The AMICA News Bulletin The AMICA News Bulletin Automatic Musical Instrument Collectors' Association

EDWIN WARD, Publisher 191 Riverview Drive (419) 849-2616 Woodville, Ohio 43469-9745 PUBLICATION DEADLINES FOR 1987 Published by the Automatic Musical Instrument Collectors' Association, a non-profit club devoted to the testoration, distribution and enp;ment of musical For January/February issue ...... December 15 instruments using perforated paper music rolls, AMICA was founded in San For March/April issue February 15 Francisco in 1963. For May/June issue ...... April 15 For July/August issue...... June 15 For September/October issue...... August 15 For NovemberlDecember issue...... October 15

CHAPTER OFFICERS FOUNDING CHAPI'ER IOWA Pres: Gene McGraw Pres: Rex Fritts Vice Pres: Bill Wherry Vice Pres: Leland Zimmerline Treas: Elmer Klein Sec{Treas: Ed Pousch Rep: Dick Reutlinger Reporter: AI Johnson Sec: Jack & Dianne Edwards ADVERTISING SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BOSTON AREA Classified: 1O¢ per word, $3.00 minimum for members. Pres: Jerry Pell Pres: Judy Welsh Non-members may advertise at twice the above rate. Vice Pres: Frank & Shirley Nix Vice Pres: Michael Potash (Publisher's note: It is no longer possible to process an ad for SeclRep: Susal Pell Sec: Bm Koenigsberg $1.50, hence the increase, and new rate for Non-members.) Treas: Pat Hodge Treas: Philip Konop Reporter: Donald Brown • See Bulletin Deadlines on this page. Payment must accompany order. Make checks payable to: TEXAS NORTHERN LIGHTS AMICA INTERNATIONAL. Pres: Richard Tonnesen Pres: Jerrilyn Boehland Vice Pres: Becky Newton Vice Pres: Tom Wurdeman • Checks or money orders from advertisers in foreign coun­ Sec{Treas: Janet Tonnesen Sec: Dennis Dahlman \ __ tries must be drawn on a U.S. Bank. Rep: Wade Newton Treas: Robert & Katheryn Dumas Reporter: Ruby Ahneman Display Advertising Full Page 7V2"xlO" $100.00 MIDWEST SIERRA-NEVADA Pres: Liz Barnhart Pres: Bob Patton Half Page 7V2"x4%" 50.00 Vice Pres: Barry Leedy Vice Pres: Richard Riley 5 Quarter Page 3 / S"x4%" 25.00 Sec: Russell & Jeanne Bloss Sec{Treas: Gail Shinn • Each photograph or half-tone $7.00. Treas: Alvin Wulfekuhl Reporter: Julie Riley & Bob Patton Reporter:. Margaret Frazer • See Bulletin deadlines on this page. PHILADELPHIA AREA CHICAGO AREA • We recommend display advertisers supply camera-ready Pres: Jay Albert Pres: Rob Deland copy. Copy that is oversized or undersized will be changed Vice Pres: Paul Dietz Vice Pres: Barry Schultz to correct size at your cost. We can prepare your adver­ Sec: Bob Rosencrans Sec: Fred Plank Treas: Bob Taylor Trea$: Joe Pekarek tisement from your suggested layout at cost. Rep: Paul Woelbing Reporter: Mel Septon • Payment must accompany order. Typesetting, layout or size SOWNY (Southern Ontario, HEART OF AMERICA alteration charges will be billed separately. Make checks Western NY) Pres: Charles Tyler payable to: AMICA INTERNATIONAL. Pres: Gary !£mon Vice Pres: Gerold Koehler • Checks or money orders from advertisers in foreign coun­ Vice Pres: Jim Barley Sec{Treas: Kay Bode Sec: Janie McCleary Reporter: Willa Daniels tries must be drawn on a U.S. bank. Treas: Mike Walter • All ads will appear on the last pages of the Bulletin at the Rep: Stan Aldridge discretion of the publisher. ROCKY MOUNTAIN SOUTHEAST AREA: Publication of business advertising in no way implies AMIC,A;s Pres: Larry Kerecman Pres: Wayne Edmonston Vice Pres: Owanah Wick Vice Pres: Gordon Belcher endor:sement of any commercial operation. However, AMICA Rep: Art Reblitz SecfTreas: David Burke reserves the right to refuse any ad that is not in keeping with Sec: Don Wick Reporter: David Burke AMIC,A;s general standards or if complaints are received in­ Treas: Jere DeBacker dicating that said business does not serve the best interests LADY LIBERTY GATEWAY of the ":lembers of AMICA according to its goals and bylaws. #f'res: !£nny Finkel Pres: Roger Wiegand Vice Pres: Oliver Vitakis Vice Pres: Deanne Wiley 'C: Sec: Michelle Pollitt Sec:rreas: Mary Wilson Single back issues of the Bulletin Treas: John Ellems Reporter: Marilyn McGartland are available from the Publisher Rep: Dennis Valente for $2.00 each. AMICA International INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS 1987 CONVENTION PRESIDENT Molly Yeckley ST. PAUL MINNESOTA (419) 684-5742 612 Main St., Castalia, OH 44824 AMICA/MBS Joint Convention PAST PRESIDENT Terry Smythe July 23-28 (204) 832-3982 Co-Hosts: 55 Rowland Ave., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3J 2N6 Northern Lights Chapter of AMICA VICE PRESIDENT Ron Connor (501) 636-1749 Snowbelt Chapter of Musical Box Society Route 4, Rogers, AR 72756 SECRETARY Mel Septon • 25th Anniversary Convention • (312) 679-3455 1988 - San Francisco 9045 North Karlov, Skokie, IL 6fXJ76 Host: Founding Chapter TREASURER Larry Norman (213) 538-9461 • Do you wish to become a member of AMICA? 17700 Avalon Blvd. #295, Carson, CA 90746 Write to Membership Secretary. PUBLISHER Edwin Ward Annual fee for U.S. members $22 (419) 849-2616 Canada and Mexico (air) $28 191 Riverview Drive, Woodville, OH 43469-9745 Other non-U.S. countries (surface) $28 MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Will Wild and Valerie Anderson New and lapsed members add processing fee. . .. $ 5 New memberships (803) 734-8521 • Has your address changed? P.O. Box 172, Columbia, SC 29202 Write to Membership Secretary. • Do you have a contribution for the Bulletin? BOARD REPRESENTATIVES Founding Chapter: Phil McCoy All subjects of interest to readers of the Bulletin are en­ Southern California: Mary Ulien couraged and invited by the Publisher. Every attempt will Texas: Bob Smith be made to publish all articles of general interest to AMICA Midwest: Vincent Ricca members at the earliest possible time and at the discretion Phildelphia Area: Bob Rosencrans of the publisher. See Bulletin deadlines on previous page. SOWNY: Jan Drewniak Rocky Mountain: Larry Kerecman AMICA International News Bulletin Lady Liberty: John DeParis Volume 24 Number 2 March/April 1987 Iowa: Alvin Johnson Boston Area: Sanford Libman Features CONTENTS Northern Lights: Terry Smythe Some Terminology " 23 Sierra-Nevada: Ray Bauer Spy Swap Terms Set " 24 Chicago Area: Robert W. Taylor The Podolsky Roll Project ...... " 25 Heart of America: Ron Bopp George Gershwin Manuscript Donated " 36 Southeast Area: Wayne Edmonston Gateway: Del Sewell Farewell To A Great Artist. " 37 Pixley Makes Players Ring True ...... " 38 This Piano Business is on a Roll Again ...... " 39 COMMITrEES "Oh Mom" 40 TECHNICAL, Harold Malakinian New Life for Player Piano 42 2345 Forest Trail Dr., Troy, MI 48098 Old Wine in a New Bottle " 43 ARCHIVES, Bob Rosencrans Bidwell Pocket Hand Exerciser...... 43 109 Cumberland Place, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 Some Details of the Ampichron " 44 I Love My Cross Valves " 47 PUBUCATIONS, Edwin Ward Now You Will Buy A Player Piano Won't You .. back cover 191 Riverview Dr., Woodville, OH 43469-9745 Departments AUDIO-VISUAL AMICA International 21 News From the Chapters " 28 AFFILIATED SOCIETIES- Technicalities ...... 44 See May/June 1986 issue for addresses That Special Roll " 36 The Player Piano Group (England) People 36 The North West Player Piano Association (England) Classified Ads 49 Netherlands Mechanical Organ Society - KDV Australian Collectors of Mechanical Musical Instruments Dutch Pianola Association The Late Albert Imhof shown standing in front of a mam- _Cover: Society of Friends of Mechanical Musical Instruments (Germany) -,' moth Imhof & Mukle orchestrion built in 1895. Located in Baden­ baden,.Germany, it plays from the "Music Lear system, which is described on page 463 of Bower's Encyclopedia. DISCLAIMER: Acceptance of articles for publication in the AMICA News (From the Collection of David Burkel.Border Compliments of Molly Bulletin does not imply a guarantee of the accuracy of the facts contained Yeckley. in any article, nor an endorsement of an author's recommendation.

-21- Message from the President ...

The AMICA Board of DirectQrs met in Lake Buena Vista, Florida from 12-16 February 1987. A summary of events .at our ~ all-day-Friday-the 13th session will appear in the next issue of . the bulletin. Which seques nicely into the next subject ... Folks, how about a thicker, fatter, bulletin issued every other month? Our nine-a-year issues have been confusing to most of us, even though past·publisher Dorothy Bromage put a "Bulletin Deadline Date" at the front of every issue. We will strive for the same number of pages-per year, so there will be no loss in content, but the bimonthly issues will mean that we will not have to raise dues to cover printing and mailing costs, and in fact we may save on postage. Another nice lead-in: Dorothy Bromage has officially retired and the Board accepted her resignation with regret, but with the With time comes change: here are some for AMICA in 1987. promise of a new publisher beginning with this March-April issue. We will have a new Archivist and a new AudioVisual person. We also have a new printer we are very excited about: he also After many years (ten, I think,) Jim Weisenborne is turning prints the Auburn/CordlDuesenberg Car Club Newsletter and AMICA's archives over to Bob Rosencrans of Bryn Mawr, Penn­ does top-notch work! sylvania. If you are a serious researcher into the history of AMICA or facets of the player piano industry, write to Bob R. and he may The new publisher is Edwin (Ed) Ward, of Woodville, Ohio, and if he has complied with my plea, his "Bid' should be elsewhere be able to xerox something from the archives, or tape some thing from our audio history. in this issue. Bill Blodgett is turning our AudioVisual collection over to We have exciting news of AMICA's inclusion in a museum a new AV person, but I need to wait until the next issue to state in Southern California and a mechanism soon to be in place for who that person is. A good source is about to say "yes" but needs you to donate any part of your collection to AMICA. A memorial for deceased members is also past the 'Wishing" stage. time to check into copying "U-Matic" tapes. A list of what we have available for sale or rent will be published in the bulletin. The AMICA Restated Bylaws will soon be included in a Tim Passinault of Munising, Michigan is taking responsibility for bulletin issue for your consideration - all we will then need is your our sterling silver AMICA logo pins in addition to the already fine vote. As I said in an earlier bulletin: stay tuned! /' job he's doing with AMICA stationery and envelopes. Have you Molly Yeckley, President ordered any lately? They are of excellent quality! His ad should AMICA, International be elsewhere in this bulletin: it appears occasionally, not in each issue.

"PASSING THE BATON" With the March/April issue dollars was a lot of money in 1943, but for a completely recondi­ of the AMfCA International tioned upright 1923 Marshall & Wendell Ampico, delivered a News Bulletin, a new publisher distance of 50 miles, complete with bench, a couple rolls, and is on the scene. My name is personal instruction from the music store salesman, I couldn't Edwin Ward, and I have en­ resist. Compare this to the prices of today! Never-the-Iess my joyed membership in AMICA father thought I had just taken leave of my senses to pay that for the past ten years; including kind of money for a player piano, when most people, in those the various activities of days, were giving them away or junking them. I have never been Midwest Chapter. My wife, sorry! Miriam, and I have resided in Woodville, Ohio for twenty Imagine my elation when I discovered a group of folks who years having reared two were as smitten as I in their love for these instruments, and their children, and now have three restoration and preservation. These were my kind of people, and I joined AMICA forthwith. I have never been sorry! grandchildren as well. Very recently retired from Therefore, as your publisher, I share your interest in these grand old instruments: the pianos, organs, violanos, orchestrions, industry, I spent 43 years in various engineering capa­ banjos, the entire gamut of these mechanical marvels of another cities, from toolmaker to age. In producing your News Bulletin, I will make every effort to maintain the high standards of my predecessors, and provide you general supervisor. Don't ask how that qualifie.s me for a publishing with the quality publication you have been accustomed to. Please job, but fm going to give it that old college try. Perhaps my degree .. .J.r- help me by providing items of interest, to the membership, for in business administration will prove helpful in this new endeavor. ~ publication. Constructive criticism will always be welcome. My love of musical instruments, using paper rolls, goes back to my early childhood when my Grandmother had the only player My personal thanks to Dorothy Bromage for all of her years servic~ piano in the family. By the time I was seventeen I was exposed of and her very kind and generous help in this transitional time of "passing the baton". to my first reproducing player and was "hooked". Three hundred -22- Some Terminology by Q. David Bowers

AMICA stands for, of course Automatic Musical Instrument Curiously, the phonograph, which mayor may not be an Collectors Association. In the midst of a writing project in the 19605 I automatic or mechanical musical instrument, depending upon your endeavored to sort out terminology concerning self-playing instru­ point of view, has not been a main part of either the Musical Box ments. Some called them "automatic" while others called them Society or AMICA interests. True, scattered mentions of early coin­ "mechanical." The discussion, I suppose, is relatively unimpor­ operated Edison machines, of Multiphones, or even of the Gabel's tant except to those involved in it - like the classic argument of Entertainer have crept into print, but, by and large, phonograph "How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?" collectors seem to be a separate breed, and their specialized In talking to Farny Wurlitzer, who at that time was active in the collections haven't been a part of the MBS or AMlCA attention North Tonawanda (New York) firm bearing his name, he said that focus. Technically, a phonograph, unlike a music box ofplayer piano, years earlier such things were always referred to as "automatic," does not generate its own tones. Rather, it reproduces tones never "mechanical." Thus, a number of Wurlitzer catalogs of the generated elsewhere - in the sameway, theoretically speakilj, that early years - circa 191Q.1920 - bear the cover inscription AUTO­ a magnetic tape reproduces tones generated elsewhere or a MATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. microchip reproduces music. Thatis tosay, a phonograph couldjust Somehow, at least to my ear, the "automatic"terms sounds more as easily reproduce parrot squawks or cannon blasts - music pleasing than"mechanical." Thereis something about"mechanical" doesn't form a unique repertoire. that sounds mechanical - not human but bumpy, gear-laden, and Over the years, AMICA has been fairly liberal concerning its machinery-like. And yet, such instruments are indeed actuated by reportage. Thus, the hand-playing of various pianists has been duly various combinations of gears, shafts, motors, springs, pulleys, noted - even if the pianist involved didn't record for Ampico or bellows, and other items which themselves are indeed mechanical. Duo-Art years earlier. Similarly, scattered mentions of theatre pipe So, clearly, there is nothing wrong with the term "mechanical." organs, not the automatically-played kind, have crept into print. When Bill Edgerton set up his business in Connecticut in the The Musical Box Society likewise has been liberal, but only in 1970s, he thought that no name would be finer than Mechanical recent years. Iremember getting into a fairly involved discussion with Music Center. Similarly, Claes Friberg's public display in Denmark the late Howard Fitch about 15 years or so ago, when Iwas doing an was known as the Mekanisk Musik Museum. The alliteration of article on theatre photoplayers for the Musical Box Society "Bulle­ three Ms in a row appealed to a number of people and in later times tin." I had illustrated and described a photoplayer-type unit made by other "Mechanical Music Museums" were set up in Germany and Hofmann & Czerny, of Vienna, a unit quite resembling an American­ France, using the same words, but in the German and French style photoplayer with a central piano flanked with two chests languages respectively. containingorgan pipes andsoundeffects. Theonly problemwas that Probably to the public, the"mechanical" term is more understand­ this particular unit didn't have anautomatic roll player. Similarly, the able than "automatic." G. W. MacKinnon, who started advertising Bartola, a photoplayer-type device made by Dan Barton and sold music boxes, nickelodeons, and organs for sale in the 19605, came with great success in the Illinois area, wasn't roll-equipped. These, up with anentirely new term, "automated." Never used before in the therefore, could not be part of the article, Howard Fitch mandated, hobby, to my knowledge, this word sounded a bit strange to my ears and my objections fell on deaf ears. then - and still does. But, copycats being what they are, it wasn't Ipointed out that in earlier Musical Box Society"Bulletins" ample too long until the word "automated"startedappearing on the calling space had been given to automaton writers and automaton artists, cards of various collectors or even as part of the name of other which played no music and weren't music boxes, neither were they companies! automatic (or mechanical) musical instruments. Rather, they were I, for one, think that "automatic" is just dandy, and I wouldn't be simply mechanical devices probably no more like a music box thana any happier if AMICA were known as the Mechanical Musical lawnmower would be! Then, too, there was the subject of mechani­ Instrument Collectors Associationorthe Automated Musicallnstru­ cal singing birds which chirped butwhich certainly didn't play music. ment Collectors Association. such items were "traditionally a part of the music box field," I was The Musical Box Society, the other national organization, more informed. formally known asthe Musical Box SocietyInternational, startedout Both the Musical Box Society and AMlCA continued to evolve. as a group primarily interested in what the name implies, music the recent "orchestrion issue" of the AMlCA "Bulletin" probably boxes - of the disc and cylinder types. I wasn't a member of the would not have happened 20 years ago, when emphasis was MBS in 1949 when it was founded, but by 1960 or 1961 I had hopped primarily on reproducing pianos. Indeed, such evolution is neces­ on the bandwagon and had at the same time acquired a bunch of sary, as the interests of membersexpandandas bothsocieties seek back issues of their "Bulletin." The growth of interest beyond music to attract new people. boxes wa~ evident. Now and then other instruments such as player A favorable trend is that new automatic musical instruments are reed organs crept into Society reports, and there was even one welcomed - suchas new novelty music boxes, new automata, new lengthy feature about a photoplayer. Today, of course, the Musical types oforchestrions, andeven the new tape-actuatted reproducing Box Society is apt to be as concerned with player pianos, piano systems. The supply of older instruments is gradually .orchestrions, reproducing pianos, and band organs as it is with diminishing, andthose that remain keepincreasing in price eachtime cylinder boxes. The interests of the membership have broadened, I look at sale announcements or read auction reports. So, it is good .,.. and just about anything that is self-playing is mentioned now and that new types of automatic musical instruments are constantly then in reports of various activities. being produced and that collectors are constantly expanding their horizons. AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT PARTICIPATES IN HISTORICAL EVENT F Spyswap terms set BERLIN (AP) - Soviet officials have agreed to release dissident Anatoly Shcharansky moments be­ fore three Western spies in the expected East-West prisoner ex­ change because the United States insisted he not be treated like an undercover agent, a newspaper said Monday. A U.S. official, meanwhile, con­ " firmed at a news briefing that . Shcharansky would be part of the swap, expected to take place today on the Glienicke Bridge between West Berlin and communist East Germany. "He will be on the bridge. The exchange will be made and the cars will drive out," the official s~d; speaking on condition of

anonymity. .~ He indicated Shcharansky would leave Berlin immediately from the U.S. military's Tempelhof airport and head for Israel. A U.S. diplomatic source in Ber­ lin, speaking on condition of ano­ nymity, told 'Ule Associated Press, "Itwill happen on the bridge before noon." The Hamburg newspaper Bild said in an article written for Tues­ day's editions, "An agreement has been reached so that Shcharansky j will clearly be freed before the other prisoners." The newspaper telexed the re­ ;: port in advance to other news ,. media. It did not identify its r sources, but the newspaper has had other exclusive reports from the Soviet Union that have turned out to be accurate. ~i Shcharansky's wife, AVital, who emigrated to Israel in 1974,was not expected to meet him in West Berlin, he said. j In Tel Aviv, Israel radio said Mondaythat Mrs. Shcharanskystill ... had not received any official confir-" ..... mation her husband would be fi','>i"""" , ...co eo fre~d. A vo~unteer at her Jerusalem An organ grlnderfromWest Berlin entertains nearthe ~ f~~~. confirmed sbe had not left Gllenlcke Bridge; siteoftoday's East-West spyswap. ,./---'.

Portland, t,,1alne, Press Herald, Contributed by Dorothy Bromage

-24- THE PODOLSKY ROLL PROJECT by Robert W Taylor

I was able to make a de.al with Playrite Music rolls to use their recording piano. This proved to be a blind alley since the cost of sending Leo to Turlock, California for the reo cording session was more than our budget could support. Everything stopped. We just couldn't do it. Leo moved to Burbank to strengthen his relationship with the music school at USc. At that point, Dorothy Bromage became the catalyst that made everything work. She knew of our prior efforts and took over by taking Leo to meet with Wayne Stahnke. Wayne had built a new electronic reproduc­ ing and recording piano for J. B. Nethercut. That piano was a Steinway concert grand. In his lab, Stahnke had another in­ strument, a Yamaha that was fitted with the Stahnke reproduc­ ing/recording system. It was on this Yamaha that Leo Podolsky made history (June 1984) by recording the first true hand played reprodUcing piano rolls since original factory produc­ tion ce.ased. The Nethercut Steinway has been donated to USc. Wayne Stahnke built another reproducing/recording system for Mr. Nethercut. This later instrument being a Bosendorfer Imperial Grand which can be played in duet fashion with the Wurlitzer pipe organ at San Sylmer. Bosendorfer now offers this system to the public in its Imperial Grand, without the pipe organ. The Stahnke piano was re.ally never me.ant to make the Dr. Leo Podolsky at the Baldwin piano in his Chicago home. paper rolls. Another talented roll enthusiast came into play in this aspect of this project. Enter Robbie Rhodes, once more, It all started when I was chairman of the 1983 conven­ thanks to Dorothy Bromage for putting this all together. Rob­ tion which was hosted by the Chicago Chapter. That's when bie knew basically how the Stahnke recording piano worked. I first met honorary member Leo Podolsky. He was en­ From this knowledge, he would be able to design a computer thusiastic, cooperative, and charming. He spoke at our ban­ program that would extract from the recorded electronic data quet. Then he played. His selection was the Rachmaninoff all the necessary elements to make a paper roll. Man~ Prelude in B Minor, Gp. 32 No. 10. He was a tremendous suc­ me.asurements taken by the Stahnke piano could not be direct­ cess and immediately established a warm rapport with the ly used in the Ampico. It therefore became necessary to AMICA audience. After the convention, Leo and I exchanged somewhat condense the recorded data without losing the notes. That is when he suggested that he make some more essence of the recording. Ampico rolls. I was overwhelmed. I had been talking to Richard Tonnesen about using his Where does a person start to make a new reproduc­ perforating equipment to produce the finished rolls. I was im­ ing piano roll, one that is truly hand played and worthy of the pressed with his work in converting Red Welte rolls to Licensee name "reproducing"? The problems didn't bother Leo. He was format. His computer controlled perforator had also impress­ re.ady and wanted to record a program while the music was ed me when I had seen it at the second Dallas convention. still "in his fingers". He had prepared a program divided into The Tonnesen perforator seemed to be ide.ally suited to a two parts. The first part was all waltzes while the second part "Speciality" project such as ours. was a more complex collection reflecting on "the serious side of life'~ There was enough music to make a ten roll set or two The calculations for roll length, tempo and other factors jumbo Ampico rolls. seemed endless. The program was designed to fully compen­ sate for the build up on the take-up spool. We planned, we , The Chicago Chapter agreed to fund the project with wrote letters, we phoned e.ach other, but progress was very '-I $1,50). This money, which was raised by selling concert tickets slow. It was alre.ady February of 1985 and the data had not at the 1983 convention, was to be the "seed" money. If possi­ been successfully converted. The Detroit Convention (1985) ble, the money would be returned to the chapter for other pro­ was our target for publicly introdUcing the new Podolsky rolls. jects benefiting AMICAns. \,

-25- Our ads to the bulletin had already been sent in, but we were talented AMICAns poured over the "edit" rolls looking for er­ already very behind schedule. rors. The recording piano was so ~,"1sitive, that many extra notes showed up on the "edit" rolls. Kob Deland and Steve Just in time for the Detroit convention, Robbie used a data Husarik spent hours searching for these unwanted inputs and I­ print out to hand cut a roll of short length. He qUickly sent removed them. Using the computer print out of the decibel that prototype master to Richard Tonnesen who was able to reading of each note, the "edit" rolls were marked. Every note produce copies for our convention demonstration. The coding on every roll was marked with the correct decibel reading. Rob did not do justice to "A" pianos, but the preview was to be and Janet Deland, Joe and Elsa Pecarek, Bob and Gloria on Jim Weisenbome's Arnpico B at the convention, so we went Taylor did all the decibel notations (some 47,(00). Here we with it. found out that many of the unwanted notes were actually Following the convention, we had accumulated orders recorded at zero decibels! for 83 sets of the rolls. This was far short of our projected Now with the "edit" rolls error free, the tedious task of breakeven point of 125 sets, but close enough to continue. assigning expression codes to rolls began. This was done Certainly we could sell more roUs once they were a reality. But, almost entirely by yours truly. On the easier rolls we averaged the reality eluded us. about four hours work for each one minute of music. As we In September 1985 we felt the lack of progress compell­ got into the more complex compositions, that time doubled. ed a letter of apology. It was mailed even though that expense The first coding task was to give each entire piece an over­ was not in the budget. Shortly after that letter went out, Ifound view. At that time Ampico "B" amplifier position was assign­ out that the entire computer program had been eaten by a ed in general blocks. Color coded marking pens were used hungry old machine, (the disk drive crashed). We were to help keep things straight. The amplifier position was shown devastated. We were holding $5000.00 in deposit money and in green. Next the crescendo effects were coded. Here we us­ our enitre project went back to the first square. The explana­ ed yellow marker. The length of one inch of slow crescendo tion of our dilemma was mailed December 11, 1985 to our was defined in decibels. This was necessary since the tem­ patrons, another unbudgeted expense and the true low point pos varied from 65 through 110. The desired decible change of our spirits. of each crescendo was noted on the roll at the correct loca­ Wayne Stahnke tried to cheer me up. He said in the com­ tion. Then using the tempo relationship, we determined the puter business, many times it takes a complete disaster, such length in inches of the crescendo perforation. Fast crescendo . as ours, to produce the best program. I didn't know it then, coding was added as necessary. but he was right. Robbie decided to do the whole program Now that the rolls had the general status of amplifier and over again on an Apple Macintosh. Richard Tonnesen was con­ crescendo defined, we could fill in all the step codes (using verting his perforator to be controlled by the Macintosh. Rob­ a look-up table derived from our research). The steps were bie and Richard exchanged a lot of information. Then one mor­ assigned to coordinate with the already coded general status. ning it happened. Richard Tonnesen called me and said "we We tried to correct the problems ofthe "A" pianos playing too just made history, I just perforated the first roll using loud when playing a "B" coded roll. Consequently, those of Robbie's data on the Macintosh': you who study Ampico coding will see many unfamiliar com­ We weren't home free yet. The gremlins were still at work. binations of the step coding holes. The first batch of "edit" rolls sent to us for editing contained Finally, the rolls were played on several "A" and "8" pianos some error which I still do not understand. Richard discovered ~ to check the coding for desired response. Red markers were the error and quickly sent me error free rolls. used to make corrections in the coding scheme. To help in Here in Chicago we were ready to go to work. We had the accuracy of coding, Dorothy Bromage had arranged for been collecting data from pianos. My trusted side-kick, Rob audio recordings to be made of the playback on the Stahnke Deland, an electrical engineer, had set up test gear to measure Piana These recordings are available in cassette tape from the effects of vacuum changes onvolume output as measured Dorothy. On these recordings, Leo has introduced each piece in decibels. We also found out just how much the soft pedal and in some cases offered his remarks about the composi­ changes the decibles. We also studied Dr. Hickman's article tion. These same remarks are printed on the appropriate rolls in the Oct. 1929 issue of "Journal of the Acoustical Society having "story" leaders. of America?' With data I collected from many pianos, I was The first edited rolls were sent to Richard Tonnesen near able to construct a table that would give the proper valve set­ the end of April 1986. Shortly afterwards he returned proof tings in both Ampico "A" and"B" pianos to give a desired ,.-.. rolls for our approval. Some minor changes were necessary. .: decibel output. We were now ready to start the awesome task The process was working. Now we had a proven system. of editing the rolls and adding the necessary compatible AlB Hours of editing and coding continued. coding. With the music in hand that Dr. Podolsky used, two Texas AMICAns were the first outside of Chicago to hear stick type label stock. Klavier Rolls supplied us with the "8" the new rolls as I traveled to Dallas to confer with Bill Flynt sized boxes. Over $2,000.00 was spent in these combined and Richard Tonnesen. Bill hosted a meeting and his 9 foot efforts. Knabe sounded forth as we demonstrated a few edited copies As production started, the entire Chicago Chapter pitch­ for the Texas members. Later, Midwest members got a taste ed in with the tremendous task of assembling the finished rolls. of these new recordings when I attended their meeting in Col­ Our roll orders were now approaching our breakeven point. umbus, hosted by Vince and Sue Ricca. Podolsky sounded That meant a lot of work. Seventy-five sets of "A" rolls and wonderful on the Ricca Ampicos. forty sets of "8" rolls were produced. The printed leaders had Finally, with seven of the ten rolls edited, I visited the to be attached, the tabs glued, the labels placed on the boxes, Philadelphia membership meeting (1986) and once more and finally putting the rolls in the correct boxes. Packing the demonstrated the new recordings. In every case, my fellow rolls for shipping was the last task. All this work was done AMICAns at these meetings were generous with their praise at two regular chapter meetings and one training meeting to and support. That support played a very important part in this set up team leaders. project. We still need to sell more sets to breakeven. Some of our The "edit" rolls were sent to Richard Tonnesen. These were projected costs were too low. We plan to produce a few more now our masters. He has a very accurate roll reader that sees ~ sets sometime in 1987, which will be announced in the Bulletin. everything, and then stores what it reads in computer memory. Once our supplies of printed leaders and labels are exhausted, From the stored data, Richard then produced proof copies. we will bring this project to a close. At this time, it looks like With all proof rolls in our possession, we made our final we will produce another twenty-five sets of "A" rolls, and ten changes before production. This part is really neat. I marked sets of "B" rolls. the areas to be changed on the proof copies. Then using the Even nO\.V we declare the entire project a success. We have Macintosh floppy disk that Richard Tonnesen had sent me accomplished our goal. We brought to the Ampico music (containing all the rolls in a pictorial fashion) I merely turned library a supply of "real" new recordings. We have preserved on the computer and scrolled the roll presentation on its screen the playing of Dr. Leo Podolsky. His recording span for the until I found the area to be changed. Then using the "mouse" Ampico is now sixty years. He is unique in history for that I changed the area of the roll on the Macintosh screen. When accomplishment. finished, I mailed the disk back to Richard and from that he produced the final rolls!!! Our sincere thanks go out to all members who supported us in this effort. We are deeply appreciative of honorary The beautiful part of this whole system is that there were AMICAn, Dr. Leo Podolsky, for his talent and vision to see no multiple read errors since the "edit" copies were read only the potential in this project; to Wayne Stahnke whose wonder­ once. Even though there were changes made to the proof ful new invention was generously shared; to Robbie Rhodes copies, there was no need to read these proofs again. The who spent many hours to bridge the gap from "new" to "old" changes were made directly in the stored data by using technology. Richard Tonnesen's efforts have undoubtedly pro­ Macintosh on-screen editing technique. duced the finest computer controlled perforator in existance. To make our project look as good as it sounded, we decid­ We all owe him a thank you and a "well done~ Richard's wife ed the rolls should have authentic style printed leaders and Janet also played a large part in the actual production. Next high quality boxes and labels. The boxes were made here in time you see her, ask how she likes rolls that are 214 feet long! Chicago (for the "A" size). The leaders were printed on a heavy Finally, Dorothy Bromage, thank you for keeping this project buff paper stock, and the labels were printed on the peel and alive!

-27- CCffi~ffiCRlCIHCfCCB!CffiCffiClillCC~~C~ News from the Chapters ~mCHClllC~ClJCllCfHC~Cffic«cmC\mC~~R~B~mCN~»I~a«rn§a!llQflICflIQIIacin ./

NORTHERN LIGHTS CHAPTER 3 years it has become an annual custom to bring a gift (something each of us would willingly part with) to the Christmas season Reporter: Ruby Ahneman meeting. Some of us have been "repeaters"; i.e., it's funny to hear On Sunday, December 7, 1986, the Northern Lights Chapter the chuckles when someone receives this year the very same gift met at the beautiful home of Richard and Esther Crawford (MBSI he or she gave away last year. If this custom continues, everyone members) and their son and daughter-in-law, Lawrence and may eventually get back what they had hoped to give away, ­ Debbie (AMICA members). This was a combined Christmas party all in the spirit and fun of exchanging gifts. and meetings for the two organizations. The home is a stately American Colonial style, built by Richard Crawford himself. The MBSI and AMICA members then went to separate architecture and interior design are so imaginative that it was an rooms to hold their chapter meetings. The meetings were short, aesthetically pleasing experience to be at the meeting. The but the committees reported success in their preparations for the Crawfords live in Hamel, Minnesota, about a 45-minute drive from joint AMICA/MBSI national convention to be held in the Twin the Twin Cities. They had decorated their home for the Christmas Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, July 22-26, 1987. We ex­ holidays, - each room with its own 'special charm, especially the tend a hearty welcome and invitation to all members of both spacious kitchen with a huge, working fireplace with blazing logs organizations to attend what we expect will be an outstanding and kettles and cauldrons, reminiscent of pioneer American and fun convention this summer. kitchens. The business being over, we were heralded by Esther Crawford and her daughter-in-law, Debbie, to the most scrump, tious pot-luck buffet you could imagine. Four large, Christmas decorated tables had been set for dinner, and all of us went through the "line" in the kitchen to take our plates, loaded with goodies, back to enjoy a veritable feast. After the sumptuous repast, John Schneider, an invited guest, gave a short concert for us on the theatre organ. It was already dark and mid-evening when, after a memorable day, we bade farewell to our especially hospitable hosts, Richard and Esther Crawford. A hearty hurrah and a debt of gratitude and thanks from all of us to all the Crawfords.

Richard and Esther Crawford, our gracious hosts. Early afternoon about 50 of us gathered in the "music room" where Richard demonstrated many of his instruments and gave us a talk about his impressive collection of music boxes, many .. rare, and a few one-of-a-kind. He also showed us a chair that he had inherited, which was reputed to have belonged to Abraham Lincoln and been sat in by the great Emancipator. Mr. Crawford started his collection of music boxes in 1938. He was one of the founding members of the Musical Box Society, International. Included in his collection are specimens of a 3-disc Symphonion, Duplex, Revolver Quatuor, Polytype, l.Dngue Marche, Orchestra with Petite Oiseau, Flute Vase (organ), early keywind Mandoline, Forte Piano, and most of the comb types and mechanical innova­ tions developed in the music box industry from 1800 to 1900. Richard Crawford, displaying his 3-disc (Eroica) Symphonion (1897·1901) Then, Richard's son, Lawrence, played his 1923, 2-manual, ,- 10 rank Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ, which we all enjoyed very much. Suddenly we heard the jingle of bells, a hearty ho-ho-ho, and Jolly St. Nick (Tracy Tolzmann) came through the door. Han­ ding out candy canes to everyone, Santa Claus began to give out the "white elephant" gifts people brought to the party. For the past Lawrence Crawford plays for us on his 2/10 Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ (1923).

Ron Olsen and Ruby Ahneman sauoring the Christmas dinner.

MIDWEST Reporter: Sue Ricca The Midwest Chapter met November 15·16, 1986 in Indianapolis. At Jim Brady's office we saw an Ebony Mason & Hamlin 7' Ampico A and a very rare 1899-1909, 65-note range Tonophone. (one of two known to exist).

THE TONOPHONE WURLlTZER Cf Q0 -----u

WURLlTZ[!t TONOPIIONE (Without keyboard) (quantities shipped each year) 1905* 15 1906 % 1907 3 1900 ,, 1 (Style with keyboard) 1906 3 1901l 2 Notes: "Our figures show the tail-end of the Tonophone production only. An estimated 1000 to 2000 of these were made from 1899 to Tonophone: the first Wurlitzer coin 1905. These were all made by DeKleist and sold piano. Used a lO-tune wooden cylinder. by Wurlitzer. The first production run was 200 Three case styles are shown, including instruments. one with keyboard. Many Tonophones L....:...... :....:.:....:..:.:..:..:...... :.... ---J Th...Tonopliolle" i. the only Automatic Piano which h.. were later converted to 65-Note .~" a.lm""llfll\••t~II~I. cylinder "'Ith 10 lun... Automatic Player Piano rolls.

-29- Afterwards we visited the rest of the Brady's collection at Marian and Jim's home. We were treated to their Mason & Hamlin Ampico A Grands: one, an impressive 9', 1927 RCC Walnut case (the only one known of this size) which was acquired in Hawaii; the other a gorgeous 6'2", Italian art carved case. (See AMICA March, '84, Vol. 21, No.2) In their garage, Dan Tuttle explained and played the recently restored 177 pipe C.eb. Wellershaus Mulheim-Rehr-Saam modified street organ.

Jim Brady 9' 1927 RCC Walnut Case Mason & Hamlin Marian Brady

Tim Needler hosted our evening session at his home. After Dance Organ. This was a 15 foot tall, 27 foot wide, 6 foot deep a scrumptious catered dinner we listened to some super enter­ dance organ weighing about 5,000 Ibs. It is believed that fewer tainment, automatic and live. Tim's 7' RBB Mason & Hamlin, Late than a dozen of these organs survive today. Originally built by "N' with a "B" drawer (Mahog.) which, along with Jim Brady's the Mortier Company around 1900 in Antwerp, BelgiUm. The collection, exposed us to four (4) magnificent Mason & Hamiln's DeCap Brothers acquired many machines like this one and at one Chapter meeting. Tim's live playing on his Conn Artist reworked them when the Mortier firm went out of business. This electric organ and Kevin Aikman's extraordinary singing voice was one was imported into the U.S.A. during the 1960's from a a treat to all. We also played Tim's 5'6" Baldwin, Welte-Mignon Belgium owner who owned seven machines, six of which were (Lic.) wuis XV, Circassian Walnut carved case and inlaid woods. imported by the same U.S. collector. In the basement of Tim's beautifully decorated English Tudor home Bob Brown's building was packed with beautifully restored was a Hammond C-2 electric organ, an upright restored player and a "straight" piano. We had over 40 AMICAns in attendance orchestrions, a photopJayer, disc player and Dave Ramey's En­ and were pleased at having the company of many out-of-towners core Double Banjo made in 1984 in Chicago. The original Encore and other Chapter members; such as, Bob Rosencranz, Mel Automatic Banjos, made in NY. first appeared in public places Septon,·Sandy Libman, Marty Persky, to mention a few. around 1897, and was probably the first coin operated American­ made pneumatic instrument. This reproduction by Dave was Later that evening we conducted our business meeting and beautiful. Victrolas and other period artifacts, playing or under­ elected our new slate of officers: going restoration, plus a full length old time bar arid a dance floor President - Liz Barnhart Treasurer - Alvin Wulfekuhl for patrons, will complete this restoration. Vice Pres.. Barry Leedy .Reporter - Margaret Frazer Sec. - Jeanne & Russ Bloss Board Rep. - Vince Ricca

-1 ., .I ....,·-~i.·

1987 Officers: Liz, Margaret, Jeanne & Russ Bloss, ./ AlVin, Barry and Vince Ricca Sunday morning we met for breakfast and moved on to Muncie, Indiana. There we saw Bob Brown's collection of restored Dance Organ - Apollonia and newly built instruments in his renovated musical showroom. The BIG attraction was a Gebroeders DeCap - Apollonia 101-Key -30- SOWNY Reporter: Harold Hodgkins Fred Buchwald's home was the site of the annual Sowny Christmas party co-hosted by Mike and Holly Walter. To put everyone in the right spirit, the weatherman co-operated by giving us a light dusting of white stuff and a crisp wintry evening. As this was our Christmas exchange, a Christmas tree was provided for the presents. Not to miss an opportunity, Fred persuaded several early arrivals to "volunteer" to decorate the tree. When it was completed it really looked superb. Besides his interest in music and instruments, Fred also turns his hand to the restoration of houses. He not only has done an excellent job of renovation in the house he occupies, but also acquired two other homes which are nearly finished. Since one was nearby, a conducted tour was arranged where all could see the fruits of Fred's handiwork. Christmas parties for SOWNY members are devoted to good Karl's Uncle, Alice Guhlow with Fred Buchwald at Fred's Fischer Ampico social conviviality, and as an added attraction, we were promised the appearance of a magician to entertain us. This. together with the gift exchange, was something to give our evening a special twist. The two dozen people who gathered centainly enjoyed the Fischer Ampico, but as the other instruments in the collection were stored in an unheated garage, they escaped the onslaught of the curious and critical. TEXAS CHAPTER After a delicious meal and gift exchange, which by custom Acting Reporter: Janet Tonnesen has become a time for the otherwise meek and mild to engage On October 4, 1986 Texas AMICAns met in Austin for a in manipulation and skulduggery to pirate another's coveted weekend meeting hosted by John Me Clelland, Ken Caswell, and present, it was time for the magician. But alas, we were dis­ Gil Kuykendall. Steve Boehck and Alan Bies from Houston as appointed! He failed to appear. Or was it a disappearing act? All well as. several other guests from the Austin area joined us for in all a good time was had by all. this meeting. After checking in at the Sheraton Crest Hotel, we were met in the lobby by John Me Clelland who had prepared a schedule and directions to all houses we would be visiting. He led a caravan of cars to each house, which made maneuvering those one-way streets much easier for all of us. First on our tour was the home of Mrs. Fred Sharp, Ken's mother. Mrs. Sharp moved into her new two-story Georgian home a year or two ago and has an art case Chickering Ampico B grand piano which performed for us while we enjoyed refreshments. Ken and John briefly reviewed the weekend's schedule for us. and after a very pleasant and leisurely visit. we departed for the next home on the tour.

Vicki Di Bello, Betty Griffith, Karl's Uncle from California, Bill McLeary, Alice Guhlow

Ken Long. seated, Alan Bies, and Ken Caswell with Ken's mother's Ampico B. Karl Guhlow, Harold Hodgkins, Jim Barley, Jan Drewniak, Chris Barley, Holly Walter, assorted shady characters peering through the bars.

- 31- ~

Ken Caswell with his "Wonderful" 1923'Welte Licensee. Bill Rynt, Ken Caswell, Johri Mc Clelland, and Richard Tonnesen Sunday morning we gathered at John and Bonnie in foreground. McClelland's for more music and a farewell breakfast. John's Gil and Jean Kuykendall's new and very spacious home was workshop is certain to be envied by any AMICAn who sees it. the next to visit. Gil & Jean have a 1925 Steinway Spanish case With a workbench in the center of the room, he has 6-8 pianos Duo-Art and a 1929 Mason & Hamlin Ampico B. both in the in various stages of restoration including a Welte grand that is same room and not a bit crowded. Behind the Ampico piano were in it's final stages of "fine tuninif I was pleased to discover a whole several sections of shelves of piano rolls, one of which opened series of rolls by David Thomas Roberts, who impressed me great­ into a good-sized storage room filled with more shelves of piano ly when I saw and heard him perform at the St. wuis Ragtime rolls. The time slipped by quickly listening to the two pianos and & Jazz Festival two years ago. We heard some of these and a to our host's interesting tales from a recent African safari. number of other rolls played in the workshop, then went into the house. In their living room is John's pride and joy - a 1913 Mason & Hamlin Red Welte upright. Not wanting to end this most en­ joyable weekend, we stayed awhile longer listening to another fine Welte piano Eventually all good things must come to an end, so we bid farewell to John and Bonnie and started back home. ---

.,. John McClelland seated at Welte grand in his workshop Gil Kuykendall in front of Ampico, Ken Long and Bob Smith enter­ ing hidden roll storage room, Betty Plonien, Bill & Donna Newton, Our thanks to John and Bonnie McClelland, Gil and Jean and Joe Morris on right. Kuykendall, Mrs. Sharp and Ken Caswell for a wonderful weekend After a hearty meal atThreadgill's, a colorful local restaurant, in Austin. When can we do it again? where several well-known artist (Janis Joplin for instance) per­ formed in their early days, the group headed back to the hilly side of town for an evening at Ken Caswells. Having heard Ken's Welte several times before, I was particularly looking forward to hear­ ing it again. It was impressive, as usual, and it seemed like hear­ ing a live concert. We especially enjoyed Ken's comments on the composers and artists of the Welte's golden years and his com­ parison of rolls and acoustic recordings by the same artist. We -.r~ had good wine to drink and delicious chocolate cake for dessert --:; while enjoying the finest piano I have ever heard.

-32- HEART OF AMERICA CHAPTER when they were plugged into it. Hellsteins' upright Mellowtone Reporter: Willa Daniels piano accompanied a group rendition of Partridge in a Pear Tree, highlighted by turtledoves #1 and #2, Shirley Morganroth and Kay Twinkling diamonds strewn on black velvet, Kansas City Bode, displaying undreamed-of vocal talent. lights viewed from Quality Hill on the bluffs above the Missouri River, where the elite lived at the tum of the century, reflected A special treat will precede the spring meeting at Bill and the sparkle of the holiday season. After dinner in town Saturday Billie Pohl's in Springfield, Missouri on March 1. Saturday even­ evening, December 6, Heart of America members were seeing ing, February 28, the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, in a tribute Kansas City after dark. to George Gershwin, will accompany Galen and Linda Bird's seven-foot Steinway Duo Art grand piano, playing Rhapsody in From Quality Hill the bus went on to Crown Center, Blue as part of their program. developed by Hallmark, for half an hour of shopping, but the piece de resistance, famous for its Christmas illumination, was THE PLAZA, the nation's first shopping center. The spectacle of over 152,000 tiny bulbs outlining the entire plaza, a tile-roofed Moorish­ style city covering fifty-five acres in a fifteen-block area, was breath-taking, especially as seen from an outside elevator. As hundreds of other visitors thought so too, hopes for a convivial nightcap at the top were dashed.

Bill Pohl, Mike Hanchett, Billie Pohl, and Linda Bird radiating Christmas cheer.

Hosts Katie and Tom Hellstein seated at their Mellowtone player piano.

Merry Christmas to all from Heart ofAmerica

All right, everybody say 'Ahh!' Sunday morning, Tom and Katie Hellstein of Sugar Creek, MiSSOUri, were hosts for the Christmas meeting of the Heart of CHICAGO AREA America Chapter. Nice collections of Victor tabletop inside-hom Reporter Mel Septon phonographs, pre-l909 one-sided phonograph records, and On October 26th 1986 members of the Chicago pre-1925 Victor Red Seal classical records lined the walls. Elected Chapter of AMICA gathered at the home of Bob and Gloria Taylor for 1987 were Charles Tyler, PreSident; Gerold Koehler, Vice­ to assemble the long awaited Podolsky Ampico rolls. The rolls PreSident; Kay Bode, SecretaryTreasurer; and Willa Daniels, were received from Texas already spooled but still needed to have . Reporter. Following the business meeting, appreciative gourmands the descriptive leaders, tabs and box labels attached. The rolls J demolished a splendid buffet before the always-looked-forward­ then had to be boxed, packed in cartons and shipped. With ap­ to gift exchange. Presents ranged from a tiny hand-operated hurdy­ proximately 1,000 rolls to ship, this turned out to be quite an gurdy to"a player piano roll on bright Christmas paper to a magical undertaking. While the work progressed, Bob played each roll on box that played a tune and made the Christmas tree lights blink

-33- his Mason Hamlin and Fisher Ampico pianos as encouragement to the members. As the work session drew to a close, a large pot of chili and I"~ many delicious side dishes appeared to nourish the troops. Standing in the doorway of the Taylors' spare bedroom and looking at the finished cartons stacked from floor to ceiling gave one a great sense of satisfaction at having been part of this uni­ que project. A full report on the Podolsky Ampico roll project is appear­ ing elsewhere in this issue of theAMICA Bulletin.

Bob Taylor applies box labels to Ampico B boxes

LADY LIBERTY Reporter: Dennis Valente Marty Persky compiling sets "1 of eachn The December meeting of the Lady Liberty chapter featured election of club officers and emphasized music, food and liba- tion. Many thanks go out to Richard Groman for his hospitality ,r­ and for sharing his fabulous collection with us. Two additions to Richard's collection drew the attention of the thirty members at the meeting. The Mills Double Violano is in excellent playing condition although unrestored. Master techni­ cian, Jeff Morgan, does the restoration work for the collection and will not accept less than perfection. He strongly asserts that instruments like the Mills are musical instruments capable of rendering quality musical performances and they are not novelty arcade machines. Like many Violanos fve seen, this onehad steel strings on the violins. Jeff will use gut strings when he rebuilds Richard's instrument in order to achieve a mellow, more pleasing sound. If Jeffrey can do for Richard's recently acquired Steinway Duo .,. Art what he has accomplished for the Ampico, which is still per­ Jim and Wynette Edwards attach leaders forming wonderfully, critics of either system will have a difficult' time trying to prove their point in Richard's music room. Interim secretary, Michelle Pollitt, offered to continue her fine work in that office and Was elected unanimously. The other posts were also filled by the unanimous vote given the incumbents. Leonard Finkel has returned as PreSident, Oliver Vitakis as Vice­ PreSident, who else but the reliable John Ellems as Treasurer, and I'm back at the keyboard again as Reporter. John DeParis was appointed our International Board Representative again, Nick Yengle will serve as photographer, and I will once again have the pleasure of enlisting new chapter members as the membership y- committee. -,. Richard Groman is one of the principal partners who pur- ~ chased the former Klavier Piano Roll Company and moved the renamed company back east. Richard Groman and AMICA Gloria Taylor and Marcie Plank attaching leaders members, Robert Taylor of Philadelphia (partner) and Frank

-34- Jeff Morgan at the Violano Officers: Oliver, Michelle, Lenny, John Ellems, When all else fails - try begging Dennis, John DeParis

John DeParis, Patti Valente, Susan Remmers Richard Carlson, Ron Hall, Randy Herr, Nick Yengle and Steinway

Vice President Oliver Vitakis exercising his authority The Brain Trust at the Keystone Piano Roll Company, Richard Groman, Frank Thompson, Bob Taylor of Phi/delphia, proudly display the first roll cut at their new factory.

-35- Lady Liberty continued - Thompson (technician), demonstrated the first 'Keystone' AMPICO piano roll for the group. The accurate rendition of roll number 69843 (the Enchanted Nymph played by Mischa 7/ Levitzki) gave evidena! oftheir willingness and ability to main­ tain the high level of craftsmanship associated with the historic equipment they now possess. The chapter wishes them a world of good luck. in their venture. We also feel fortunate that such GEORGE· GERSHWIN hard working and able people are going to continue the availability of high quality new rolls. May we never take such things for MANUSCRIPT DONATED granted. Emmett M. Ford In 1946 the late AMICA Honorary Member, Ferde Grofe gave to the Library of Congress the original manuscript of George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue': It was acclaimed by the American public and the popularity of the composition was unquestionably due to the colaboration and orchestration of Grofe, who was the That-Special Roll arranger for Paul~an. The work was recorded on Duo­ Duo-Art #038 Art, and Adam Carroll arranged and recorded it on Ampico "Prelude Op. 28, Nos. 21, 22" (Chopin) 66133-H. Played by Busoni Antonio Latanza Via Crescenzio 19 Rome, Italy 00193

/I'~ • ~n ~£mllrinm • ./ \.,--./ ED FREYER 1913-1987 A most unusual and truly beautiful man has been taken from our midst, quite suddenly. Ed Freyer was a founding member of our AMiCA Chapter, then called the New Jersey Chapter, and recently renamed, the Lady Liberty Chapter. He served as our president, and we affectionately referred to him as the "Parliamentarian". Ed's recollection of our rules, by-laws and motions were encyclopedic. ". His dedication-to AMICA, and MBSI was legendary. Ed's home, workshop, advice, and help were always available and always volunteered. His deep colIlJTlittment to these organizations, led to lifelong relationships with friends and admirers. The character of this man was sweet and beautiful; humble arid selfless - he gave easily of himself, and never demanded. Quite simply, he loved people. Those of us who knew Ed Freyer were impressed and captivated by him.. Indeed, he was one of a few. FERDE GROFE As technician, Ed was a master. His knowledge and skill in cutting those A, G, and Link rolls needs no description, nor his great abilities in restoring those various machines. His passing is so very sad, and we, who looked upon Ed Freyer as a jewel among people, shall all miss him dearly, but will ..r always remember him as a great friend and teacher. .; We express to his family, and all who loved him, our deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences. Leonard Finkel, President . Lady Liberty Chapter

-36- Farewell to a great artist: Pianist Gertrude Durand I suppose the first column of every mired for her musicianship, her ~¥­ the special properties of the finest new S'ear Is something special for the AUDft~ traordinary sensitivity, an infallible musicians, appear quite untarnished writer. Depending on mood and event 'RoEll ear and memory. Pltch·perfect she by age. It can be retrospective, filled with late JOHISON could match the merest squeak of a wisdom or early optimism; a hall or a chair to its precise keyboard tonality, Throughout her life students ­ farewell. Art and without the music before her those she had encountered and taught This column is a farewell. Not sad .S could identify any note sung by a as. music department head at but filled with affectionate recollec- dialogue singer as to whether it was to the St.Thomas·s Alma College and In her tions of agreat ilrtlst.. an outstanding -..,..--:.--:-~ mlnutist degree, sharpened or flat­ private Victoria studio, as well as citizen and a beautiful woman whom and dedIcation to the mUSical well- tened. those with whom she simply con­ it was my good fortune to knew and being of the city. , At the age of 96, Durand was versed - found her Interest vital, from time to time to be assOCiated Her talents and Interests were asked some questions about the inter­ helpful and perceptive. with through many years. many, Including interior decorating pr!!tation of Chopin's G minor Bal­ Gertrude Huntley Green (Durand) for which she had a marked ~alr, lade; to answer, she sat down at the One of her prides was her well-kept died iii Victoria Saturday. She would garden design and gourmet cookmg. plano and played flawlessly by 1939 McLaughlin-Buick which she have celebrated her 99th birthday on But fanUly concern~ ,and the for­ memorY,lts 14 pages. . drove with so much respectful care July 21 this year. She was born Ger- tunes ?f yo~ng ny.uslcla.ns al~ays How long, asked an astonished lis­ that in 1958 she received a good driver trude Huntley In St.Thomas, Orit. and came fl.rst With thiS graCIOUS, gJf~d tener, had it been since she last award from Greater Victoria police her name was already a legend in and canng woman ~ho ~as an actlv~ played It. In casual reply she said, departments "for safe, courteous be­ Canadian music and internationally supporter of the Vlctona Symphony "Oh, about 40 years. But I knew it havior on the highways." known when I was a teen-age plano and Musical Art Society.. rather well at the time." Hers was a long and full life shared student living near enough to her Less generally known IS the vital Tapes she made in the last eight richly with those she leav\!!; behind home to hear her piano on a summer fact th~t she was to a gre~t extent years reveal that her remarkable including son, daughter, grandchil­ evening. responSible for luring Robm Wood gifts were undiminished to any noUce­ dren, great-grandchildren and Durand's career was proof that and his wife, Winifred Scott, home able degree. In spite of the palnlul friends. prodigies do not necessarily bum out from blossoming careers in London, recovery of broken fingers and before maturity. She played In public EnglAnd, to assume leadership of the arthritis. The Intense musical nature, at the .age of four and followed early very young Victoria Conservatory of the warmth and Imagination that are study !n St.ThollJas. Lond?n, Ont. and Music. It was her cable to the Vic­ DetrOit by arrl~mg ~n Pans at age 12. torla-bom Wood that started that for- There she studied With noted teac~ers tunate sequence of events. . of the day - Harold Bauer, Victor Internationally 'Gertrude Huntley Hauk and Moritz Moszkowski. Green was greatiy respected and ad- .Accomplished enough on the violin . to play Bach's difficult unaccom­ panied sonatas, her own favorite in­ strument remained the piano and as a pianist she made her musical debut in Paris at the Salle Erard. Paderewski heard her London Wig­ more Hali debut and recommended study with the brilliant Russian, Medtner. But it was one of early 20th century's finest pIanists, Leopold (rt}. dowsky, to whom she'herself attribut­ ed the ultimate polishing and refine­ ment of her performance style. Godowsky once commented to a friend: "The last time I heard Mrs. Green play she was the finesl woman pianist in the world." During her career she played I\(ith the symphonies of Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Seattle and Victoria. also giving innumerable solo recitals coast-to-eoast. She moved'wlth her first husband, lawyer John R. Green; to Victoria in 1~ and after his death married In ltt5, SUttle pediatrician, Dr. Jay Durand. Upon his retiring they re­ IUmed to Victoria and although no longer giving concerts, Gertrude con­ tinued il4lr life of piano performance

• GERTRUDE Durand: her favorite instrument remained the piano.

An h~norary Member of AMICA, who once recorded for the Ampico. Article from "Times-Colonist", Victoria, British Columbia, Friday, January 16, 1987 Contributed by Don Mayer

-37- ,/

SILENT CONCERT - Inspecting a non-working player struments, he has made a lifetime occupation of rebuilding piano at the Cherokee Strip Living Museum, Bill Pixley the mechanism which can produce a melody with only foot checks for vacuum leaks. With a interest in the antique in- pressure. (Traveler photo by Don Shrubshell)

Pixleymakes players ring true .~ By Iris David player plano. possible to lind, he said that he can Working "You cut your teeth on player get enough supplies to rebuild each Grassroots editor pianos, Ihen you move on to component for the mechanism. What could be more satisfying reproducling pianos, coin operating "In addition to lubes and bellows, lhan sitling before an ornate piano pianos and photoplayers." he said. a player piano has many and being able to play a Specializing in so·called sophisticaled parts. Some had two sonata...all without knowing a "reproducing" pianos whose valves for each pneumatic and one note of music? According to Pixley, a big revival special mechanisms were added to pneum