seeing all the work Jeff is doing. he has made a great deal of progress in a very short amount of time. All in all, some twenty-five members were in atten dance. We are all looking forward to the Christmas party to be held at the Drewniak's December 18th. -- FIRST OFFICIAL MEETING FOR ROCKY MOUNTAIN BY JAMES M. BRATTON The first official meeting of the Rocky Mountain Chapter, newest of the AMICA Chapters. was held Sunday, October 31st. Bob Moore's Steinway Duo-Art upright. - 21 - cJl(ounfain to. doing the Brahms Hungarian Dance No.5 in F sharp Christmas party (open). Of course, all of these are minor. Then to polish off the event, he played the subject to changel first part of the Mozart two piano Sonata in D major, K. 448, on the Steinway Duo-Art while the second piano part was played on the M & H Ampico by Maurice Dumesnil. Getting back to the Halloween meeting, Bob Moore pro vided an ample table of "witchy" goodies and an open bar. Around the "witches spread' 1. to r. are: Art Reblitz, Steve Johnson, Bob Moore, and Dick Kroeckel. The RM Chapter has held several "unofficial" meetings in the past. One of those meetings will be re-created in May. James Bratton will again host Prof. Theodor Lichtmann, head of the Piano Department at the Uni Having a Iittle "show and tell" are 1. to r.: versity of Denver. Last year the group met at his Larry Kerecman, Roy Gorish, Don Belshaw, Art home and were stunned by the performances of this Reblitz and Dick Kroekel. Swiss concert pianist. He performed: the Beethoven piano duet, Sonata in D major, Opus 6 with H. Bauer on the Weber Duo-Art grand. On the Mason and Hamlin Ampico he "battled" wits with Mme. Storkow-Ryder Members had a chance to enjoy his Kimball-Welte (which had just had a new set of hammers and an action reg ulation) in the upstairs living room. In the lower level living room others listened to the Steinway Duo Art upright and the Kimball player organ. As members & guests had come from allover the state, most departed at a rather early hour, after having a delightful first official meeting of our new chapter. COVER CORRECTIONS For those of you who would like to revise your December BULLETIN cover to the correct numbers, the incorrect print may be easily removed with a regular pencil eraser and properly replaced with a fine tip black ink pen. The cover paper for this particular issue has a more "glazed" finish than the regular jacket which makes this revision possible. The Kimball player organ at R. Moore's. - 22 - c1'ecRnicalifies TO CRE5CENOO VALVE • AMPICO PNEUMATIC ACTION - 1929 (""b tQUALIZER BY ALF E. WEROLIN Recently in going through some files of my dad's technical papers and patents, I came across a set of twenty-two cross section drawings of the various mechanisms which comprise the model B Ampico. The folder is headed; "New Ampico Pneumatic Action 1928-1929." At that time my father was General Man ager of Ampico's Service Division in New York City. This division was responsible for servicing Ampicos which had been sold; conducting training programs to instruct piano technicians throughout the country in the intricacies of the Ampico; and for installing the Ampico mechanism in privately owned pianos. .' It is possible that these drawings were used in the :1 1 'i•.,.""" ... I I~' H- CRESCENDO I:>NEUMATIC Ampico training schools, or were intended for use in '" I Ii -I-TRIGGER PNEUMATIC \,\ '.. ", II,.lC-6FtlO"."" ."", " !IJ-TR1GGER A.RM a service manual.* In any event the drawings clearly ,," O·CUA'TAIN \ K - PIN \ I, 1[-WOOO ~TRIP \L -PIN show the interior construction of the various mech , ' 'i IF'-SL[f',If. ~EU"'ATIC ',1'1 -CONNECTING ROD anisms, and indicate the proper connections which ~ e-'TO EQUAL.IZER \ N &0 - LUGS should be made. Thus they may be of value to the SPILL VALVE. CRESCENDO &, AMPLIFIER technical minded collector in restoring or rebuilding ~I' Incidentally, in the February/March 1974 issue of the AMICA Bulletin there are reproduced a series of sketches of Ampico mechanisms drawn by W. A. Forgey who apparently was a student in one of the Ampico training schools. These sketches are dated January, TO CUT-OUT PALLET *3 ~ 1926 and pertain to the model A Ampico. According BASS REGULATOR SUPPLY to my dad's list of Ampico School graduates, Hr. BASS REGULATOR POUCH Forgey lived in Los Angeles, was in the employ of a piano dealer in that city and graduated in January, UJ.I::ll-t-TREBLE REGULATOR POUCH 1926 with honors. ~a.'I--::;;o'=-- PEDAL REGULATOR SUPPLY DRAWER SUPPLY '---TREBLE REGULATOR SUPPLY * The 1929 Ampico B Service Manual, complete with many of these drawings plus explanatory text is ______TO TEST BLOC ~ available through vestal Press, PO Box 97, Vestal, o PUMP New York 13850. ~!l:::::::t:I----SPILL VALVE CONTROL EQUALIZER & ACT10N CUT-OUT BLOCK PEDAL SUCTION SUPPLY SKETCH NO.3 SHIFTER BLOCK SHIFTER ROD ~ TRACKER EARS TROD ~_.. CURTAIN SLEEVE PNEUMATI C TRACKING SYSTEM PUMP PRESSURE SKETCH N~ 18 PEDAL REGULATOR - SKETCH N~ 4 - 23 - J'ecRnicatifies SWITCH PNEUMATIC ~... ~ REPE.AT ·Off" RE.PE.AT "0/'1" REROLL SPEED PNEUMATC DRAwER DIAGRAM SKETCH N°. 14 ·55 CONSTRICTION MUSIC ROLL BRAKE SKETCH "~17 I i i !/ iA MElALUC CUP ~~;:t~OC;>LLARS I IB GOVERNOR WEIGHTS "" I L C PIVOT PINS BRAKE LEVER 1iI"'1~i-iH[l----- BRAKE SHOE l 0 GOVERNOR ARMS !E CONTACT ROO F TEMPO AOJUSTING NUT ELECTRIc CON.TACTS H REROLL ADJUSTIN5 SCREW I TEMPO SPRING TEMPO CAM K LEVE~ ARM SHAfT REPEAT BRAKE MOTOR GOVERNOR PRINCIPAL RESISTANCE SKETCH N~ 20 SKETCH N° 15 SKETCH Hl! OZI - 24 - ~ecRnicalilie8 SPILL VALVE &. CRESCENDO PEDAL PRES. RE~---.L....lr---'-_--=--.c---,------L.~ P":::.>rr--J] CIllJO Pl'DAL VAL? PUMP AMPICO PNEUMATIC ACTION 1929 TRACKER BAR FIXED CONSTRICTION -+.....:J-~'T1l.,...'W---.f BASS END BEARING PLATE SKETCH N.'9 TO LOUD PEDAL PNEUMATIC ATMOSPH~> PNEUMA.TIC-"L'--~~~31~!~~~~~~~: SUPPLY TO CRE.SCENDO • TRACKER BAR -! CRESCENDO VALVE: SKETCH N° 8 LOUD &. 50FT PEDAL VALVES SKE - 25 - ~ecRnicalifie8 o o n.. ~ 4 =o· Z z: ~ ILl CLOTH F"ILTER x: # 70 8LEEO Cf) BALL COVERING #eo BLEED SUCTION SUPPLV ~.-----' TO STRIKER PNEUMATIC -----' L TO TRACKER BAR INTENSITY VALVE BLOCK 5KETCH N· 7 BALL UNIT VALVE. - 26 - ~ecRnicalifie8 FROM TREBLE EXPRESSION UNIT. TO PUMP SUCTION SUPPLY THROUGH AN ADJUSTABLE CONSTRICTION TO PUMP SUCTION SUPPLY CHAMBER A CLOTH FILTER TO ACTION WINO CHEST ..J TO ATMOSPHERE THROUGH L....-_. TO #6 EXPRESSION VALVE *I-ADJUSTOR BLOCK '------. TO ATMOSPHERE EXPRESSION CONTROL POUCH l CONSTRICTION E POUCH CHAMBER C ACTiON SP\LL UNiT REGULAT~R POUCH P N~ ACTION WIND CHEST B SKETCH 9 TO EXPRESSION VALVE EXPRESSION REGULATOR SKETCH N~ 5 ACTION REGULATOR TYPICAL SECTION THROUGH 5TACK SKETCH N~ 12 STRIKER PNEUMATICS, WIRES,ETC. DRAWING N~ 13 - 27 - dJioorapRical ~ltefcRe8 THERE'S ALONG) LONG TRAIL A-WINDING Zo told Stoddard he had a "sticky harmony," it had FIVE MILLION COPIES - THREE MILLION DOLLARS to be explained that the term was college slang for a tune in which the tenor part, ususlly starting a BY EMMETT M. FORD third above, could be added and so easily that any tenor could sing it, hence the term "sticky harmony." The beautiful song, "There's A Long, Long Trail A College students often improvised these additional Winding," music by Alonzo (Zo) Elliott and words by parts and the results were fine. They were not the Stoddard King, has been sung allover the world by sound of a "bagpipe" and "cholera morbus" one heard glee clubs, quartets, soldiers in World War l, concert in "harber shop" emanations. Any tune with a fool singers and in the horne. It \~as a popular song in proof tenor part is usually known as "sticky harmony." homes and heard on phonograph recordings and the 88 Stoddard liked the tune and wrote the words. Stoddard, note player piano before radio and television invaded like Gilbert of the famous operatic twins, Gilbert the lives of Americans. and Sullivan, had the gift to translate tunes into words. The song pictured differently to the two Zo Elliott was born May 25, 1891, in Manchester, New students; Elliott saw the tragic trail of Napoleon Hampshire. He was of puritan stock and his mother from Moscow, while Stoddard saw the trail to home graduated from the Boston Conservatory of Music. His and romance. first music lessons were given to him by his mother. In his boyhood, musicians were of a different breed and were not readily accepted as they are of this day. The musicians then were a class apart, looking on ordinary mortals as untouchables or "queer folk." Their dress set them apart; windsor ties, long hair, eye-glasses moored to their clothing by silk ribbons, and they mingled among themselves. Even with the opinion of musicians of that time, his parents did obtain the best teacher in Manchester, Harry Whitte more, who had been a pupil of I. Phillip and T. Mat- thay. Matthay had been accompanist to singers de Gogorza and Emma Eames. The wise parents saw to it that the boy received other training besides music but it was a strong point in the boy, and from those years on into adult life, music was dominant. He attended St. Paul's School, Concord, Philips Andover Academy and Yale University, graduating from Yale in 1913 with an A.B. Voice study was in New York with de Sadler, son of Fredrica Grun, the or iginal "Fricka" in the "Nibelungen Trilogy" of Wagner. His majors in college were English, letters, and poetry. These combined with music made him truly eligible to compose music for songs. After graduat ing from Yale, he went to study at Fontainbleau with the well-known teacher of composition, Nadia Boulanger. The author of the words of the song was Stoddard King who was born in Spokane, Eashington. Mr. Elliott met him in 1911 at Yale where they became friends, Zo [Jliol! on hili lavorlle mounl though Stoddard was two or three years older. Stod dard was a thorough American in that he had in his The two students sang the song at the Zeta Psi ban ancestory American Indian blood. Not from a wealthy quet in Boston and it immediately became a hit. They family, he was obliged to work his way through col were sure they could now make a fortune. The fol lege. He was a congenial companion and known as a lowing six months the song was submitted to every "grand guy." Both Zo and Stoddard were members of publisher in New York but all turned it down, in the fraternity Zeta Psi and interested in dramatic cluding the publisher who later sold hundreds of works. Their first successful endeavor was in pre thousands of copies. senting John Gay's "Beggar's Opera." Mr. Elliott graduated from Yale and entered Trinity It was while Mr. Elliott was in Connecticut Hall of College at Cambridge. "~ile in Cambridge, he went the college reading Baron Segur's report of Napoleon's to a music store to rent a piano and in trying out retreat from Moscow that he went to the piano and the instrument, he played the song. The proprietor improvised the chorus of "There's A long, Long Trail was a tune scout for a London publisher. He had Mr. A-Winding." On the recommendation of a friend, Zo Claude Yearsely of West and Company, the chief pub was asked to "wri te that down" and "you wi 11 make a lisher in London, come to Cambridge to hear the song. fortune." Later Zo and Stoddard were asked to pro It was offered to the public in 1913 but did not vide a song for a Zeta Psi banquet in Boston. When "catch on" until after the outbreak of World War I. - 28 - Rieat 8KefeRes The front cover of the song had a lovely picture of record catalog lists a 10-inch disc by Reed-Harrison a trail leading down a mountain valley, through pine (17882); the 1923 Victor catalog lists two recordings, trees. The homesick Canadian and American boys, again the Reed-Harrison and the 64694 sung by John seeing the cover and hearing the song, felt the mystic McCormack. Other rolls and recordings possibly were emotions of homesickness. Millions of men in khaki made at a later date. were singing it and at home in Canada and America, . _.. the relatives of the soldiers were also singing that NEW MEMBERS the "Long, Long Trail A-Winding" would bring them safely home. Henry &Carmella Perna 1921 Steinway 6' Duo-Art XR. 425 Patton Ave. It was published in England in a minor key, but Whit Farrell, PA 16121 mark and Sons, the American publisher, demanded a 412 346 4843 major which the Americans sang. The total sale of the song in all editions allover the world is es John E. Ellems 1915 Lauter-Humana upr plyr; timated at five million and the total receipts have 123 Riverside Dr. 1917 Lauter-Humana upr plyr. been in the three million dollar range. Cranford, NJ 07016 201 276 0243 Mr. Elliott also composed an opera called "El Chivato." After the war, he resided in France and Craig M. Whitaker Schaff Bros. upr. player. wrote an opera, "What Price Glory." He was invited 925 Southover to the unveiling of the giant war memorial at Mount Toledo, OH 43612 Faucon. General Pershing was an invited guest as 419 478 4711 was Ambassador Buillte, who was a former Yale class mate of Zo and Stoddard. Others attending the un Thomas L. Sauter 1921 Steck 5'6" Duo-Art. veiling were Marshal Petain, General Harbord, Josephus 12709 MacDuff Dr. Daniels and other foremost French statesmen. When Tantallon, HD 20022 Zo was returning home from the unveiling, he heard 301 292 9316 music coming from a train compartment. It was a group of young American students singing his song. William E. Mowrey 1897 Beckwith upr plyr; 1915 He was invited into the compartment and surprised 4 Talmage Dr. Kirchoff upr. plyr; 1895 the students by identifying himself with the song. Little Rock, AR 72204 Beckwith organ. ~ It was an interesting occasion for Mr. Elliott - here 501 565 3114 were young Americans from four states, a younger American generation, but all like the boys who had Raymond M. Scarlett 1924 Weber 6' Duo-Art; 1926 sung the song in khaki and fought over every inch 2015 Woodland Ave. Chickering 5' Ampico A. of the land they were travelling over. When Mr. Duluth, MN 55803 Elloitt told them, as the train whistled for a sta 218 724 0536 tion, they were approaching Chateau-Thierry, one of the boys from Georgia mentioned his father had been Leo Ornstein Recording artist. Honorary wounded there. Mr. Elliott showed them Hill 204 and Siesta Mobile Park Member of AMICA • the Belleau Woods, and as the boys awesomely looked Rt. 3, Box 968A42 into the night, one said, "Gee, seems like I can Brownsville, TX 78520 hear those fellows sleeping out there singing, 512 542 3550 'There's A Long, Long Trail A-Winding', right now." CHANGE OF ADDRESS Mr. Elliott had attended the law school at Columbia University for two years, but a call to arms and Doug Hershberger James C. Hanrahan later music caused him to leave the school and not 101 Columbia Dr. Box 608 complete his law course. He entered the U.S. Army Williamsville, NY 14221 Shelter Island, NY 11964 (Signal Corps) in 1917 and arrangements were made for him to lead the band of the regiment p~nning to Bob Morawe Tom Meeder be sent overseas. This plan never materialized due 5640 Kearny Mesa Rd. #E 708 La Puente Dr. to the Armistice. He and Stoddard King won the San Diego, CA 92111 Bakersfield, CA 93309 Joseph Vernon Prize. Frank &Mary Ellen Wilkinson Lynn Bullock Mr. Elliott's death was in 1964 at Wallingford, 213 Oneida La. 1316 Wentwood Dr. Connecticut. Malvern, PA 19355 Irving, TX 75061 * * * Keith &Arline Hardesty Douglas Noble 12222 E. Philadelphia 12300 Sherman Way, Apt. 188 Due to the tremendous popularity of the song, un Whittier, CA 90601 North Hollywood, CA 91605 doubtedly the many piano roll companies issued rolls of the song and the phonograph companies issued Ford W. Bowers David &Janice Harmer di~cs. I have been able to find one QRS 290 roll Route #8, Box 1600 506 W. Main and a Duo-Art 6035 played by Banta and one Ampico Brooksville, FL 33512 Midland, MI 48640 53514 by a pianist named Frances. The 1917 Victor - 29 - WANTED: Phillips PM rolls in good condition. NOTICE: From our library of AMPICO rolls, we are These are the same as the Wurlitzer PianOrchestra. making copies available to ~1ICA members. It is Bob Otnes, 148 Stacia St., Los Gatos, CA 95030. also po~sible to get some popular songs with the Telephone (408) 354-3004. words printed on the rolls. Those with words would depend upon the quantity of orders received. Please ~ PIANO ROLL AUCTIONS: 88 &65-note - monthly. Re write for details. I. L. Cordell, 2240 Lorain Rdad, producing" - 3-4 times yearly. Your rolls sold on San Marino, California 91108. consignment. 5 stamps get you on mailing list. Mike Schwimmer, 241 Harbor, Glencoe, IL 60022. FOR SALE: Stroud (1924) upright Duo-Art and Haines (1921) upright Ampico. Both recently thoroughly FOR SALE: Steinway reproducing 5'8" grand. Spanish rebuilt; valves, pneumatics, pouches, tubing, case-:-Duo-Art. Mason-Hamlin 5'8" reproducing grand, actions. Not refinished. Each $3500. Please send Ampico B. Both unrestored. Refinishing optional. stamped, self-addressed envelope for list of Wend 1.L. Cordell, 2240 Lorain Rd., San Marino, CA 91108 ling, Robinson, Sims, 88-note, 65-note, Ragtime, (213) 283-2461. Blues, and Ampico rolls from the late J. C. Daggs' collection. Bill Pixely, Box 321, Arkansas City, FOR SALE: 1924 Steinway Duo-Art Model XR, #227212, . KS 67005. Ph. 1-316-442-4383. in good playing condition. Straight mahogany case. Duo-Art is restored. Piano and case are original. FOR SALE: REPRODUCING PIANO. WEBER S'8" GRAND $6500.00 Feurich Welte-Mignon Keyboardless Cabinet with DUO-ART SYSTEM. Player completely rebuilt - has Reproducing Piano #19505 (Red Roll). Solid Oak. new set of hammers. Original case and finish good condition. Originally made for export to Scotland. Original 70V AC motor and resistor function well. Complete $4,000 or best offer. Contact John G. Ravert, Sr., Box 85, but unrestored. $2000.00 Michael White, 9831 North Vicksburg, Pa. Tel. (717) 966-1367 after 7 P.M. except P Avenue, La Porte, Texas 77571, (713) 471-0884. Wednesdays. FOR SALE: STROUD Duo-Art 5'4" reproducing grand pian~Beautifullyrefinished mahogany. Player rebuilt, piano restrung, soundboard and plate re finished, new hammers, action regulated. Bench included. $5,400.00 Ken Winters, 730 Meyers Ln., Paradise, CA 95969. Phone (916) 877-6925. GREAT FIND: Authentic twin-conductor PLAYER PIANO OWNERS - cloth covered wire. Identical to line RE-CUT YOUR STANDARD POPULAR ROLLS cord used in the 1920's and 1930's, ex $20.00 PER TITLE cept brand new. Perfect for rewiring ADDITIONAL COPIES $4.00 EACH old pianos, radios, lamps, etc. 20¢!Ft. NO MINIMUM ORDER OR QUANTITY or $16/100 Ft. plus $1.00 handling. That's right! Now you may order just ~ re-eut of SASE for samples. Robert Baumbach, your favorite popular standard roll (20-30 feet). Don't 21520 Velicata St., Woodland Hills, CA pay for unwanted copies. Frayed edges are no problem 91364. for us. We use a full quality, lint free, 3 pt. dry waxed paper for our re-cuts. All old rolls are returned along your new re-euts - packaged in new boxes for your pro Wanted to buy: 88-note organ rolls. tection and storage'. Be certain to include any special Please write wm. Graeser, Jr., 205 instructions for multiple copies. Allow 6-8 weeks for 6th Street, Monaca, PA 15061. delivery. No reproducing rolls at this time, please. YOU MUST BE SATISFIEDU FOR~: Beautiful an~ique piano over Clip and return with order 150 years old- Horace W Coon - Syracuse CRAIG'S PIANO SHOPPE 925 SOUTHOVER N.Y. Rosewood case in beautiful mint TOLEDO, OHIO 43612 (419) 478-4711 condition~ Soundboard, strings, hammers Name _ Phone \.--), _ and tone all good. Can be seen and Complete Address _ heard by appointment. Gordon & Sylvia McTavish, 164 San Gabriel Ct., Sierra Madre, ~ 91024. (213) 355-0618. Total # Rolls to be Re-Cut_ x $20.00 = $ _ Total Additional Copies__x $ 4.00= $ _ STEINWAY Duo-Art Grand 1927 OR Louis XVI Postage & Handling $,_---"'-$3=...:..;:0'-=0__ Walnut case. Rebuilt 1969. $10,000. TOTAL (Check or Money Order MUST Judy Hanulec Pitch and Time Shoppe, 516- accompany your order) $ _ 744-1467. SEND YOUR ROLLS INSU.RED AND SPECIAL 4TH CLASS SOUND RECORDING RATE. .: .: .: .. Ragtime Automated Music 310 HACKBERRY MODESTO, CA. 95354 PH. (209) 526-1973 \ \ \,~ ,~ RAM Piano Co. announces, \~\1~~;.l Now for the first time, available to the Public its Universal Player Stack! Can be used to replace old stacks in unrebuildable or gutted players, or used with either our Orchestrion Spool frame or 88 Note to build a player piano from a regular upright! Can be installed in 5 hours, and carries a complete 1 yr. guarantee! We have used this conversion system for years in our own machines (designed by us) and now rising interest forces us to sell directly to the publici Absolutely the best conversion kit available! Both frames feature Solid State speed control! And the "0" frame is Art Nouveau styled Aluminum or Brass! Write or call for more information! We also make a complete line of accessories from coin op. to Glockenspiel l Mounted, ready to tube "0" Roll Frame $ 350.00 AL. $400 Solid Brass Auto Tracker add 550 Folding 88 Note Frame 5 200.00 Auto Track, Total Depth 2" folded for Universal Stack $ 400.00 easy installation in most uprights. Compatitive Suction Box $ 50.00 Quantity Discounts Com I te Coin Op. Pianos $1,200.00 Up )(~~)()(~@-~~-~)()(~@\!...~~~~)()(~@...... -#-...... ~)( We WOJtt to Spotd l ff~:US~CU!~~~~~eri~~ ~~~~~tiO~~S~~e~~ ~~SLen~ ~ Sales have been our stock and )( to meet our customers' needs we want to spend $1,000,000.00 on music boxes, nickelodeons, band )( )( organs, and other automatic musical instruments -- single pieces, groups and entire collections. )( Thinking of selling? Write or call today with a brief description of your holdings. We'll make an l immediate decision on all items offered. We'll make complete confidential cash payment in full for ~ all items purchased. In past years we have purchased more instruments than any other dealer in the world. You'll be assured of a pleasant transaction. And, we'll take care of complete packing and shipping arrangements. l Here is a partial list of what we want to buy: ~ CYLINDER MUSIC BOXES - Fine-quality Swiss cylinder music boxes/especially those with )( multiple cylinders, matching tables, fine instruments, drums and bells, or other interesting )( )( characteristics. )( DISC MUSIC BOXES - Fine quality Regina, Polyphon, Symphonion, Kalliope, Komet, Mira, ~ Stella, Criterion, Olympia, and other disc music boxes. Automatic changers. Musical clocks. We can ~ use just about anything and everything! NICKELODEONS AND ORCHESTRIONS - All models, unrestored, restored, or in any con- dition, made by Seeburg, Wurlitzer, Hupfeld, Popper, Weber, Welte, Link, Western Electric, Coinola, l Berry-Wood, National, Nelson-Wiggen, and others. Also want Hupfeld Phonoliszt-Violina, Mills ../ Violano-Virtuoso, Encore Banjo, Wurlitzer Harp, etc. In the past month we've purchased THREE ~ large collections of nickelodeons and orchestrions - and we want more! The more, the better! One instrument or a dozen or a hundred! ~ BAND ORGANS - All types of band organs, fairground organs, etc. by Wurlitzer, Bruder, Gavioli, Limonaire, Mortier, Decap, etc. Large ones, small ones, etc. ~ REPRODUCING PIANOS - Mason & Hamlin Model B Ampico desperately wanted / in fact, we would like to buy a half dozen! Also other fine-quality reproducing grands. l OTHER ITEMS - Automata, organettes, calliopes, and other self-playing automatic musical ~ instruments from the 1850-1930 era. . INSTRUMENTS FOR SALE: Interested in BUYING instruments? Send $3 for our ~ large illustrated Catalogue No.8, just released, offering hundreds of items - or send ~ $15 subscri ption for the next six issues. ~ THINKING OF SELLING??? Write or call today. We have the cash. You have the instruments. ~ Let's get together! l AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL GALLERIES, INC. ~ 1802 Kettering Street • Irvine, California 92714 • Tel. (714) 754-1777 ./ ~ Directors: Bonnie Tekstra/Q. David Bowers/Claes O. Friberg. Offices in Europe and America. Visit our huge ~ 26,000 square-foot warehouse/showroom. Over 500 instruments for sale. Open Wednesday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Come early - it's a wonderland of fascinating inst~uments, clocks, etc. and can't be covered in a short time! )(~ t1~)()(~-~ t1~)()(~~)()(~~)( SUCCESS STOR Y! , You first read about the International Musical Industries' CC-3 Cassette Converter Unit in these pages a few months ago. Since then it has been enthusiastically accepted beyond our wildest dreams! First a little background ... The CC-3 Cassette Converter Unit, which sells for $2,495, enables the owner of a restored Ampico piano (upright or grand, model A or B) to play his instrument by means of specially encoded tape cassettes made from original Ampico piano rolls. One small $9.95 cassette plays a full hour's worth of music. The CC-3 Cassette Converter Unit attaches to the piano without in any way disturbing its originality or interfering with the normal playing of the piano by rolls (which you can do at any time without having to disconnect the CC-3 Cassette Converter Unit and without any special preparations). Likewise, the CC-3 Cassette Converter Unit can be easily removed. The unit makes sense from a lot of viewpoints. First of all, it multiplies your enjoyment of your instrument many, many times over. No longer do you have to jump up from the dinner table every few minutes to change rolls - a long uninterrupted concert plays for you without any attention on your part. Once you have heard an hour's worth of music all you have to do is change the cassette - something which can be done from your dining room table, a favorite armchair, or any other location (for the tape unit which plays the cassette can be located at any distance from the main piano). Clas sical music? Popular music? Old favorites? All types of Ampico music are available on these cassettes - and more programs, all made from original Ampico music rolls and preserving the fidelity of the original performance, are being constantly added. Let's look at the CC-3 Cassette Converter Unit from a financial viewpoint. As stated, it costs $2,495 - which isn't exactly pocket change. However, if you value your restored Ampico at $4,000 to $10,000 or more (and most restored Ampicos are certainly worth in this range today), then paying $2,495 for a device which multiplies your enjoyment of it certainly is a bargain by any standard! Even more to the point, $500 worth of tape cas settes plays the same amount of music that would cost $2,500 to $5,000 to purchase on paper rolls! So, the unit can literally pay for itself in the savings! Then, too, there is the matter of roll storage - a beautiful cassette library of Ampico tunes could be carried in a shoe box - whereas a whole wall of shelving would be necessary to accommodate the equivalent number of rolls. The best way to be convinced about the CC-3 Cassette Converter Unit is to see and hear one in operation. We have found that one unit literally sells another. Right now we are forming a nation-wide dealer network. Within a year you should be able to hear and see one of these in your own area. But, if you are like the many other AMICA members who can't wait, write to us today for a free illustrated brochure which gives all of the details. Once you acquire a CC-3 Cassette Converter Unit you will wonder how you were ever able to live without it! INTERNATIONAL MUSICAL INDUSTRIES 17l7A-A Stanford Street • Santa Monica, CA 90404 ) Return withus now to those thrilling . days of theViolaJlo~irtuoso. Take a step back in time as you look Viola no· Virtuoso! This book was orig- ferent Violano models, and dozens of through this wonderful picturebook of inally produced by the Mills Novelty letters from happy Viola no customers. yesteryear. See old-time ice cream Co. for its salesmen, and records with Discover items of the period such as parlors, candy shops, billiard halls, great detail the style and ambiance of advertising signs, coin-operated mao pharmacies, restaurants, and more. these fascinating establishments of chines, store fixtures, etc. It is ideal Imagine yourself there at the counter the teens and twenties. It contains over as a decorating aid and a valuable listening to the most fantastic coin- 150 pages (81/2 by 11), featuring more reference. You don't have to own a operated machine ever built: The than 100 photos, 4 color pages of dif- Viola no to enjoy this book. Order now this limited re-edition. Only $9.95 K& FPublishing, P.O. Box 240, GPO, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11202