The
www.amica.org AMICA Bulletin Volume 50, Number 5 Sep-Oct 2013 Automatic Musical Instrument Collectors’ Association
National 8 Roll Changer Coin Piano by Stephen Kent Goodman
ISSN #1533-9726 The AMICA BulleTIN AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT COLLECTORS' ASSOCIATION
Published by the Automatic Musical Instrument Collectors’ Visit the AMICA web site at: http://www.amica.org Association, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax exempt group devot- to enter the “Members-Only” portal, ed to the restoration, distribution, research and enjoyment of Current User Name: AMICA automatic musical instruments. AMICA was founded in San Password: hotglue Francisco, California in 1963.
VOLUME 50, Number 5 September-October 2013 AMICA BULLETIN
FEATURES DEADLINES Ads and articles must be received national 8 Roll Changer Coin piano. . by stephen goodman 186 on or before the 1st of these ODD nickel notes ...... by Matthew Jaro . . . . . 189 months: 50th anniversary table Favor ...... by Ray Fairfield . . . . . 204 January July aMiCans Making Music ...... by vincent Morgan . . . 224 March September May November
COLUMNS Bulletins will ordinarily be mailed in the 1st week of the even months, for president’s Message...... 180 expected delivery mid-month. vice-president’s Message ...... 180 editorial observations ...... 181 Terry Smythe 182 55 Rowand Avenue Membership Update ...... Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3J2N6 Letters ...... 183 204-832-3982 (email preferred) Web sites of interest ...... 184 [email protected] on-Line Research Library ...... 185 annual Reports ...... 193 MEMBERSHIP SERVICES 50th anniversay Convention pictures ...... 208 Membership Dues: Chapter news ...... 218 USA Bulk Mail ...... $55.00 in the news ...... 227 USA First Class ...... $70.00 Overseas ...... $70.00 in Memoriam ...... 230 Canada-Mexico ...... $65.00 ads ...... 234 Renewals – Additional $5.00 due if renewed past the Jan. 31 deadline Address changes and corrections Directory information updates Additional copies of Member Directory . . . $25.00 Single copies of back issues ($10.00 per issue – based upon availability)
Lyle Merithew & Sandy Swirski 416 Colfax Drive San Jose, CA 95123-3403 Front Cover: National 8-roll changer owned by Dick and Cheryl Hack. 408-227-9284 Inside Front Cover: Welte-Mignon ad, contributed by Peter Mintun. [email protected] Centerfold: 50th Anniversary Convention Table Favor. To ensure timely delivery of your BULLETIN, please allow 6-weeks Outside Back Cover: Puppentheatresammlung Munchen 1890 (Postcard) advance notice of address changes. Inside back cover: Music Roll Suppliers
AMICA Publications reserves the right to accept, reject, or edit any and all submitted articles and advertising. While the AMICA Bulletin offers accurate and historic information to its members, the bulletin, its publisher and the AMICA Board cannot be held responsible for contributions that may be considered by some as inaccurate, speculative, or of an OP/ED Format
Entire contents © 2013 AMICA International Printed by Engler Printing Co., Fremont, OH • [email protected] 177 AMICA INTERNATIONAL - International Officers -
PRESIDENT PAST PRESIDENT EDITOR Tim Baxter John Motto-Ros Terry Smythe 939 Briarcliff Rd ne 110 allen Ranch Road 55 Rowand avenue atlanta, ga 30306-4664 sutter Creek, Ca 95685 Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3J2n6 404-377-1220 209-267-9252 204-832-3982 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
VICE-PRESIDENT TREASURER Alan Turner Joe Orens 148 kingsway avenue 8917 Wooden Bridge Road Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3M 0h1 potomac, MD 20854-2448 204-489-3075 301-340-6664 [email protected] [email protected]
SECRETARY MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Bob and Bonnie Gonzalez lyle Merithew & Sandy Swirsky 26 Foremast Cove 416 Colfax Drive Corte Madera, Ca 94925 san Jose, Ca 95123-3403 415-924-6834 408-227-9284 [email protected] [email protected]
- Committees -
AMICA ARCHIVES CONVENTION COORDINATOR Tom hutchinson Frank Nix 15361 hopper Road 6030 oakdale avenue sturgeon, Mo 65284 Woodland hills, Ca 91367 573-442-6675 818-884-6849 [email protected] [email protected]
AMICA MEMORIAL FUND AMICA Honor Roll Ray Dietz Thomas & Donna Stengel 1250 Lanier Road 46 Court st. Martinsville, va 24112-5212 Lancaster nY 14086-2302 276-638-8563 716-683-5309 [email protected] [email protected]
AUDIO-VISUAL & TECHNICAL WEBSITE MANAGER Karl ellison Vacant 6 Lions Lane salem, Ma 01970-1784 978-740-5680 [email protected]
178 aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 AMICA INTERNATIONAL Chapter Officers
FOUNDING CHAPTER LADY LIBERTY ROCKY MOUNTAIN pres: John Ulrich - 510-223-9587
Affiliated Societies and Organizations
American Theatre Organ Society (ATOS) Friends of Scott Joplin Northwest Player Piano Association president/Ceo – ken Double 1217 st. Croix Ct. everson Whittle, secretary 1815 DeFoors Walk, nW kirkwood, Mo 63122-2326 11 smiths Road, Darcy Lever, atlanta, ga 30318 website: http//stlouis.missouri.org/fsjoplin Bolton BL3 2pp, gt. Manchester, england ph: 404-790-5400 email: [email protected] home phone: 01204 529939 e-mail: [email protected] Business phone: 01772 208003 International Piano Archives at Maryland email: [email protected] theatRe oRgan Co-editors – Mike Bryant and Don Feely performing arts Library,University of Maryland editorial office 2511 Clarice smith performing arts Center Reed Organ Society 3111 ne 165th pl. College park, MD 20742 Jim tyler, editor, vancouver, Wa 98682 phone:301-405-9224 email: [email protected] phone: 206-619-6645 Fax: 301-314-7170 e-Mail: [email protected] email: [email protected] Organ Historical Society International Vintage Phono Rollin smith, editor, The Tracker Associazione Italiana Musica Meccanica & Mechanical Music Society email: [email protected] villa silvia - via Lizzano, 1241 C.g. nijsen, secretaire general 47023 Cesena (FC), italy 19 Mackaylaan Pianola Institute phone: 0039-547-323425 5631 nM eindhoven, netherlands Clair Cavanagh, secretary Fax: 0039-547-661264 43 great percy st., London WC1X 9Ra, england email: [email protected] Musical Box Society of Great Britain Website: www.ammi-italia.com alison Biden Player Piano Group st giles hilltop, northbrook Close Duncan James (secretary), Australian Collectors of Mechanical Musical Winchester, hants. 9 Christy avenue, Chelmsford, essex, Instruments so23 0JR, Uk CM1 2Bg, england. peter phillips - editor email: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] 26 alice street padstow, nsW 221, australia Musical Box Society International Smithsonian Institution phone: (612) 9773-4734 Rosanna harris, editor Division of Musical history email: [email protected] p.o. Box 111, Washington, D.C. 20560 Custer, sD 57730 Netherlands Pianola Association 605-673-3068 Society For Self-Playing Musical Instruments nederlandse pianola vereniging email: [email protected] gesellschaft fur selbstspielende att. Jan van hulzen, Member of the Board Musikinstrumente (gsM) e.v. Chopinrode 25 Netherlands Mechanical Organ Society-KDV Ralf smolne, president 2717 Bh Zoetermeer, netherlands a. t. Meijer emmastr. 56 email: [email protected] Wilgenstraat 24 D-45130 essen, germany nL-4462 vs goes, netherlands phone: **49-201-784927 Carousel Organ Association of America Fax :**49-201-7266240 editor/publisher: Ron Bopp email: [email protected] (918) 527-0589 4725 Montrose Dr., Bradenton, FL, 34210 [email protected]
aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 179 President’s Message Dear aMiCans, i hope this finds you enjoying my favorite season, autumn ! i was fortunate this week to have a visit by notable aMiCan Bob taylor (Missouri), who was passing through atlanta on his way back from a trip to Florida. Being the committed enthusiast he is, Bob cheerfully spent an entire day evaluating the 55 rank aeolian Residence organ at Callanwolde Fine arts Center (former home to Charles h. Candler of Coca-Cola fame). Bob’s expert opinions will be submitted to the Callanwolde Board, which is considering additional restoration work that may result in the organ playing its original Duo-art organ repertoire (n.B. Duo-art organ rolls have noth- ing to do with a Duo-art piano roll; i guess aeolian just thought the name “sounded cool”!). i also learned this week of a wonderful restoration being done to the even more massive aeo- lian Residence organ at the former home of george eastman (of kodak fame) in Rochester, new York. half of the eastman house organ’s ranks had been lost to a fire in 1949. Due to the incredibly generous donation of aMiCan Robert Zipf to the eastman house (Dr. Zipf donated both his own aeolian Residence organ, as well as the transportation of same from California), the eastman house aeolian will soon play again just as george eastman heard it. Check out this link to read more: http://tinyurl.com/mgmuqum i am encouraged when, as i was this week, i am reminded that our members continue to be a powerful force for the preserva- tion of mechanical music. an excellent example is our SOWNY Chapter which recently made a cash donation to the eastman house towards restoration of this organ. very commendable. Best, tim Baxter [email protected]
Vice-President’s Message Dear aMiCans, i'm back home from this year's aMiCa golden anniversary Convention that was held in san Francisco. i have to say that the convention this year was a great success and kudos need to be given again to all those who helped make it great! there is a huge amount of work involved behind the scenes by many people, some visible, some quietly doing their tasks. GReAT JOB BY eVeRYONe INVOlVeD!! the board meeting this year was very productive and i believe will produce tangible results over the coming years. perhaps the most significant outcome was formally setting up a "promotions committee" with clear goals and objectives. this committee is capably lead by John Motto-Ros. the ultimate goal of the committee is to come up with new (and perhaps innovative) ways to entice new membership particularly from a younger demographic. Currently, the committee is working on promotional advertisements for aMiCa that can be placed on websites or within journals and magazines. as always, any ideas from YoU, the membership, are welcomed, please send by email (or postal mail) to John Motto-Ros [[email protected]] or myself at my email address below. Musically yours, alan turner - vice-president [email protected]
180 aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 Editorial Observations
aMiCa in its 50th year is showing itself to continue to be vibrant and healthy. our recent convention in san Francisco, its birthplace, was well attended and very enjoyable. the Founding Chapter is to be commended for organizing a fine event. aMiCa has been very much a part of my life for some 40+ years, and our conventions was once again a great opportunity to meet and greet my once-a-year friends. in this issue, the photo spread of this convention provide a modest glimpse into a won- derful array of memorable events. stephen goodman has provided us with a story about a unique nickelodeon i have never seen. once again, Matthew Jaro, winner of the Leo ornstein Literary award, has provided us with a most interesting story, this time about the restoration of one of his own instruments. our Lady Liberty Chapter’s enthused initiative in participating in Coney island history Days, is a great example of what’s possible to promote aMiCa and contribute to the preservation of this unique slice of our musical heritage. and our Founding Chapter outdid themselves, not only in organizing an excellent convention, but they also came up with a stunning table favor, a faithful miniature of a much loved seeburg g orchestrion, complete with sound and lights. While still in reasonably good health at my advanced age, reality is that i am not immortal. For strong personal reasons, i am now into serious downsizing and must relinquish our AMICA Bulletin to other more capable hands. From my experience, i believe it is important that our editor should be a veteran member, knows many of our members, knows about our hobby and how it relates to aMiCa’s goals and objectives, and can attend our conventions. our new editor will receive all my research files, essential for content background and support. i can vouch that the software is not difficult to learn. and i am prepared to assist in the transi- tion.
Regards, terry smythe [email protected]
aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 181 Membership Update
Lyle Merithew & Sandy Swirsky Thomas Bacon ennis & Marilyn hackman Ronald h Reimann 790 hermosa Way 27880 grosse point Drive 6120 hadley avenue south Menlo park, Ca, 94025 sun City, Ca, 92586 Cottage grove, Mn, 55016-1207 650-333-2229 951-679-8019 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Roderick Rogers Alan Bies and Steve Boehck Richard and Joan hawkins 1105 Dover Dr. 1102 heights Boulevard 25625 s. Lincoln Rd salina, ks, 67401 houston, tX, 77008-6913 harrisonville, Mo, 64701 785-820-6454 713-869-3332 816-480-4075 [email protected] [email protected] Daniel Chelius Philip Roth 3825 Berkley ave Kaoru Ishikawa 1920 n. Clark st #3C Drexel hill, pa, 19026 nagabusamachi 230-7 Chicago, iL, 60614-5455 610-394-2193 hachioji, tokyo, 193-0824, Japan 312-751-2463 [email protected] +81426 63 6709 [email protected] Mark Stout Steven Dean 1206 Miramonte Drive 2544 Briggs Rd. Monica Jones santa Barbara, Ca, 93101 Centerville, oh, 45459 2393 Dusan st. [email protected] [email protected] simi valley, Ca, 93065 Steve West ed Gaida John lauter 4395 tami Lane po Box 8174 28722 Farmington Road Central point, oR, 97502 san antonio, tX, 78208-0174 Farmington hills, Mi, 48334 [email protected] 210-227-9999 248-417-2158 [email protected] [email protected] Bob & Anita Wingerd 139 First st Mark and Jan Gliozzo Colleen lindsay Batavia, iL, 60510 251 s. 15th st 19710 n. tully Rd 630-399-1232 san Jose, Ca, 95112 Lockeford, Ca, 95237 [email protected] 408-313-1275 209-727-3111 [email protected] [email protected] Clay Witt 820 Del Rio Way apt 303 John Grant Norman Nibert Merritt island, FL, 32953 14 east 21st st elfindate Residents 321-452-6340 Baltimore, MD, 21218-5923 1707 W elfindate st #315 [email protected] 410-952-8168 springfield, Mo, 65807 [email protected] 417-832-0672 lucas Graves & John herrmann Shawn Quigley 985 n. Quantico st. 1601 shore Rd arlington, va, 22205 ocean view, nJ, 08230 [email protected] 609-390-9299 [email protected]
182 aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 Letters
email from Ian Mavor, returning home to ottawa, Canada, after attending the aMiCa Convention in san Francisco, stopped in email from John Motto-Ros: for a visit to the nickelodeon Museum in Revelstoke, BC, Cana- da - http://www.revelstokenickelodeon.com/
John and Nadine Motto-Ros representing Amador County at the state fair. i received the following email from Dr. Darius Kucinskas, a Pro- fessor of Music at Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuani. I referred him to my web site for Roll Scanning, and to AMICAn Bob Berkman, who is active in foreign language music rolls. Here’s the email exchange: email from darius_kucinskas
From:
Dr. kucinskas in Lithuania is a friend of mine, i've recorded a CD of Lithuanian rolls for him and he's trying to get funding to bring me over for a pianola concert. if you have any leads on Lithuanian rolls i'm sure he'd be happy to hear of them. We first became acquainted thru the UCLa ethnomusicology archive, to whom i've donated hundreds of ethnic rolls. i'd like to encourage other collectors to do the same...
Members who have foreign language music rolls in their collec- tion are encouraged to donate them to the UCLA Ethnomusicolo- gy Archive, through Bob. ts
aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 183 email from Shirley Nix each time we go to convention we come home with more great memories of the area we visited, the things we have Random Thoughts for Today done, and we look forward to the next one. We counted ourselves very fortunate to have alan turn- We just got home from san Francisco yesterday, and we er and his cousin visit us after we got home. We had a great visit have, as usual, so many fond memories of the Convention there. with them, and really appreciated having them come by. this one was special, of course, since it was the fiftieth anniver- our next convention is next year in Fresno, and we are sary of aMiCa and we a big vote of thanks to Bob gonzalez and working hard now to make it another one you will remember for his crew for all their planning which made it the success it was. years to come. We hope you will all join us for another adven- they worked hard, had a lot of fun, and brought it all together, ture. from the excellent choice of hotel, the good assortment of instru- now for a word from our sponsor…..We really need ments in the hospitality suite, workshops which were varied and chapters to step up and agree to hold a convention. Frank has interesting, the visit to the wonderful home of Richard Reut- been getting a lot of negative answers, and it isn't up to one or linger, the fine variety of entertainment, and a great banquet, to two chapters to do it all. each chapter has a responsibility to host all the other fine things they planned for us. We even had a visit the annual convention. that's what keeps the organization from the emperor of san Francisco, which was a surprise to all strong, keeps members in touch with each other, and contributes of us, and a real treat. and of course, the Bay Cruise luncheon to the good of the mechanical music field. We are willing to help was a lot of fun, and enjoyed by all. the table favor this year if needed, but you know your area and what would be interesting was a real winner….a seeburg g. good job, and many thanks. and fun for people to do there. it's really very rewarding, so don't the Bay area has a lot of things to see and do, and a lot say "no". to paraphrase the well-known police saying meant for of folks took an extra day or two to do just that. it's a great place kids …"Just say Yes" You'll be glad you did!!!!!! to explore. table favors are welcome, but not a necessity. if you as usual, meeting old friends we only see once don't have the people to make one don't worry about it, you can a year is such a pleasure, and the new friends we meet along the buy one or just not give one out. the Convention is the draw, the way …. that's one of the great treasures of each convention. it's rest are just extras. always amazing to me how we can have so many "once-a-year" friends. Web Sites of Interest
The Birkshire Carousel Ray Templin's piano roll scanner. (contributed by Jim shulman) (contributed by adam Ramet) http://tinyurl.com/n3rumr4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv5mfmxuRsw http://tinyurl.com/pwjuv9m Barrell operated Componium from 1821 (contributed by adam Ramet) Schweizer Freunde Mechanischer Musik http://www.mim.be/componium?from_i_m=1 (our sister society in switzerland) http://www.sfmm.ch/ hooghuy's Organ Building site (contributed by adam Ramet) light Wave laser (for intricate filigree) http://www.hooghuys.com/english/index.htm (of interest to restorers of reed organs) http://tinyurl.com/kjrp238 Virginia Musical Museum http://www.virginiamusicalmuseum.com/ Mechanical Music Museum in Italy (contributed by adam Ramet) hand crafted street organ http://www.museomusicalia.it/inglese.asp (contributed by vincent Morgan) http://suitcasemachine.blogspot.ca/search?q=organ Multi-Touch Piano Keyboard http://tinyurl.com/ketr356 (contributed by adam Ramet) http://tinyurl.com/nmslz5j AMICA member's home/collection for sale. http://flacollctrhse.webplus.net/ Grieg Piano Concerto, Duo-Art Vorsetzer w/orchestra 1988 featuring Rex Lawson changing rolls. (contributed by adam Ramet) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-gJBUibQJQ
184 aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 Our On-Line Research Library
our members have available to them a first class the panama-pacific international exposition - resource for research, our on-Line Research Library, now con- san Francisco 1915 taining well over 800 documents. this column, formerly known (courtesy of sandy swirski) as our published heritage, will henceforth let all know what new documents have been posted in the library. this library is con- purchaser's guide to the Music industries 1925 stantly under construction, as new original literature comes to our attention, from members on loan, from eBay, from aBe, from local annual book markets, etc. tuners Journal February 1925 Most members tend to acquire occasional items of origi- tuners Journal March 1925 nal literature, some more than others. i appeal to all to consider tuners Journal april 1925 loaning this material so that it can be digitized and posted into tuners Journal May 1925 our library, so that all members may have access to it. tuners Journal June 1925 What follows is a listing of what has been digitized tuners Journal July 1925 since last issue and is now available in our on-Line Research tuners Journal august 1925 Library. tuners Journal september 1925 got to our website and click on “Original literature” tuners Journal october 1925 http://www.amica.org tuners Journal november 1925 tuners Journal December 1925 terry smythe tuners Journal January 1926 [email protected] tuners Journal february 1926 tuners Journal March 1926 appreciation of Music by Means of the Duo-art tuners Journal april 1929 by percy scholes 1926 tuners Journal May 1929 tuners Journal June 1929 photographs of Cliff house, san Francisco
50th Anniversay Convention Roll, hand played by Tom Brier, who brought his Rasberry Jam Band to entertain us.
aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 185 National 8 Roll Changer Coin Piano by Stephen Kent Goodman
of all the types of automatic musical instruments which Stephen Goodman allowed the patron to select the tunes desired individually, none was more successful and well-engineered than the one simply called “The National”, manufactured by the national automatic Music Company/national piano Mfg. Co. of grand Rapids, Michigan. the company had no connection to other automatic piano concerns located in new York and was strictly a grand Rapids, Mi business. What looked like a very plain case keyboard piano con- cealed a complex but brilliantly-efficient mechanism that would accept any number of nickels in one or more of its eight (Yes-8!) coin slots that determined what tune or tunes would be playing and how many times it would play. this was a coin-operated expres- sion piano far more sophisticated than its “a” roll equivalent.
186 aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 they were offered in two known formats: one with plain glass and the words stenciled in bordered gold-leaf “Music Changed Weekly” on the clear glass panel; the other had a mov- ing mechanical diorama featuring a dog race running across the
the rewind mechanism was incredibly energy efficient and reliable. each roll had its own take-up spool. as the single roll unwound in the course of being played, a spring in its individual take-up spool was slowly wound that would cause the roll to upper panel with appropriate race track scenery in the background. rewind automatically when a pallet lever was actuated at the end of the diorama was operated from the same drive wheels that turned the tune. a metal arm would drop down into a large rectangular the rolls from the drive wheel on the pump, which was operated by opening cut into the roll and three events would then simultaneous- a small electric motor. a clever mechanical device randomized the ly occur - the tracker bar would raise up from the roll, the roll would race results. the randomizer turned this into a gaming machine, suddenly shift into a high-speed rewind, and the Ferris-wheel roll despite its advertising claim that the race was “For amusement reel was released to bring into play position the next roll selected. only”. this was american mechanical musical engineering at its best!
hidden under what appeared to be a keyboard cover, were a series of rods, cams, wheels and ladder-chains that operated a Fer- ris-wheel like roll changer holding eight individual rolls of full-song growing up in southern California, i visited knott’s Berry length; often close to 4 minutes each! this coin piano was a bare- Farm in Buena park frequently, primarily to play the coin pianos bones affair - standard piano pedaling controls were included, as and hear the carousel (band) organs, just like so many others who well as vacuum expression controls, making it more a coin-operat- were intrigued and enraptured by these marvelous instruments. it ed expression piano. the number of the tune that was currently seemed as though knotts had every national ever made! playing was indicated by a rotating number wheel- visible through i made friends with the late Barry pearl, who at the time an aperture at the left front side of the case. Unlike the pneumati- was curator, caretaker and general repairman for all the instruments cally-signaled tune indicators triggered by the coin trip valve found at knotts. he kindly would show me the interiors of them and on seeburg’s style kt specials and late style ”C” coin pianos, this explain to the best of his knowledge how they functioned. natural- tune indicator was driven by the roll changer. ly, the national was first on my list for familiarization. i was amazed by the 8-coin slot plate which commanded attention locat-
aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 187 ed at the upper right front of the case, which also held the titles of When i went to make the final payment, the former owner the selections corresponding to the numbered coin slots. the asked me if i wanted some “spare parts” for it. Being new in the words “Music Changed Weekly” in gold leaf decals announced hobby, i gulped thinking that maybe this wasn’t such a hot idea and the intention of keeping the program current for the clients. in actu- that most of the guts were still out of the piano (it was far from ality, i doubt if the rolls on those pianos had ever been changed playing when i bought it). as it turned out, the “spare parts” were since they first arrived at knotts! i realized that the decal was actually all the playing and operating mechanisms to make an intended for clients of long ago- lest they think last week’s hits were entirely separate national if one had a gutted case! after placing an still being played. ad in the antique trader Weekly, i received a ‘phone call from the a few years later, i was fortunate to acquire a national late noble stidham of Lubbock texas. i told noble that i would needing full restoration and after a complete rebuilding (including hold all the parts for him for one week as he was the first to call and the revitalizing of one very tired piano) and cosmetic make-over, i it would probably take that time to arrange a truck to pick them up was able to enjoy the real reason to own a national- the music. i from me in southern California. noble’s enthusiasm to acquire recognized many rare blues numbers played by a variety of leg- those parts was so overwhelming that he assured me he was going endary artists like Fats Waller, James p. Johnson, eubie Blake and a to hit the road for California as soon as he fueled up his truck; it young earl hines, to name but a seems he had a completely gutted few. Most of these were on the national case waiting for them! national automatic Music nationals are currently one of Company, grand Rapids, Mi the “best buys for the money” in label. some of these arrange- automatic musical instruments. ments are so outstanding and With any luck, one should be rare that a number of 88-note able to acquire one as of this writ- recuts were made from them. ing for under $3,000 in unre- i speculated on where stored condition. given the my “nationals” came from, mechanical engineering, history, particularly the intact one i now entertainment value and above all was the proud owner of. Was it musicality of these remarkable originally used perhaps in a lit- instruments, they have all the tle waterfront café in Long hallmarks of important and desir- Beach or san pedro, or a pool able pieces at home in any fine hall in south Central Los collection of automatic musical angeles or a dozen other places instruments which places a pre- in and around the southern mium on american music and California area? i was surprised americana. when i found out from the former owner that it came from a gam- What’s indicated on the tracker scale as hole # 1 (Chest bling hall in virginia City, nevada, active in the 20’s! a coin vacuum vent), is a note intensity modifier. observing a roll in play machine operator had several on location there. so they were really one may see occasionally what appears as a rhythmic percussion used in a wide variety of locations and situations. track mirroring the rhythm played by the right hand. Most nationals evidently were made for the route opera- national 8-roll Changer piano tracker scale: tor’s use. the piano would be placed for no money out of the busi- 12”wide, 6 holes per inch. ness owner’s pocket in a saloon, pool hall, brothel, etc. (i imagined 1 - Chest vacuum vent that they were never really intended for a high-class location- 2 - hammer rail down indeed, the Laurel & hardy comedy The Live Ghost features a 3 - hammer rail up national in a seedy waterfront saloon known for its “shanghai mar- 4 - 68; 65 playing notes, a-C# itime practices”), where the cash box was divided up between 69 - sustaining pedal business owner and route operator. Unlike every other manufactur- 70 - Low vacuum er of commercial coin operated pianos, nationals were never sold 71 - normal (Full) vacuum outright, but the company had agreements with operators for their commercial placements. “property of the national automatic i wish to thank the following for their contributions: Dick and Music Co.” indications could be found on most pianos. some were Cheryl hack, Bob gilson, philip a. edwards, Museum Curator; leased to businesses as well. empire state theatre & Musical instrument Museum, Chris galan- tine and tim L’amoureux. 188 aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 Nickel Notes by Matthew Jaro
keeping the machine for years. For the first nickelodeon i acquired was a Nelson-Wiggen Matthew Jaro example, the pin block was in terrible 4-X machine in July, 1992. this machine plays g rolls or 4-X shape after the work. it was loose from the sound board and the rolls. i didn’t know much about nickelodeons, but i knew i want- sides of the cabinet. it was held in by the cast iron plate only. ed a nelson-Wiggen after listening to the “Quarterlodeons” Lp the machine had all of the expression pneumatics miss- record many times. its sweet, melodic sound made it irresistible. ing and i thought it would be good to have expression put it. When i examined the machine, i noticed that the xylophone was also, the top was warped and the cabinet finish was poor. again, connected to the mandolin rail pneumatic so that the xylophone Dave Ramey was the name that came up and it turned out that he played only when the mandolin rail was down. i knew that this could start on project without much delay. so i said “good-bye” wasn’t right since g and 4-X rolls have extra instrument on and to the machine temporarily. off channels that are indepen- it turned out that dent of the mandolin rail. there was a lot to do. here i determined that is the list: the xylophone lock and cancel valve was not func- Restore Cabinet— tioning and that was why the xylophone was * Replace veneer on sides switched around. Upon * Make new lid to match inquiry as to who was the cabinet best person to look at the * Repair damaged lock machine, the answer was and supply new keys overwhelmingly “Dave * install new casters Ramey”. as luck would * Refinish cabinet have it, there was an MBsi * Replace plating or clean meeting in tysons Corner, and age hardware virginia in august of 1992. * install curtains this was not too far from our house, and Dave Restore Piano— Ramey volunteered to stop by on his way to the con- * install new pin block vention. he came with his * Refinish soundboard wife and started to look at * install new tuning pins the machine. he said “Let * install new strings me see if i remember how * Refinish piano plate the nelson-Wiggen lock * Replace plating on hard- and cancel works”. he ware took the valve with him, * Clean and rebuild action fixed it in the shop when wippens he got back and mailed it * install new butts and to me. i always remember hammers how generous he was to * install new damper felts work on such a small pro- * Replace incorrect man- ject for a novice collector dolin clips with original with only one instrument. Banjo Rail blocks the great twist of fate was that almost exactly 20 years later, i had his son, Dave Ramey, Jr. restore the machine from the Restore electric Components— ground up. thus, a Dave Ramey was both the first and last per- son to look at the machine. * Restore coin mechanism (install missing spiral spring cover) in the intervening years, i had the piano “rebuilt” by a * Replace plating on hardware reputable technician who agreed to do pneumatic work as well. * install relay and cover (lessens wear on coin mech contacts) this person, who shall remain nameless, did a horrible job after * install vintage light fixtures using custom made fabric covered
aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 189 wiring and fabric wire loom) * Replace all gaskets * Clean and polish motor and install new plated adjuster knob * Replace all coverings * Make and install missing hammer Rail unit Restore Xylophone— * Make and install missing tubing guides * Replace rubber tubing * Clean bars and apply coating of tung oil * tune bars to original pitch Just this week (aug. 11, 2013), Dave drove the machine * Replace copper plating on hex screws to our house in Maryland from Marysville, ohio and made sure * Replace stringer cord everything was working great. in addition, while here, he could- * Make and install missing expression devices (two pneumatics, n’t resist doing some work on my seeburg “k” machine! rest rail, and related hardware) Dave Ramey, sr. started in 1955 receiving his automatic * Replace all valve pouches and valve face leathers music education while maintaining the nickelodeon collection at * Replace all gaskets svoboda’s nickelodeon tavern and Museum. around 1970, * Replace all coverings Dave, sr. began a full time restoration business. Dave trained a * Replace brass plating on beater wires number of skilled craftsmen. he introduced the Banjo-orchestra * Make and install new bellow springs in 1994 and the D.C. Ramey piano Company has since sold many units. Dave Ramey, sr. passed away in July of 2006. his Restore Piano Stack/Rebuild Simplex unit Valves son started in the family business full time in 1986 after years of working after school and summers alongside his father. Dustin * Replace all valve pouches and valve face leathers hott has worked with Dave since 2009 and he did much of the * Replace all gaskets piano work for the restoration project. * Replace all coverings the restoration of the nelson-Wiggen was so wonder- * Replace plating on top valve seats ful, that if it were now 1925 and i ordered one new from the fac- * Reseal bottom valve seats tory, and it looked like what i got from Dave, i would be perfect- ly happy. Restore Vacuum Pump— i can’t believe it!! i have to look at it periodically to marvel at the restoration. i would be playing it now, except i am * Replace outer covering with sealed leather writing this article for the approaching deadline for the AMICA * Make and install new inner and outer flap valves Bulletin. the expression system really does add a lot. the xylo- * Recondition pump body phone beaters move closer to the bars when the hammer-rail * Clean and/or replace plating of hardware (brass and nickel) channel is active. this gives an amazingly subtle sound. * install new friction drive tire one side note —- it’s great to have friends like Bart Off * Resurfaced idler pulley who contributed original curtains and the lid molding. he also * Make and install new drive belt (shorten original drive belt as helped on technical issues. For example, the original machines well) had “banjo rails” rather than “mandolin rails”. instead of metal clips, there are small blocks of wood which makes a banjo-like Restore Music Roll Frame— sound when struck. so i now have a banjo rail on the machine. Dave Ramey, Jr. can be reached at * Clean mechanism [email protected] — his phone is (708) 602-3961. visit * Replace brass plating on hardware his website dcramey.com. as always, i can be contacted at * Clean and polish tracker bar [email protected] * swap seeburg style spool ends with matching style * paint spool ends to look like original Bakelite spool ends * Restore rewind/play unit * Replace rubber tubing * Make and install missing tubing cover
Restore Drum Shelf—
* Make and install missing on/off unit * Make and install missing expression devices * Replace all valve pouches and valve face leathers * Replace all gaskets * Replace all coverings * install new synthetic skin drum head * Replace plating on triangle and hardware
Restore other Pneumatic Components— Interior before restoration. * Replace all valve pouches and valve face leathers 190 aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 Old lid. New lid.
Old xylophone pneumatics. Rebuilt unit valves.
Rebuilt piano parts.
Interior after restoration. Top interior after restoration.
aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 191 Soundboard and plate before restoration. After restoration, soundboard and plate refinished, and restrung.
Banjo rail specifications. The man who made it all possible - Dave Ramey, Jr.
192 aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 Annual Reports San Francisco, July 2013
PuBlISheR’S RePORT: Minutes of Annual Board Meeting Violina Book: of the 750 books published, 17 are left. san Francisco, Ca, 10 July 2013 AMICA Bulletin: now full color and an attempt is made to In Attendance: keep the Bulletin under 52 pages so additional postage is not incurred. tim Baxter president John Motto-Ros past president Founding encyclopedia of Disk Music Box Book: Manuscript is com- alan turner vice president northern Lights, Winnipeg pleted, layout is at ~40%, target late 2013, help is needed to Bob gonzalez secretary Founding administer the book sales. author Q. David Bowers has person- Bonnie gonzalez Co-secretary Founding ally appealed for grand patrons to each support this initiative Joe orens treasurer at Large with a contribution to aMiCa of a suggested $1,000; thus far, 12 terry smythe editor northern Lights, Winnipeg people have committed. Lyle Merithew Membership secretary Founding sandy swirsky Membership secretary Founding encyclopedia of Organettes book. authored by Q. David Bow- vincent Morgan Lady Liberty ers, he is arranging for it to be laid out, and presented to aMiCa Maryam Morgan Lady Liberty as a ready-to-go book, manuscript completed, layout about 20% gary Craig heart of america done, target early 2014. Ray Dietz Memorial Comm. Chair Carl Dodrill pacific Can-aM On-line Research library: Currently has ~1,000 documents Mike Dalton soWnY on-line, 250+ issues of Music trades yet to be scanned, against Richard van Metre Chicago ~125 issues completed and posted for our members; emmett Liz Barnhart Midwest Ford archives yet to be scanned. Bill Chapman so. Cal. Rich Clayton texas CONVeNTION RePORT: Frank nix reported that the 2012 peter Metcalf Boston convention in pittsburgh ended in a profit; the 2013 convention is Frank nix so. Cal. in san Francisco; the 2014 convention will be in Fresno, Ca; and paul Watkins northern Lights, Mpls. the 2015 will be held in Denver, Co. no one has volunteered for 2016 and beyond. suggestions were made and discussed about CAll TO ORDeR: 9:02 am having a professional event planner organize some conventions.
ATTeNDeeS: president tim Baxter and host Chapter Repre- ChAPTeR RePORTS: all Chapter representatives reported sentative, Bob gonzalez welcomed the Chapter representatives. concerns about conserving membership, recruiting new mem- bers, finding new venues, and seeking outreach opportunities. APPROVAl OF MINuTeS: m/s/p Craig/vanMetre/pass Rich Clayton reported that the texas chapter has lost its vice president and that the Chapter is struggling with membership. CORReSPONDeNCe: no correspondence soWnY Chapter was commended for their donations in support of restoration of instruments in public places, and other initia- MeMBeRShIP SeCReTARY’S RePORT: sandy and Lyle tives so noted in their Chapter Report. reported that 1,025 members have paid dues. 95 have not terry smythe appealed to all Board Representatives to include a renewed membership in aMiCa and follow-ups are underway. picture of the host(s) and of those in attendance as a part of the Chapter Meeting Reports. OFFICeR’S RePORTS: a motion was made to accept the officer’s reports. m/s/p Clayton/Dalton/pass a motion was made to accept the chapter reports. m/s/p Craig/Morgan/pass TReASuReR’S RePORT: see attachment Motion made to accept report: m/s/p Motto-Ros/swirsky/pass ADVeRTISING COMMITTee: John Motto-Ros reported a motion was made to approve the budget: m/s/p smythe/Dal- that messages had been sent to his committee members, but none ton/pass had responded. ideas for recruiting new members were dis-
aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 193 cussed. John agreed to chair a promotions committee for another the most immediate issue we face is the necessity of year. president Baxter will reach out to the members at the gen- obtaining and grooming a successor to our fantastic publisher, eral Meeting on sunday. terry smythe. someone from within the organization needs to step forward to carry on this important work. the Bulletin is the PuBlICATIONS COMMITTee: terry smythe reported that one thing that binds us together across the many miles, and the Committee, currently a Committee of one, needs help with between conventions. terry doesn't need to step aside immediate- someone to take over Bulletin Content/Layout, help with nour- ly, but he would like to begin the transition as soon as possible. ishment/maintenance of our on-Line Research Library, book lay- i feel compelled to report about the lack of follow-up on out/administration, etc., as reported in his Report. he especially some of the initiatives the Board takes during its annual meeting. needs assistance with administration of the book sales. Motions are passed and committees are duly formed, but by the time of the next Board meeting, often nothing has actually uPDATeD DIReCTORY: an updated directory will be pro- occurred. i need people to follow through on their commitments duced that will include anyone who was a member last year and so that Board action items will happen as intended. i do not those who are members this year. the update will include revi- except myself from this criticism; a review of the 2012 minutes sions to By-laws since 2009. reveal that i was to chair a newly-formed committee (a perma- nent "adopt-a-piano" committee) and that committee took no SOCIAl MeDIA: alan turner reported that there are 158 action in the past year. members on Facebook. Long term, we continue to face declining membership. there is no easy fix for reversing this. i have made numerous ADOPT-A-PIANO COMMITTee: tim Baxter suggested that suggestions in my "President's Messages" and do not need to the program be expanded to include adoption of other instru- repeat them all here. i again ask each member to try and be an ments. For example, eastman house has an aeolian organ for evangelist for the hobby and to get new people interested in our which the soWnY Chapter has donated $500 towards it restora- passion for mechanical music. tion. there is much to celebrate as well; the members we do have are, for the most part, vibrant and engaged. there is more RePlACeMeNT OF WeB MASTeR: tim Baxter agreed to and better music available for our instruments than perhaps at assume the WeB with the help of a professional web master. any time since the golden era, either findable on eBay, or with the cost to be $2500 per year. a motion was made to accept this numerous folks recutting rolls of the very highest quality. the proposal. m/s/p Motto-Ros/vanMetre/pass internet and electronic mail make possible a tremendous sharing of ideas and communications that was simply not possible as RePlACeMeNT OF COMMITTee ChAIRS: tom stengel recently as 20 years ago. there is much preservation of musical (honor Roll) and tom hutchinson (archives) have appealed for media and historic publications, and aMiCa is leading the way replacement members. Furthermore, with harold Malakinian’s on this. passing, a replacement will be needed for the a/v Committee. Finally, i would like to write about the recipient of the a notice to this effect to appear in next aMiCa Bulletin. m/s/p AMICA President's Award for 2013, Spencer Chase. i had Motto-Ros/orens/pass. already chosen spencer when another Board Member approached me to recommend him. it was an easy decision for several rea- STATuS OF eBAY SAle OF SCANNeD MATeRIAlS: sons. these include the fact that spencer has contributed enor- alan turner, vice president, reported that due to unforeseen mously to the preservation of mechanical music by scanning lit- extenuating circumstances, the 52 issues of Music trades, from erally thousands of music rolls, and at a sufficiently high resolu- within the Montgomery Collection, have yet to be offered on tion that they can be recut into punch-for-punch replicas ofthe eBay. they have been scanned and their content posted into originals (spencer doesn't take short cuts in anything he does). in our on-Line Research Library. aMiCa does not have the addition, spencer has great expertise as a restorer and hobbyist resources to maintain a physical library. eventual proceeds will and willingly shares his knowledge with absolutely anyone; he is replenish the acquisitions Fund as a revolving credit. always approachable and helpful. spencer also writes a great deal of technical matter concerning our hobby in several different OTheR NeW BuSINeSS: it was suggested by vice-president publications, but does so in an intelligible and self-effacing man- alan turner that members who have passed on be remembered at ner. it is thus with great pleasure that i award Spencer Chase the the general Membership Meeting on sunday. AMICA President's Award for 2013. a motion was made to adjourn. Respectfully submitted, Timothy Baxter, president Officer/Committee Reports Vice-President Report President's Report it has been an honor to serve as your vice-president this it has been a privilege to serve as your president again past year and i am looking forward to the coming year as being this year. i have been well-served by all of our officers and hope even more interesting and exciting. the role of vice-president is you will join me in thanking them for their service. two-fold: first to act as liaison to the Chapters and second to aMiCa is in its 50th year, which is a tremendous chair the awards committee for awarding the Leo ornstein Liter- achievement. Yet we face significant challenges. ary and aMiCa international awards. i have continued to write a 194 aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 short column in the aMiCa bulletin encouraging our member- have ContinUeD WoRk as a Convention ship to recruit new members as well as think about ways to CoMMittee MeMBeR FoR the so™ anniveRsaRY (re)kindle interest in our hobby. another initiative i began this 2013 Convention in san FRanCisCo. year is the creation of a Facebook group for aMiCa. the group as noMinating CoMMittee ChaiRMan, We currently has about 150 members and is growing steadily. Using haD no iMMeDiate vaCanCies to FiLL. social media, such as Facebook, can be an additional forum to MY eXpenses have Been MiniMaL; theRe- announce items and events of interest to fellow aMiCan's. if FoRe, i aM not BiLLing aMiCa FoR theM. you have a Facebook account, you can find the aMiCa group by searching for "aMiCa - automatic instrument Collectors' RespeCtFULLY sUBMitteD association". i look forward to seeing more of our membership JOhN A. MOTTOROS joining the page in the upcoming year. aMiCa past pResiDent Chapter liaison Treasurer's Report the role of Chapter Liaison is challenging. i am work- aMiCa national had revenue in fiscal year 2012 of ing to enhance its effectiveness but i need more input from the $78,215.77. national membership dues in fiscal year 2012 were Chapters. it would be great if Chapters could send me notices of somewhat less than membership dues in fiscal year 2011. the upcoming activities such as meetings, concerts or special events year-to-year variation in membership dues primarily is due to the they may be holding. this information could be sent to me by number of members renewing on or before December 31st. email (preferred) or snail mail at the address below. i am looking in fiscal year 2012 aMiCa national set up a $10,000 forward to hearing from all the Chapters of the great events and fund for the acquisition of historical documents to be scanned initiatives they are holding or sponsoring. and placed on the aMiCa website. once acquired documents are alan turner scanned they will be deaccessioned with the proceeds used to 148 kingsway Winnipeg, Manitoba, CanaDa R3M 0h1 replenish the fund. email: [email protected] in fiscal year 2012 aMiCa national received $6,000 from grand patrons toward the publication of the Violin-Playing Awards Machines book by Q. David Bowers and $17,628.19 from its the awards committee (Joe orens, terry smythe and i) sales. considered the nominations put forward from the Chapters for the aMiCa national had expenses in fiscal year 2012 of two awards listed below. Like last year, there was a somewhat $82,998.85. in fiscal year 2012 aMiCa national had expenses of poor return of nominations from the Chapters. however, the $7,800 to acquire historical documents. in fiscal year 2012 nominees put forward were all good candidates and gave us a aMiCa national had expenses of $20,548.06 for the publication deserving list of people to choose from. i encourage the Chapters and processing of the Violin-Playing Machines book. to begin thinking of worthy people to nominate for these awards the total aMiCa international revenue (national and for 2014; i need the nominations by the end of December this Chapters) for fiscal year 2012 was $149,809.85 and the total year. aMiCa international expenses (national and Chapters) for fiscal year 2012 were $152,787.67. at the beginning of fiscal year AMICA International Award 2012 the net assets of aMiCa international (national and Chap- the aMiCa international award this year will be given to Jim ters) were $193,284.00 and at the end of fiscal year 2012 the net & Sherrie Krughoff for their ongoing and generous support to assets of aMiCa international (national and Chapters) were aMiCa over many years. $190,306.18 - a net decrease of $2,977.82. aMiCa international remains financially sound. see spreadsheets at of these reports. leo Ornstein literary Award Respectfully submitted, the Leo ornstein Literary award this year will be given to Joe Orens Matthew Jaro for his excellent and always interesting "Nickel Notes" contributions to the AMICA Bulletin. MeMBeRShIP SeCReTARY'S RePORT
Respectfully submitted, as of april 20, 2013 we had 1026 members/households Alan W. Turner, (this number includes affiliates, Founding Members, gifted vice-president, Members and honorary Members.) of these 1026 members, Winnipeg, MB, CanaDa 1006 were paying or gifted members. a member can be an indi- vidual, a family or an organization. in June of 2012 we had 1046 members; therefore we have a deficit of 40 members. since 109 PAST PReSIDeNT/ NOMINATING have not renewed for 2013, hopefully this deficit will decrease. COMMITTee RePORT new members and rejoining members: in 2012 we had 78 new and rejoining members (January 1st through December this past YeaR has Been ReLativeLY QUiet 31st.) so far this calendar year 2013 (January 1st through april FoR the past pResiDent. i have CoMMUniCateD 20th) we have 31 new and/or rejoining members. We have about With pResiDent tLM BaXteR, as WeLL as otheR 5 fewer new/rejoining members than we had at approximately inteRnationaL oFFiCeRs. this time last year.
aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 195 Late Dues payments: the deadline for payments is Jan- of the content of our on-line research library emerged from a pre- uary 31. Dues notices are sent to everyone in mid-november. vious editor, Robin pratt, who arranged reprints of much of his Reminder notices are sent in February with a requested late fee, personal collection of original literature, as gifts to members, which some people honor. an e maii message was sent to mem- very much appreciated. bers who had not renewed by January 8 as a reminder. there was * our on-line research library now has within it some 800+ docu- some response, reducing the number of reminder notice letters ments, books, pamphlets, monographs, owner's manuals, cata- that needed to be sent. as of april 20, 2013 109 members have logs, etc, in addition to the Billings Rollography, and all AMICA not responded or paid their 2013 dues. Local clubs have been Bulletins back to 1964. sent a copy of all 109 non renewal members to see if they can assist us in determining why these members have not renewed. Initiatives underway payment Methods: aMiCa accepts cash, checks, credit * Member Q. David Bowers, has authored a new book, Encyclo- (not debit) cards and paypal. Joe orens receives the paypal pedia of Disc Music Boxes, layout of which is underway. overly notices and forwards them to the membership secretary. optimistically, our target was to have a finished book in hand for gift memberships have been made available for one our 50th anniversary convention in san Francisco in July. how- year from piano technicians for their clients. ever, unforeseen impediments have emerged, once again, Dave advertising: in the renewal letters a coupon for a free successfully appealed to 12 grand patrons, to support aMiCa's 100 word classified advertisement is included as part of the publications initiative, with contributions to aMiCa of $1,000 or renewal. more, a fine expression of confidence. * Member, Q. David Bowers, has authored a new book, Encyclo- editor's Report pedia of Organettes. Layout and publication underway, expected the publications Committee is guided by the following to be presented to aMiCa ready-to-go. as extracted from our By-Laws: Publications Committee Needs ARTICle II, OBJeCTIVeS * historically, this committee has been a committee of one. this (b) to promote the acquisition and distribution of instruments, has to change, as evidenced by the above. participants are needed recordings, and technical and historical information concerning for: these instruments (g) to educate the public about the historical * Content and layout of our aMiCa Bulletin. ideally a and cultural significance of automatic musical instruments. veteran member comfortable with computers and desktop pub- lishing, or prepared to learn as i did. this job brings with it a ARTICle IV, reasonable stipend. section 8. pUBLisheR the publisher shall be ex-officio chair- * Layout of new books as they emerge, comfortable man of the publications Committee. the committee shall be with computers and desktop publishing, or prepared to learn as i responsible for the publication of the official journal of the asso- did. ciation, and any other publications as authorized by the Board of Directors. * administration associated with publication of books. * scanning original literature for our on-line research Achievements library. * starting with nov-Dec 2009 issue, internal color pages were * Researchers to take advantage of the wealth of information introduced as a consequence of doing the layout ourselves. since now available within our on-line research library, aimed at either then, color pages have featured continuously and in 2013, full new books or Bulletin articles. color issues were introduced for the first time. hopefully will * Chapters to initiate regional restoration projects aimed at pub- continue. lic venues, such as local historical societies, museums, etc. Coin- * Member, Q. David Bowers, authored violin-playing Machines. cident with these initiatives, a photo essay and documentation he successfully persuaded 6 grand patrons to each support aimed at future articles of these achievements in our AMICA Bul- aMiCa's publication efforts by contributing at least $1,000 to letin. aMiCa. 650 copies of that book were published, and less than 10 copies remain. With a modest net surplus of -$3,000, this ini- i have absorbed postage, telephone and misc expenses tiative can be considered to have been a success as measured as my contribution to aMiCa. against our goals and objectives. Respectfully submitted, * the Board approved an acquisitions Fund, initially funded by contributions to acquire the Montgomery Collection, which made Terry Smythe Chair, it possible to move quickly in acquiring -400 issues of Music publications Committee trades, an oversize weekly journal, serving the musical instru- smythe@shaw. ca ment manufacturers industry 1915 to 1918. this collection has been supplemented by another -200 issues purchased by a mem- MeMORIAl COMMITTee RePORT ber. to date, 220 issues have been scanned and posted into our the following is the final Memorial Committee Report, fox the on-line research library. the intent of this Fund is that once digi- year of 2012. this report includes activity from august 2012 tized, original literature will be disposed of to fund future acqui- through 10 Feb. 2013, sitions, affectionately referred to as Rippling acquisitions. Much
196 aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 Memorials Sent Directly to Memorial Committee: have an interest in taking this role (there will be a stipend/salary with it) please contact president tim Baxter. Memorial Gift In Memory Of Karl ellison, Fran Willyard Jay albert Website Manager Memorials Received By Sandy Swirsky With Membership Renewals Chapter Reports Drapkin, Christina Cynthia Craig FOuNDING ChAPTeR RePORT Dover, Cecil Chase, thomas & graham, Marilyn Bill pixley PReSIDeNT ulRICh leADS hIS PARTY Clarke, Dorothy harry gail Clarke it was a wet day and could have been dreary had we not Connor, Ron Mary ellen Connor met at John ulrich's home to hear his collection and to actually Correa, Ronald get some chapter business done. the Convention Committee Dietz, nancy and Raymond spent the best part of an hour trying to decide on activities for Firth, harry Julie Firth conventioneers to enjoy. We welcomed two new aMiCa mem- glier, Daniel For Bulletin bers to the chapter, John kiszla and Jim Finlay. hartwell, Barbara and Ron our host has an upright haines ampico, a Chickering howard, Robert ireian, grand ampico, a Coinola and a violano. the Chickering and Faye and Wayne violano equipped to play midi files, and can accompany each Lear, tom & nelson, Dick Dean Randall other. in the garage are two beautiful vintage packards and anoth- Lohr, Richard Jim gleason er resting under cover in the driveway. Car buffs can hardly wait Metcalf, Judith & peter to see what that one looks like now so we can make comparisons Motto-Ross, nadine & John when John's finished with it. palmer, tony & Mariam We got some chapter work done, and had a great time. sharkey, Rita & William Four large donated boxes of 88 note rolls were sold for $1 per spencer, John roll, all money going to the chapter. as always, we chatted with stevens, nancy & Jack old friends and made new ones. traeey, eileen & edward Urbieta, Javier JulIe PORTeR'S MeeTING van opdorp, John although traffic was heavy and slow until we got total donations to the Memorial Fund are $1090.00. through the Caldecott tunnel, our south Bay area car pool con- this compares with previous years $838.00, $621.00,and sisting of sandy swirsky, Lyle Merithew, Chuck schoppe, and $930.00. thank you letters have been written to all donors and driver Darryl Coe arrived shortly after 1pM. the weather was acknowledgement letters that a memorial donation has been gorgeous, which enabled us a fantastic view of the harbor from given, have been sent to the families of memorial recipients. the the hilltop location of the porter home. Memorial Committee Chairman has sponsored all postage as a the outdoor patio was the location for our meeting, ably contribution to aMiCa. conducted by pres. John Ulrich, during which we were kept mor- tified by the ample drink and food table setup nearby. a short Respectfully, report on the pittsburg convention started off the meeting, fol- Ray Dietz Chairman lowed by discussion of our 2013 sF convention led by Bob gon- zalez. Website Manager's Report after the meeting many of us gathered in Julie's work- shop to see a hardware and software demonstration of her roll our website has been viewed 103,000 times, 6210 alone scanner. Bob gonzalez had a couple of rolls he brought to be last year. scanned, successfully resulting in two MiDi files which will be Jack edwards in san Jose continues to field inquiries played on his Yamaha piano. We were then treated to several from the site. terry smythe in Winnipeg continues to provide tunes played on Julie's Caliola, recently awarded a first place new content to the "original Literature" section of the Members- float award in the local July 4 parade. Congratulations to the only page. porter family for receiving this award and for making aMiCa at some point in 2013, i'll be stepping down from the better known to the parade attendees in Martinez! thanks from role of website manager. i feel i've reached my technical limit as all of us to Julie porter and her parents for hosting our event. to adding more modern features to our website. others with greater e-skills can take our website - our "world presence" to the ROY'S MeeTING next level. it's been fun doing this for the last 8 years, but i've if you heard Roy's words about Mrytle, you know that reached a wall. Myrtle is a theater organ. the console is on display. the rest of the new website manager will take a greater role as an the instrument is in the garage, a storage unit, on the floor and at all-enveloping "social Media Manager" that will oversee the a friend's house. he says that he will be spending a good part of website, twitter, Facebook, paypal etc. accounts, and their inte- the next two years assembling Myrtle, a Wurlitzer theatre organ. gration and functionality that today's marketplace expects. if you
aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 197 Roy has a very big project going on with the installation midi files to be played back on Bob's Yamaha 7' Disklavier. the of his Wurlitzer pipe organ and the accommodating addition to purists present played rolls on the Weber Duo-art grand and/or his home. this pipe organ, with the unlikely name of "Myrtle", fed nickels to the kt special. it was a great day and the back has a very broad and interesting history and travel record yhich deck was very inviting. Roy outlined for us. initially installed in the petaluma opera house in 1924, it was later installed at the home of isadora Dun- Chicago Chapter can in 1930 through 1940. Roy's collection includes a knabe ampico, a steinway i n Chicago we are fortunate to have an active and avid Duo art, a Welte vorsetzer two nickelodeons and the crown jewel group of collectors of musical antiques. We therefore also have of the whole collection, a Rollmonica. several hobby organizations and clubs. our aMiCa members are the weather was fantastic; Roy's collection got a work- most often members also of the MBsi (musical boxes), Maps out and we obeyed the first by-law of aMiCa. We had a good (phonographs), Cato (theater organs), and various other time. carousel, car clubs and music groups. thus, we see each other TOM hAWThORN'S MeeTING frequently, but not necessarily at local aMiCa meetings. We have 83 memberships which include over 130 members. sacramento area aMiCa members, Tom hawthorn, in 2012 we had two meetings. in august Paul and Cyn- Fred Deal and Don Boland, opened their homes for a visit by thia Meyer hosted 20 members and friends in their suburban Bay area members and shared their unique collections. tom's home. in addition to their music instruments, we were treated to home is packed with records, cylinders, many sound players and an exceptional back yard with a garden railroad and an incredible recording devices. his wonderful collection of sheet music deco- o gauge Lionel train layout in the basement with numerous oper- rates the walls. We enjoyed hearing "Danse Macabre" played on ating cars and accessories. his ampico grand piano. tom's wine cellar is really something. our holiday party in December was hosted by Jasper Fred Deal's eclectic collection of phonographs, early and Marian Sanfilippo whose fabulous collection is never stat- televisions and radios is most interesting. he played many of ic. We were treated to a monumental Mermod Freres inter- them and entertained us with an unusual cylinder called "Casey changeable cylinder music box in a heavily carved cabinet on a Jones". matching buffet and a Wurlitzer tonophone which plays the Don's home is packed with unusual collectables. every- piano pneumatically from the pinned barrel. on the lower level thing from mechanical music to an authentic pony express mail- the penny arcade was now expanded with rows of Cailoscope bag. there are Civil War rifles, albums of sheet music and origi- and Quartoscope coin operated stereo slide viewers, impressive nal coffee table books and programs from events such as the strength and lung testers and a larger than life Dr. vibrator. there 1904 st. Louis exposition. You could spend an entire day just is also a super rare life size Mills novelty Company perfume looking at the books. Lady which was modeled after the wife of one of the Mills broth- SuTTeR CReeK ORGAN RAllY ers. as their home is a bit larger, there were 120 members and guests attending. thanks to John and Nadine Motto-Ros and all the at this point in 2013 we are in the planning stages for people who brought their street organs, calliopes and band organs meetings in the spring and summer before we all head to san for making this year's rally another success. With the sound of ail Francisco for the annual convention. the instruments playing on sutter Creek's main street, you had to work hard to find some music you didn't like or an instrument Respectfully submitted by you didn't find interesting. Carol Veome, secretary DON DAY'S hOlIDAY MeeTING Chicago Chapter of aMiCa
karen simons told us that those visiting the home of heart of America Chapter Don and Jacqueline Day were in for an experience. What an understatement! they have a gorgeous home filled with beautiful our chapter held four meetings during the year 2012. things collected from years of world travel. the first of which was a meeting in Manhattan, kansas april Don demonstrated a player dulcimer. You don't see 14th. We met at Blaine Thomas's sign Company in Manhattan. those every day. he also played a newly made Japanese disk for Unfortunately, our host Blaine had an unforeseen illness which his porter music box. the disk was arranged by kazuo tashiro, a precluded us from viewing his collection. We did, however, hold brilliant musician and arranger of music box music. he is credit- a meeting at Blaine's shop. there were 25 members present, so ed with 4,000 arrangements of both Japanese and european we held a meeting. after the meeting there was some discussion pieces. about going on to our second destination abilenekansas; howev- BOB AND BONNIe'S MeeTING er, we were under a tornado warning. thus, we decided to go home since some of us traveled a long distance to get there. With the 50th anniversary convention only months our summer meeting was held august 25th at Ken and away, most of the time was devoted to a planning session. Final Virginia Filardo in eudora, kansas. there were around 45 peo- details and volunteer assignments were discussed. ple who attended. We had a pot luck dinner provided by the of course we ate, drank and listened to "live" perfor- Filardos. this was followed by two silent films(starring Buster mances by several ragtime pianists who have graciously recorded keaton and Charlie Chaplin) masterfully accompanied by brother
198 aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 Greg Filardo on the Wurlitzer photoplayer. other instruments a poor crowd turnout. We are also encouraging people to invite were displayed and demonstrated by the Filardos and other mem- friends to meetings and events, which seems to be working. bers. the president and vice president simply switched posi- We had a business meeting which included possible tions. all other officers remain the same. future rallies. the Deanna Rose Farmstead in october was Respectfully submitted, approved as an organ rally site. Vincent & Maryam Morgan, the fall meeting was held in conjunction with an organ Lady Liberty Board Reps. rally at The Deanna Rose Farmstead in overland park, kansas. We had fewer than normal organ grinders for this event. Five Midwest Chapter members with organs played for the crowd at the Farmstead. the farmstead provided a lunch for our members which was followed president- Don Johnson by a business meeting. ideas for 2013 meetings was discussed. vice-president- Liz Barnhart they included another organ rally at the Farmstead. a rally was secretary- hilda Merchant discussed for eureka springs ar. and Bransan,Mo. treasurer- alvin Wulfekuhl the winter meeting was held in st. Joseph.Mo. Decem- Reporter- Christy Counterman ber 8th with 28 members being present. We ate lunch at the Board Rep- Liz Barnhart ground Round restaurant, and this was followed by a business the Midwest Chapter includes ohio, Michigan, indiana, meeting at the restaurant. after the meeting was adjourned, we kentucky and Western ontario, Canada. We have 66 family we retired to the home of John and Denise Tapia who are new memberships. members of aMiCa.. they have three Duo-art pianos, four our spring meeting was held jointly with the Mid- music boxes.three old victrolas, and several table top organs. america Chapter of MBsi in Dayton, oh with hosts, Mike and their house is filled with antique furniture. John also has five liz Barnhart. the Barnharts held an open house on Friday classic automobiles from the 1930 and 40s. evening. Besides hearing treveris, Mike's band organ, and their lady liberty Chapter other musical instruments, they showed everyone their g-scale garden railroad in the backyard. We stayed at the hope hotel, our meetings for 2012 were: which was named after Bob hope because of his many Uso trips • July 28—at the home of Martin (aka Buzz) Rosa for the military. the hotel is inside the fence, but outside the gate • september 22—at the home of Paul Ciancia at Wright-patterson aFB. after a saturday morning mart, we • november 10—at the home of Arnold Chase this was a com- toured the national Museum of the air Force. the museum con- bined event with MBsi. tains exhibits on flights, rockets and space travel and military • December 8—at the home of Glenn Thomas history. sunday morning, the Barnharts held the amica business Besides these we co-sponsored an evening of organ meeting. afterwards, everyone could drive to st. paris to visit the grinder music with Christiana Drapkin (aka organ grinder beautiful historic home of Mary Pollock. Mary, who had assisted Lola) and Master Bob at a local Lutheran church in garden City with the weekend planning, has many musical items as well as park, nY. quilts and antiques. at the meeting at Paul Ciancia's we voted to make our summer meeting was held during the pittsburgh Dianne Polan and Dee Clarke lifetime members of the chapter. Convention with 15 members present. We discussed items that brings our total lifetime members to three, the other being brought up at the international Board Meeting including the new Max Morath. banner which is being ordered by international and can be used We have added several new members, but several long- by any chapter. time members have still not renewed as of this writing. our cur- Mike and Liz discussed the future Waldkirch orgelfest rent membership is 47 family units, up from 36 the year before, tour set for June 2014. the tour guide is John Rogers, who led but still below 51 from 2010. our amica germany-holland Convention in 2007. anyone who one of our main difficulties is finding new venues for is interested in attending does not have to be a member of amica meetings. people are getting bored with "the same old collec- and can get preregistration information from Mike and Liz. tions" even though they are marvelous displays of mechanical already, 78 people have shown interest in attending by preregis- music that dazzle those who do attend. even the event at arnold tering. Chase's didn't draw as many people as we had expected. howev- the Midwest Chapter lost one of our most valued mem- er, we more than made up for it at Glenn Thomas' place in bers when hal Malakinian passed away in november. he and December. We had a record number of people at that meeting Betty had attended our fall meeting. at various times, hal had with quite a few first timers. We also added several new members been our chapter president and for many years he served as the that day. audio-visual and technical Chairman of amica international. We are looking at more public events. this coming august, for example, we are co-sponsoring a monkey organ rally Respectfully submitted, in Coney island together with Deno's Wonder Wheel. the weath- liz Barnhart er should be much warmer than when we worked with the Coney Midwest Chapter Board Rep. island Museum and the Freak show, which insisted that we hold [email protected] our rallies on palm sunday, which is almost always cold and has
aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 199 NORTheRN lIGhTS ChAPTeR Museum and used for demonstration and as needed for weddings, Christmas, etc. the nickelodeon is being donated to our chapter pResiDent: paul R Watkins by tom Letness, owner of the heights theater in Columbia v.pResiDent: Don Barton heights, Mn. it was custom built by John D. Rutosky and Dennis seCRetaRY: Mark kraabel elza of automatic Music Machines of Baltimore, MD. tReasUReR; John ellingson RepoRteR: Jerrilynn Boehland Respectfully submitted: BoaRD Rep: paul W or Mark k Paul R. Watkins, Chapter president [email protected] northern Lights is a "Middle-Us" chapter covering Minnesota, north & south Dakota,Manitoba & northern Pacific Can-Am Chapter ontario. our chapter holds three to four member meetings with attendance ranging from 10 to 20 people (Christmas the best our chapter meets three to four times per year and typi- turn-outs). Current national membership is 27 which encompass- cally at the home of one of our members who has instruments to es 44 Jnekvidttais, some of our national members don't partici- demonstrate. the meetings are routinely on saturdays or sun- pate locally and some participate only through MBsi. days, and we gather at about 2 pM. at first, we take one to two We had our first 2012 meeting in september after the hours to see the instruments and to connect with other aMiCans pittsburgh Convention at Tom Kuehns (pron. keen). tom is a and with visitors. this is followed by our Business Meeting and professor of mechanical engineering at the U. of Mn and he lives then by a potluck. in Mahtomedi, Mn. several years ago he built a very nice two- in the past year, we went to the homes of aMiCa mem- story addition and he now has room to arrange his collection and bers larry and Myra Karp, David Goodwin and larry restore instruments in his very complete workshop. he totd us he Sanchez, Jack and Mary lou Becvar, and Stuart and Alison was preparing an article about the history of his recent purchase, Swanberg. the collections that these members have are remark- a 7ft Mason & hamlin piano w/ampico B reproducing system. ably different from one another and yet all fall within the realm Read his intriguing article about piano #40135 in the nov-Dec of automatic musical instruments. the karps have a number of 2012 aMiCa bulletin. disc cylinder players, music boxes, phonographs, and highly Don Barton and howie O'Neil hosted our Christmas unusual early automatic music machines. David and Larry focus get-together. they chose the usual early Dec. date, but snow heavily upon pianos in their collection and have excellent exam- intervened so our hosts decided on Jan. and that's now our future ples of reproducing players with Duo-art, Welte, and ampico Christmas "best choice". another good choice was howie's playing mechanisms. the Becvars have a large theatre pipe organ request we all bring food items (canned goods, etc., instead of in their home which is hooked up to a Moller player. the swan- exchanging presents) for howie's aMiCa adopted Family. Don bergs have focused upon pianos and their collection includes an is our player technician and owner of Bartonplayer piano Co. and aeolian-steinway aR and an 88 note pumper. howie has a floral shop so the music was great and the floral in addition to our regular meetings, one of our members, decor wonderful. Kurt Morrison, routinely represents us at the paramount theatre at the meeting we also got to see the artistic talent of a in seattle where on many occasions he plays the knabe repro- local artist and special guest Allen Christian. he created three ducing piano in the lobby of the theatre and attracts significant figures he calls "the Family". allen made these figures from attention for aMiCa. he also works on the piano which is part excess piano parts from Don's move to a new shop. of the Wurlitzer pipe organ in the theatre. Don experienced a forced move because of light rail our chapter is discussing outreach projects. We have construction so before we settled into "the party mode" we got a sponsored band organ rallies in the past, and we may do some- tour of his new shop. also celebrating with us were two (2) new thing similar to those in the future. the LaMay Car Museum members, Mahlon & Karen Schneider from austin, Mn and would be an excellent place to demonstrate automatic instru- Jim Doak from Wayzata, Mn. We sang, played the piano and ments, and this is currently being discussed. also, repair of the had a good time in snowy, cold Mn during the height of winter piano within the paramount Wurlitzer in seattle is presently (January). needed, and the chapter has offered funds to help effect these We will do two maybe three more get-togethers yet this repairs. other projects will be considered as they arise. year. one of these will be May 18th, 2013. We will be at the farm of Kiven & Cheryl lukes in pork producing country near Carl Dodrill glenville, Mn. this will be an aMiCa & MBsi Combined pacific Can-am Chapter Representative event. We are going to celebrate kiven's new 7 1/2ft kawai RX7 w/ performance LX system and their big new Music hall that ROCKY MOuNTAIN ChAPTeR can accommodate about 300 people. For vittles we will be treated to Cheryl's delectable Barbecue pork Rib Dinner. March 16 - We were asked by a referral to provide musi- our chapter was recently given a nickelodeon that will cal entertainment and education with our pell harmonette mon- be on loan to the Minnesota transportation Museum's Jackson key organ at an evening event celebrating the 100th anniversary street Roundhouse Museum (JsRM) in st. paul, Mn. the nick- of girl scouts' Founding. this was an on-stage opportunity in the elodeon will be restored and maintained by Barton player piano Commons of the Castle Rock Middle school. the audience was Co. and members of the Chapter and then placed at the JsRM estimated to be over 200: pre-teen girl scouts, family members,
200 aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 troop leaders, etc. scouts gave short presentations on stage and our chapter is alive and well, and is solvent as far as the staffed 25 tables representing cultures of foreign countries. there bank accounts are concerned. We are looking for ways to attract was a constant queue of participants coming onstage to examine new members, and to do projects such as the rallies to acquaint the monkey organ up close and ask questions. it was a noisy but the public with the joy of mechanical music. happy two-hour gathering. June 8 - For the second year, we volunteered to provide Shirley Nix background music on one day of the annual parker senior Center Couthern California Chapter Rep. three-day garage sale. our verbeeck street organ was the instrument for this partly outdoor venue. it was a lovely day and SOWNY Chapter we had a raised and sheltered porch as our stage. there was con- siderable interest in the organ and several visitors were invited to the soWnY Chapter is an active chapter in the south- "turn the crank and make music." all did well and were awarded ern ontario and Western new York area. We have a current chap- certificates attesting they were now apprentice organ grinders. ter membership of 22 paying members representing 12 house- august 11 - our schedule finally allowed us to entertain holds. our financial outlook is steady. We have $2,512 in a Cer- at the annual pinery park picnic and art show in parker. the tificate of Deposit and $1,976 in a savings account for a total of staff provided a 10 x 10 ft. canopy to shelter us and the verbeeck $4,488 in assets. Chapter meetings were held in June 2012, octo- street organ. We were located near the art exhibits and vendors' ber 2012 and December 2012. the December meeting was the booths, somewhat isolated from the high-wattage public address ever-popular Christmas party/Meeting, held at Glenn and system. other amusements included adult and children's games, Shirley Roat's house. plans for 2013 include scheduling Chapter face painters, balloon artists, a climbing wall, horse rides, and meetings for spring, summer and Fall. more. a "kids Fishing Derby" underway at nearby Bingham Lake added to the park's visitors. the pinery monthly "home- Respectfully submitted, owner" had pictures and reported that "...organ grinders Ken Mike Walter hodge and Pat Moore added to the picnic atmosphere with their soWnY Chapter Board Representative festive music." they want us back next year. august 15 - We provided incidental music before and July 10.2013 after the Monthly Birthday Luncheon at the parker senior Center with our pell harmonette. a similar performance was made sev- since June 2012. the members of the aMiCa soWnY eral years ago. this was a small audience, perhaps 50. Chapter have discussed and brainstormed ideas on how our september 24 - our final performance was a request by Chapter could support aMiCa international's goal of introducing the Mile high United Way to provide musical entertainment dur- people from all walks of life to the beauty and value of automatic ing a program Luncheon for folks enrolled in a senior Communi- musical instruments. ty service employment program, host agencies, and employers. Chapter members decided to use Chapter funds to make the event was in conjunction with Mature Workers Month. the financial donations to two worthy museums in the soWnY large Denver conference room was just right for the verbeeck region. Both museums are currently restoring historic automatic street organ. estimated attendance of the appreciative audience musical instruments and are open to the general public. was 100. on June 17. 2013 the aMiCa soWnY Chapter donat- ed $500 to the George eastman house in Rochester. nY. the Ken hodge & Pat Moore donation was designated to be used only for restoration and maintenance of their aeolian Duo-art pipe organ. some back- SOuTheRN CAlIFORNIA ChAPTeR ground information, in 1905 george eastman (of eastman kodak Company fame) had an aeolian player pipe organ (opus 947) the southern California Chapter has meetings every installed in his new mansion, with 66 ranks of pipes in four even-numbered month during the year, which are well-attended. chambers. in 1915 aeolian player technology had made the one of the highlights of 2012 was a bus trip to Fresno to view the advance to automatically change the stops and also control vol- collections in the area. the chapter paid for the bus, as it was a ume levels with automatic control of the swell shades. Mr. east- long drive. everyone who went had a great time. man placed an order for the new free-standing player. he also other meetings were at the homes and/or collections of ordered a new console. 66 more ranks to be installed in four more John Gaughan, the griffith park Merry-go-Round, Rosemary newly created pipe chambers. Mr. eastman died in 1932. the West and Jack Janzen, Jack Conway, Dianne DeTar and house became the Museum of photography in 1949. sometime in Wayne Johnston, and the Christmas party was held at the home 1950 - 1960 there was severe water damage to the console and of Frank and Shirley Nix. every one was enjoyable, and we four of the pipe chambers. over the years, the remaining pipes thank those who opened their homes to us. deteriorated. in 2009 a group of volunteers started working on several of our members were at the Convention in pitts- restoration of the console and some of the pipe chambers. in burgh. 2011 a second console (of 1914/1915) with 40 ranks of pipes We had the annual organ rally in Sutter Creek in octo- became available through an individual's very generous donation. ber, and look forward to doing it again this year. We will also be the current restoration efforts will bring the original console and doing a rally at the los Angeles Arboretum. the eight pipe chambers close to george eastman's original design.
aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 201 on June 24. 2013 the aMiCa soWnY Chapter donat- the soWnY Chapter believes that aMiCa internation- ed $500 to the herschell Carrousel Factory Museum in north. al would be interested in contributing to these restoration projects tonawanda, nY. the donation was designated to be used only for as educational projects. these restoration projects meet aMiCa the restoration of the Band organs. exhibited at the museum are international's intent to "educate, preserve and protect the music, two Wurlitzer band organs: a 1917 style 125 and a 1925 style composers, artists and instruments of automatic music". 146. the museum staff has managed to keep them playing rea- sonably well, but neither organ has ever been restored. the muse- Glenn Roat um is currently raising funds to allow them to do extensive Chapter president restoration work on these organs. Mike Walter the soWnY Chapter felt that these two restoration pro- Board Representative jects were worthwhile causes and could use the Chapter's sup- aMiCa soWnY Chapter port.
202 aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 203 2103 Convention 50th AnniversaryTable Favor by Ray Fairfield
the idea for a miniature seeburg g table favor emerged sawn white oak were selected and from the fertile mind of Julie Porter. the convention commit- purchased. the poplar was pur- Ray Fairfield tee, in their infinite wisdom, settled upon the idea to build minia- chased in 2” thick boards, so that re-sawing would not be ture seeburg “g” orchestrions as the table favors for the 50th required for cutting the spacers. the oak lumber was surfaced annual aMiCa Convention, which was held in san Francisco in two sides at about 13/16” thickness. 2013. With about two years lead Ray Fairfield re-sawed the time, a sub-committee was oak planks to just over ¼” thick- formed to build these puppies. ness, and then planed and sanded after some initial to finished size: 1/4” for the top, attempts to produce a prototype 1/5” for the sides. the oak for the using traditional woodworking keybed/music shelf assemblies techniques, we finally stumbled was 5/4 stock (1.25” nominal onto the idea of laser cutting. it thickness), and was ripped into 1” was the right answer. several x 7/8” strips. the music shelf and design considerations were decid- key bed were dadoed out of these ed upon: the wood would be strips, and then cut to length, so quarter-sawn white oak. the that they would hang over the musical movement would be elec- sides of the case about 0.020” tronic. and we would be as close after assembly, and sanded to 220 as possible to correct proportions grit. of the original. in the end we did next, oak strips of about 1/8” make a couple of deviations in by ½” were made, and cut to this regard. We made the front length for the cheek blocks. a legs straight, and eliminated the spacer of the exact key bed length “pyramid” on top of the front was made, and the cheek blocks legs, so that they could be easily were glued in. the final step was sanded after laser cutting. and to make up a jig for the table saw we made the case a bit deeper to to rabbet out the ends of the key provide more stability. We decid- beds to the exact width of the top ed upon oak plywood for the and bottom spacers. fronts and backs, but used solid a jig was made up for the oak for the sides and tops, as the table saw to cut the 25 degree edges of these pieces would show after assembly. the parts that bevels for the three exposed sides of the top. this bevel mimics wouldn’t be visible, the spacers and internal mounting blocks, the crown molding of the original seeburgs. would be poplar. Based on multiple-up cutting layouts provided by War- Warren Jennings photographed and measured several ren, Ray cut the plywood and 0.200” solid oak into blanks for seeburg gs, then created 3D models in a CaD program. the laser cutting. committee approved this first design and sample front and back the laser cutting was done at lightwave laser in santa panels were cut and reviewed. a few changes were made and Rosa, California. the X-Y flatbed C02 laser system had two final dimensions were determined. the lengths of the internal top side-by-side loading trays, so while parts were being cut on one, and bottom spacers would set the maximum widths for the front the other could be unloaded and loaded. Ron Macken, the and back panels and the keybed, and therefore would be cut to owner of Lightwave Laser, generated the scribing and cutting tight tolerances. programs from our CaD files. the front and back panels were the next step was to actually purchase the lumber. Ray done in two steps, scribing done at a lower power level, followed Fairfield, the team’s woodworker, visited several specialty lum- by cutting. the results were fabulous. beryards to determine availability and quality of their lumber. Laser scribing and cutting wood does leave dark smoke seven sheets of ¼” quarter-sawn white oak plywood, with solid residue on the surfaces. to prevent this both surfaces of the pan- wood core, were ordered. and about 100 board-feet of quarter-
204 aMiCa Bulletin - May/Jun 2013 els were masked with a thin adhesive-backed material. this stuff wood, as it would have been much more stable, and much more worked great, but had a major drawback: removal. scribing uniform in thickness. as it was, we had warping to deal with. diced it into hundreds of miniscule pieces. a sharp putty knife the front panels were straightened during assembly (by the jig) seemed to work best to remove the masking material. this was a and held in place by gluing in the key bed assemblies. the side major effort that no one anticipated. panels required installation of an extra set of mounting blocks Rob Thomas, meanwhile, photographed the stained (and screws) to flatten them. Drilling guides were added to the glass on Richard Reutlinger’s seeburg g. he used a technique back panel assembly fixture and a simple jig was made to drill that would visually look good with and without backlighting. the mounting blocks added to the side panels, Rob produced high-resolution, three-up files for printing. Later, John Motto-Ros was in charge of the finishing opera- Warren printed the images on 8-1/2” x 11” backlight film using tion, with help from Doug Mahr and Tom hawthorn. John an epson 1280 printer and standard inks. the individual stained selected the stain color and finish, Minwax Wipe-on glass panels were cut to size and the top corner radii were cut polyurethane. two coats were required, with sanding between with a paper radius punch. coats to remove any dust or nibs in the finish. the result was the stained-glass backing panels have the same arched stunning. John also installed and drilled the extra back-panel contour as the front window panel, and were cut from 1/8” Baltic mounting blocks. Lastly, John and Doug secured the stained birch plywood. this stuff cut easily and required no paper for glass in the recessed pockets with the window backing panels, burn protection. But the backing panels were designed to fit into which were fixed in place with hot melt glue. a recessed pocket in the back of the front panel. the recessed Julie Porter designed the electronics, which run on two pockets were supposed to be commercially routed, but due to sets of double-a batteries. Four medium-bright, surface-mount unforeseen circumstances, we ended up doing this task ourselves. white LeDs illuminate the stained glass when the unit is playing, Ray made up a routing pattern, and went to work. We used a ¾” just like the real seeburg g. the first design would have had a pattern bit. our pattern worked well, but the 1/8” deep window separate, back panel-mounted switch. the final version had a pocket made the front panel too weak, so we opted to rout the switch mounted to the back of pCB that protruded through a pocket only 1/16” deep. Did you know that the ¼” plywood is laser-cut hole. the printed circuit boards were fabricated by actually a bit less in thickness than 3/16”? this left the window Screaming Circuits in Canby, oregon. backing panel protruding into the case 1/16”, so we notched out Bob Gonzalez and Paul Turney cut 650 speaker wires one edge of the top spacer to allow clearance for the backing 3 ½ inches long. insulation was stripped on each end of the panel. wires. all 325 speakers had two wires soldered to their lugs. For assembly, Warren designed and fabricated a unique prefabricating these sub-assemblies made use of valuable time fixture to glue all the pieces together. the fixture had four air- while other tasks were ongoing. actuated clamps to hold the sides, top and bottom spacers, and the tunes for the table favor were selected by Art the top in place for gluing, perfectly square. Further, it had Reblitz, who edited them for the seeburg g and created a 10- adjustable support pads for setting the inset depths of the top and tune roll. Bob Billings converted the roll to a 10-track, Wav-for- bottom spacers to match the thickness of the back panel. another mat emulation file, which was used in the final version of the adjustable support held the center of the front panel flush with table favor. lewis Motisher recorded the coin drop and re-roll the sides for gluing. sounds from John Motto-Ros’ g. Julie copied the Wav files to the adhesive selected was titebond’s 2404 fast-setting the micro sD cards, along with the coin drop and re-roll as sepa- no-drip glue designed for installing finish trim. this stuff sets rate audio files. really fast and worked like a charm. this allowed us to get the When the power button is pushed to play, the coin drop completed units off of the assembly fixture more quickly. sounds, the LeDs light up, and the first tune starts. pressing the the key beds were glued onto the case prior to removal button again turns the unit off. the next time the unit is turned from the fixture. Clamping was provided by one of Ray’s high- on, the next tune, starting with a coin drop, plays. if left on, the tech woodworking tools – a brick. unit plays through the remaining tunes to the end of the “roll,” at the assembly fixture only allowed one case to be which time the re-roll is heard. assembled at a time, eliminating a work party as an option. But the key boards were another challenge. Warren used a Ray got lyle Merithew and a couple of his old-car buddies to different laser process to cut the black keys and scribe the white help, with one guy working the fixture and the other selecting key outlines on very heavy paper stock. the sheets of 14-up (i.e. and sanding wood, cleaning up any glue squeeze-out, and stack- 14 keyboards per sheet) black and white keys were registered ing the brick on the key bed. together, and then glued together in a press. individual key Warren fashioned a second fixture for assembling the boards were sheared from the parent sheets. back panels. it located and clamped the printed circuit board after the cases were completed, stained, and finished, mounting blocks. the clamp included a drill guide for the pCB the final assembly took place. Bob gonzalez, Julie, and Julie’s mounting holes. the fixture also located battery holders and parents Jim and edie Porter, over several sessions, installed the speaker for gluing. pCBs, speakers, and battery holders. the work parties were at the edges of the sides had to be sanded to eliminate the the porter house overlooking the Carquinez straits in Martinez, burn marks, as the edges show on the front of the case. Ray Ca. the assembled backs were installed in the cases. Double- stacked them up 50 deep, clamped them together, and cleaned up sided adhesive tape was use to bond the key boards to the key the edges using a belt sander and an orbital sander. beds. each unit was tested and its power button covered before about this time we discovered a problem with the ply- boxing. wood. it warped. Badly. We should have bought MDF core ply-
aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 205 Sanding the back edges of the sides on belt sander.
Table favors being handed out at the banquet, Completed interior of case. Completed front of case. very well received.
Ray at the laser cutter. One pass at low power scribes the lines. A second pass at high power cuts Table favor ready for final assembly through the wood. Two drawers in the laser cabinet and packaging. allowed us to cut one set of panels while setting up for another. Flashover from the cutting process left burn and smoke marks on the wood, which required us to put protective tape on all the panels. Removing the tape after cutting required over three days' labor.
Window backing panel fits into recessed pocket, capturing "stained glass".
Tom Hawthorn enjoying Karen Simon and Blanche his table favor. Korfmacher enjoying the moment of gift giving.
Julie Porter, Bob Gonzalez, John Motto-Ros and Ray Fairfield in intense final assembly. Stacking sides for sanding edges. The laser cutter burns the wood, so exposed edges must be sanded. Same for all edges, big time-consuming job.
John and Nadine Motto-Ros checking out their gift.
Warren Jennings designed and fabricated this incredible assembly fixture for gluing up the piano cases. Air actu- ated clamps grip the pieces into the fixture while the glue dries. Fixture guarantees squareness and alignment of Mass production underway. all parts. Adjustable pins allow perfect alignment of front Ray Fairfield and Bob Gonzalez contining Sanding laser burn marks off front edges of sides. panel to sides. with assembly.
Dianne and Jack Edwards delighted.
Cutting the keybed to length. This operation cuts the keybed to exactly the width between the sides of the High tech clamping technique Audio circuit board designed by Julie Porter. John and Nadine Motto-Ros in final packaging piano, leaving the music shelf the full width of the for gluing keybed assemblies to case. We milled a lot of quartersawn white oak. piano. Jig on table saw provides repeatable cuts. . into individual boxes, then into shipping boxes. These bags are sawdust from the operation. 2013 Convention in Pictures photos by Lowell Boehland, Christy Counterman, Julian Dyer, ian Mavor, terry smythe, and Rob thomas.
Board Meeting underway.
Our Mart Board in the Hospitality Suite.
Hospitality Suite.
John Steain and John Semmens, from Australia, enjoying the good spirits of our Hospitality Suite.
Halie Dodrill, performing happy music for us from time to time.
Sandy Swirsky and Lyle Merithew with their Seeburg G on loan in John Ulrich, President of the host Founding Chapter, welcoming our Hospitality Suite. all to AMICA’s 50th Anniversary Convention.
208 aMiCa Bulletin - May/Junsep/oct 20132013 Emperor Norton, in full regalia, welcomes all to San Francisco.
Convention Chair, Bob Gonzalez, with Frederick Hodges, and Rob Thomas.
A few of the volunteers that manned the Registration Desk from time to time, Blanch Kormacher, Julie Porter, Rob Thomas, Mari- an McKenna, Jack Edwards, Lyle Merithew, and Sandy Swirsky.
Frederick Hodges and his presentation about piano roll music.
City tour in open-top double-decker buses.
Frederick Hodges performing the complete piano solo Rhapsody In Blue. aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 209 Alcatraz
Our boat, the Hornblower, took us around the Bay and under the Golden Gate bridge.
Lunch on board the Hornblower. Pumper contest MC, Julian Dyer, demonstrating how judges and audience can see how contestants are using controls to enhance performance of 88n rolls.
Terry Smythe, with the San Francisco skyline in the backgroud. Audience in rapt attention.
Once again, Larry Norman, with the help of Richard Reutlinger and Holly Walter, gave us a fine, enteraining interpretation, thor- Under the Golden Gate Bridge. oughly enjoyed by all.
210 aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 Tom Brier and the Raspberry Jam Band.
Timothy Steain, from Australia, once again delivered a delightful audio-visual sing-a-long presentation.
Tom Brier, who also composed tune #5, Cripes!, on the new Barbary Coast G roll, also on our “G” table favor.
Julian Dyer introducing Spencer Chase, with his excellent work- Diane Detar’s skillfull performance won over the judges! shop on adding lyrics and expression to midi files emerging from scanning 88n piano rolls. He was assisted by Geoff Ward from Australia.
Diane Detar accepting the Footsie award, Example on screen of adding lyrics to a midi file. winning our 2013 Pumper Contest. Contact Spencer at [email protected] for this program.
aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 211 Don Barr, assisted by Judy Jenkins, with his presentation - Lemons, Cherries and Murder - The Violano, interesting little known historical facts.
Geoff Ward, from Australia, assisted Spencer in the workshop about adding lyrics to midi files.
Tockhwock (aka Geoffrey Kaiser) conducting his workshop on the Duo-Art “fan” dynamics system.
Bobby Skinner, conducting his workshop on Field Maintenance from a Wurlitzer Service Man’s Kit.
Liz Barnhart, conducting much loved Cross-Stitch workshop, Mart well underway. this year the 50th Anniversary Logo.
212 aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 Tom Hawthorn at his booth. Judy Stevens with her fine display of music boxes.
Jody Kravitz at the MMD booth, attempting to persuade Alan Turner to consider support.
Joyce Brite at her booth.
Theresa LaQuey, custom clothier and designer for the Simplicity Spencer Chase at his booth, Pattern Company, brought vintage patterns to life in this fashion brought along his custom Welte vorsetzer. show, The Making of Moderne American Modiste.
aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 213 Banquet getting underway. Lady Liberty Chapter members in attendance.
Christy Counterman,Janie Johnston, Rebecca DeSantis and Liz Barnhart in period dress.
Irene Nickels, daughter of Alan Turner, recognizing his long-time member Anita Scottish heritage. Nickels Johnson.
Paul Price and his orchestra.
Rob Thomas, Bob Boynton, Bonnie Gonzalez, and Mike Wirgler, (Bob and Mike are members of the Paul Price Orchestra) Ron Babb, Mark Smithberg, and Dan Brown.
214 aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 Spencer Chase, receiving the President’s Award from Tim Baxter. Bonnie Gonzalez and Tockhwock enthusiastically provided an electrifying performance of an authentic Charleston.
The music of Paul Price and his orchestra was very well received by our members.
Richard Reutlinger, received a Founding Member Award, in recognition of AMICA’s 50th Anniversary, from Bob Gonzalez, Convention Chair.
Our Farewell Breakfast.
Alan Turner, inviting a moment of silence in remebrance of those who have passed.
Alan Turner announcing the AMICA Interntional Award to Sherrie and Jim Krughoff, for their extraordinary service to promoting the preservation of this unique slice of our musical heritage.
aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 215 Frank Nix announcing the next AMICA convention for 2014 to be held in Fresno, fol- lowed by an A/V presenta- tion.
Bob Gonzalez reciving an award for excellence as Chairman of the 2013 AMICA Convention.
Fresno, location of our 2014 AMICA convention. First stop for the After-Glow was the fine home of Tockhwock and Bruce Grimes, demonstrating their stunning Steinway D Duo-Art pedal-electric concert grand piano.
Convention Chair Bob Gonzalez handing over AMICA Banner The beautiful Marionette Duo-Art to Frank Nix for 2014 AMICA Convention in Fresno. in Tockhwock and Bruce’s home.
216 aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 Tockhwock and Bruce’s Steinway pedal-electric Duo-Art grand, demonstrated by Geoffrey to Frank Nix, Bill Chapman, Ian Mavor and John Semmens. Living room of Sandy Swirsky and Lyle Merithew. Julie Porter and her portable roll Lyle Merithew scanner. demonstrating his 2009 Raffin Concert 31-Note Street Organ; 119 pipes.
Julie Porter and Parents, Jim and Edith Porter.
1912 Regina 35 - 12 disc changer Music Box Music Box, with clock, 15 1/2", in Sandy and Lyle’s home.
Julie Porter’s workbench, where the table favor audio circuit board was born. Coinola orchestrion in the Orchestria Palm Court restaurant in St. Jose, CA.
aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 217 Chapter News
to be his dining room. Bob stuhmer describes his new Lady Liberty Chapter organ as "a 65 key kit manufactured by alan pell in england and built by Bob Yorburg and i. it has 186 president/Reporter: vincent Morgan wooden pipes, bass and snare drum, and glockenspiel, photos: Maryam Morgan and Buzz Rosa and plays my own arrangements off the 65 key pell midiscale." What he failed to mention is that it is on June 23, 2013, following a wonderful lOuD. this is especially true in the small space lunch 16 people gathered in Bob Stuhmer's living where it is housed. if he opens his windows he will room for our meeting. the business at hand mostly entertain his neighborhood. as a joke, Bob supplies centered around two upcoming events: July 27th an the first earplug free. any after that are $10.00 each. organ rally at the Ct trolley Museum in e. Windsor, the two Bobs (stuhmer and Yorburg) Ct; and aug. 10th an organ rally in Coney island at described the organ and showed artist sketches of how Deno's Wonder Wheel. the facade will eventually appear. since the organ is Bill and Rita Sharkey also mentioned the named "the golden egg" the pictures of the facade upcoming nCa (national Carousel association) meet- will have a "Jack and Beanstalk" theme with the ings for 2014 to be held in nY City and gave a list of beanstalk running up the left to the giant's castle at all the carousels that will be visited. We didn't know the top. Bob Yorburg is a professional wood carver we had so many here. of special interest was the For- and has carved facades for some of the world's best est park Carousel in Queens that is still missing part organs. he can be reached at of its organ, but various members are working with [email protected] the person who has those parts to see to it that it will be restored to the organ in time for their meeting. several members were excited to announce that they would be attending the aMiCa meetings in san Francisco. Following the meeting was a presentation by Bob Yorburg and our host, Bob Stuhmer about his newly built organ that now takes up most of what used
The group in attendance for the business meeting.
The two Bobs (Stuhmer on the left and Yorburg on the right) The soon to be deaf Buzz Rosa.
218 aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 of the museum. it seemed that nearly every family had a player Lady Liberty Chapter piano, music box or were excited about mechanical music. some asked how to join aMiCa. We had our handy brochures avail- president/Reporter: vincent Morgan able along with back issues of the Bulletin. Copies of both were photos: Maryam Morgan and Buzz Rosa left at the museum. Chris, the director of the museum, remarked that the crowd was more than double the usual amount for a sat- urday. on July 27, 2013, on a beautiful cool summer day six members of the Lady Liberty Chapter spent the day and evening entertaining people at the Connecticut Trolley Museum in east Windsor, Ct. Joining us was soon to become aMiCan, Larry Mcgowan, a renowned pianist who maintains the gavioli organ at Rye playland, Rye, nY, just northeast of nY City.
Roger Weigand's Gavioli. also with us that day were two Coaa families and their organs. Roger Wiegand spread the music far and wide with the Diamond Jubilee, his 89 key gavioli fairground organ. (www.carouselorgan.com) and the hallocks of agawam, Ma with their Wurlitzer 105. on the trolley cars Bill sharkey entertained passengers on his Jager and Brommer 20-note busker organ and took turns with vincent Morgan and Walter kehoe with vincent's Castle- wood. then people on another trolley complained that they did- n't have any music and everything stopped until vincent and Wal- ter were transferred to the other car.
The Hallocks' Wurlitzer 105.
Lady Liberty banner at museum entrance
vincent brought certificates, which were issued to any children who would crank the organ. the children loved the hands-on opportunity and the parents gleamed with video equip- ment and cameras in hand. Larry Mcgowan, soon to be an aMiCan, entertained people on the player piano in the trolley barn. at the barbecue in the evening we fanned out among the guests whom we discovered were officers, donors and supporters Larry McGowan entertains on the player piano. Walter Kehoe looking on.
aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 219 Midwest Chapter president - Don Johnson Reporters - Don Johnson & Bob andersen
in spite of some blustery weather at times, twenty-six Midwest Chapter amicans turned out for our spring weekend meeting in Fort Wayne - auburn, indiana. our starting point was the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum. everyone enjoyed the spectacular automobiles and selected several favorites for photos. in addition to the wonderful automobiles, the museum is housed in a beautiful art-deco building. our next stop was at Mike Grant's estate to observe his Bob Anderson is ready for a spin! organ roll perforator. it was an interesting operation. …..and then, Mike showed us a very funny three stooges movie on his theater size screen with original projectors. We then descended on the lovely homestead of Cathy and Pat DeWitt for a delicious home-prepared dinner. a beauti- fully restored steinway Duo-art grand and a Mason and hamlin ampico a player grand kept us company during dinner and after- wards we enjoyed the other pieces in pat and Cathy's collection. on sunday morning we had a fine brunch and short business meeting and then toured the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory in the afternoon before attending a the- ater organ performance by Jelani eddington at the beautifully restored embassy Theater in Fort Wayne. everyone enjoyed Liz and Mike lookin’ good with this beauty! this wonderful weekend. We are now anticipating another interesting weekend this Fall in port huron, Michigan, touring the collection and home of Carl and Patricia Moss. We will also see the Wills St. Clair Auto Museum and the Thomas edison Museum. AMICANS are on the move!
Mike Grant demonstrates his band organ roll perforator.
Mike Grant demonstrating his roll trimmer. On display at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum. 220 aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 Embassy Theatre in Fort Wayne, IN.
Ed and Nancy Group and Liz and Mike Barnhart preparing to enjoy Jelani Eddington's theater organ program at the Embassy
Mike Grant’s film library.
Console of the Embassy’s Grand Page Theatre Pipe Organ.
Foellinger-Friemann Botantical Conservatory, Fort Wayne, IN.
Jelani Eddington at the Embassy’s Grand Page Console.
Don Johnson enjoying the jungle. Hope Rider enjoying the desert.
aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 221 Nancy and Ed Group enjoying Pat DeWitt’s hospitality and his Steinway Duo-Art.
Our hosts, Cathy and Pat DeWitt. Pat DeWitt loading another roll on his Mason & Hamlin Ampico A for Dan Harrett.
Midwest group attendees.
222 aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 our potluck followed the Business Meeting, and every- Pacific Can-Am Chapter one enjoyed the usual fabulous fare of food. at the end of the David goodwin, president potluck, we had a chance to sing happy Birthday to Frances Carl Dodrill, acting Reporter Willyard whose birthday was only two days away. Long time aMiCans will recognize Fran as Maury Willyard was president the summer meeting of the pacific Can-am Chapter of aMiCa international a number of years ago. was held at the home of aMiCans David goodwin and Larry sanchez on august 17, 2013. in the last year, our hosts have been truly active in automatic music by both rebuilding instru- ments and by creating a new space in which to house them.
Inside the new music building, three of the instruments are seen - Welte-Mignon reproducing grand, Chickering Ampico B grand, and a Wurlitzer juke box.
Our hosts, Larry Sanchez (left) and David Goodwin (right). in the main music room, there are several instruments, the most prominent of which is a 1912 seeburg Model a orchestrion. When we were there previously, David had com- pletely rebuilt this coin piano and then also added a xylophone, triangle, tambourine, castanet, wood block, and a rank of violin pipes. since then he has added an accordion which is a truly nice addition in sound. Further, when we were there, the 10 tune roll of songs from the 2013 aMiCa convention was being played! our hosts have been so supportive of automatic music that they have erected a building in their back yard to accommo- date a portion of their collection. For the first time ever, our Business Meeting was held outside and in front of the new build- ing. it was led by president stu swanberg. Local projects were discussed, and Carl Dodrill, Board Representative, gave a report 1912 Seeburg Model A Orchestrion on the aMiCa international Board Meeting in san Francisco. rebuilt and recently enlarged.
Our Business Meeting was held out of doors in front of our hosts' new music building. Rob Wilson and Fran Willyard enjoying lunch.
aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 223 AMICAns Making Music Lady Liberty Chapter by Vincent Morgan
Coney Island History Days
We entertained the crowds from around the world with 6 organ grinder Lola and Master Bob entertained on the monkey organs and one midi-controlled accordion. older people main stage with their Black Forest organ named "sharmanka", stopped by and reminisced about seeing organ grinders with their which is Russian for crank organ or music box. While Master monkeys. Younger folk loved the music and wondered what we Bob cranked the organ, Lola belted out her wonderful moritaten were grinding. one young lady who had tattoos from head to toe (songs of tragedy with happy endings). Lola (aka Christiana and numerous body piercings was deathly afraid of the anima- Drapkin) and Master Bob make their living grinding and singing tronic monkey. others loved him and most children petted him. full time. to our knowledge, they are the only ones in the Us We gave out over 200 certificates for those who "met who follow this practice. You can learn more at www.organ- the requirements of vincent Morgan's school of organ grinding" grinderlola.com. by turning the crank on one or more of the organs. Children of several chapter members who don't have organs, all ages loved us and asked many times if we could be there stopped by to encourage us and were encouraged themselves. every day. We have no idea how many aMiCa brochures were some brought friends who were pleasantly surprised to find given out, but we know that we gained at least two members and something there for free. probably more. one man called his girlfriend to tell her to pick With rain for several days before and more predicted for up and bring over two boxes of piano rolls to give us! that day, we were overjoyed when the weather was perfect for professor phineas Feelgood (aka Bob Yorburg) enter- drawing large crowds. tained the crowd with magic tricks. that and the organs caught We are all looking forward to next year and expect to the eye of Mario the Magician, who promised to join aMiCa have a few more organs and organ grinders. that very evening.
One of over 200 certificates for those "who fulfilled the require- ments to graduate from Vincent Morgan's School of Organ Grind- Vincent Morgan with a young admirer. ing" to become an official, certified organ grinder.
224 aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 Deno's Wonder Wheel, the main sponsor of the event, behind the Lady Liberty Chapter Headquarters Tent.
Magician Professor Phineas Feelgood entertaining with magic tricks.
Marie Roberts, artist and banner painter at Coney Island USA. cranking Buzz Rosa's Hofbauer.
Walter Kehoe and friend. Cheryl and Jerry Maier.
aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 225 Bill Sharkey, with his Jager and Brommer.
Our youngest member, Ian Fraser, with his Celestina, surrounded by young armirers.
Organ Grinder Lola and Master Bob.
Eddie Mark, Chairman of Community Board 13 (Coney Island), with Barbara Frank.
Charles Denson, director of Coney Island History Project
226 aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 In The News
Cincinnati.com “i just remember hearing music and i assumed it was Cleveland, oh the lady in the house at the corner of Brooks and Jewett who was 20 July 2013 really into music and had two baby grands,” sheffield said. “But it didn’t sit right. it sounded further off.” 1908 Stearns mansion Years later, sheffield found out the music was coming from the stearnses’ pipe organ. awaits new steward “the house is at the geographic center of town, so you by Brent Coleman could hear it throughout Wyoming,” Landers said. [email protected] While a pipe organ might seem old fashioned, many fea- tures in the stearns house were forward-thinking for 1908, mak- Wyoming’s grand, 105-year-old limestone mansion at ing it adjustable to a modern or traditional lifestyle. 333 oliver Road has lived a rich life: late-night parties in the Most striking are the number and size of the windows basement, pipe organ concerts on Christmas Day and even an and the Japanese-influenced, white plaster ceiling in the living alleged ghost sighting or two. room. that’s all in the past and mostly unrecorded. Landers said about 90 percent of the house is original, today, the 10-bedroom house – with its Bedford lime- including all the oak flooring, the butler pantry, the basket weave stone, Rookwood and marble fireplaces, striking oak staircase, tile floor in the kitchen, seven working pocket doors, bathroom tiffany wall sconces and massive but unplayable pipe organ – fixtures and almost all the lighting. awaits the next phase, one to be established by whomever is will- the house has radiant heating but no air conditioning, a situation the Landerses address with window units. even though it’s 105 years old, the house was rated 47 percent more efficient than the average home by Duke energy, Landers said. “i love this place,” she said. “it really is very livable.” But she and her husband are in their mid-60s, still run- ning a successful family business and planning to move to a lake in southeastern indiana once the stearns house is sold. “i want to find a buyer who really wants to keep all the historic elements. it could take years,” she said. Built by prominent architects: Cincinnati architectural firm partners alfred oscar elzn- er (1862-1933) and george Mendenhall anderson (1869-1916) were at the height of their field during a 30-year stretch that intersected the careers of influential architects h.h. Richardson and samuel hannaford in the late 1800s and early 1900s. the partners served a combined 10 years as presidents of the Cincinnati chapter of the american institute of architects. it was a position only the best architects – including James k. Wilson, John W. Becker and Benjamin h. Dombar – have filled ing to buy it, love it and care for it like its previous owners. since 1870. Designed by the prominent architecture firm elzner & the elzner & anderson firm is best known for design- anderson and built from 1906 to 1908, the 14,000-square-foot ing the 15-story ingalls Building at Fourth and vine streets, house is the brainchild of edwin Russell stearns – an executive Downtown, in 1903. ingalls was the world’s first high-rise office with the stearns & Foster Co. – and his wife, Luella evans tower built of steel-reinforced concrete. it introduced Cincinnati stearns. to the skyscraper. the couple loved music so much they scrapped original But the Cincinnati-educated architects also built grand plans for a new house on the evans family property and worked homes for wealthy Cincinnati families. with elzner & anderson to build one around a grand pipe organ. that list includes edwin R. stearns of stearns & Foster “Music really was the soul of this house,” said kay Lan- textile and mattress factory. stearns and other relatives tied to the ders, who along with her husband, tom, purchased the house for company chose the rolling hills of Wyoming to settle their fami- $1.3 million in 2002 from the heir to the stearns estate. lies into mansion-size homes. ? sherry sheffield, a Wyoming native and volunteer with the Wyoming historical society, can attest to that fact. What’s it worth? she recalls Christmas carols waxing on the wind Based on a cubic-foot cost of 50 cents quoted by elzner through Wyoming one Christmas Day in the 1950s when she was & anderson in a 1910 edition of the american architect maga- about 10 or 12. she lived with her parents a few blocks below the zine, the edwin R. stearns house was built for approximately stearns house. $75,000, which in today’s dollars is about $2 million.
aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 227 kay Landers said Chubb insurance estimated 11 years its shares have recovered with the prospect of a buyout, ago that it would cost $6.9 million to replace the home using rising 71 percent this year. similar materials. she and her husband bought it from Margot steinway had agreed to sell itself to investment firm stearns (widow of evans Foster stearns ii) for $1.3 million in kohlberg & Co. in July for $35 per share, or about $438 million. 2002. kohlberg has until Wednesday to negotiate with stein- the mansion is for sale for $1.998 million through way and lay out a better bid. otherwise, the deal between it and sibcy Cline Realtors agent Diane tafuri. its 5.6 acres include a steinway will be terminated and the musical instruments maker carriage house/three-car garage that Landers said predates the will agree to be bought by the other firm. house by about 20 or 30 years. the new bid is a 25 percent premium to steinway’s closing price just before kohlberg’s bid was announced. Spooky Stearns experience: steinway & sons was founded in 1853 by german immigrant When she was a Wyoming high school student, sherry henry engelhard steinway in a Manhattan loft on Manhattan. sheffield and her friend, too old to trick-or-treat, decided the steinway was a master cabinet maker who built his first piano in stearns house might provide a halloween experience. the kitchen of his home in germany, according to the company they walked down the home’s long driveway, under- website. neath the imposing porte-cochère, up the wide concrete steps to over the next 30 years, steinway and his sons devel- the massive front door – and knocked. oped the modern piano. the company’s products now include “it was the first time i saw a real-life butler,” sheffield Bach stradivarius trumpets, selmer paris saxophones, C.g. Conn said. inside was a hall that “went on forever.” there were trophy French horns, Leblanc clarinets, king trombones, Ludwig snare heads of wild animals on the walls. (evans Foster stearns was an drums and steinway & sons pianos. avid hunter.) the butler led the girls into the dark-walled dining Ed note: Story may be seen at: room. at one end of a long table sat Mrs. stearns, at the other, http://tinyurl.com/n74qa7r Mr. stearns. the girls sat opposite each other in the middle. “they didn’t say a word. they just sat there,” sheffield Contra Costa times said. “the butler brought out Black Cows for us, and we sat there san Jose, Ca until we were done. not a word was said other than maybe our 2 July 2013 ‘thank yous.’ San Jose restaurant's menu of “it was so perfect for halloween.” mechanical music Ed Note: Slide show and viseos may be seen at: http://tinyurl.com/l5shp4c By Linda Zavoral [email protected] Washington post Washington, DC san Jose -- You'd be hard-pressed to find a Bay area 12 august 2013 restaurant these days that doesn't keep its diners entertained with flat-screen tvs mounted in every corner. silicon valley engineer-turned-entrepreneur Mark Higher bid for Steinway strikes Williams has the amusement factor covered at his new restaurant a chord; piano maker’s stock too. up on new $477 million offer But his business concept is firmly rooted in the years from 1900 to 1925, so he's filled his orchestria palm Court in By associated press downtown san Jose with a dozen of the mechanical music machines of that era -- from player pianos to nickelodeon-style WaLthaM, Mass. — a new bid to buy a legendary jukeboxes. piano maker could be music to the ears of its shareholders. Just as the 1973 movie "the sting" attracted a new gen- steinway Musical instruments inc. said Monday that an eration to composer scott Joplin's ragtime music, Williams hopes investment firm has offered to pay $38 per share, or about $477 to ignite interest in these machines and the classic melodies, million, for the company. that tops an earlier bid of $438 mil- operettas, jazz, rags and novelty tunes they play. lion, from kohlberg & Co. "i want to reintroduce people to this great old music," he the prospect of a bidding war sent steinway shares up said. "i think there is a whole generation that doesn't know about $3.36, or 9.3 percent, to close at $39.59 Monday. the stock this at all and will be excited." peaked at $39.90 earlier in the day, an all-time high. step into the vintage brick building and you'll find your- the Waltham, Mass.-based company identified the new self transported into another time by several player pianos and potential buyer only as an investment firm with more than $15 what are known as orchestrions -- machines with two instruments billion under management. or more that are designed to sound like a band or orchestra -- steinway has been in business for 160 years. its pianos including a rare model nearly 10 feet tall with a full percussion have been a status symbol and a must-have luxury in concert section. Williams' favorite piece because it's the most technically halls for more than a century, but the storied company suffered intricate is the violano-virtuoso, a violin-playing machine that during the recession. sales have increased in the past few years, was advertised as the 8th Wonder of the World when it was but have yet to return to their levels from before the downturn. invented a century ago. (Let's face it, the great pyramid of giza analysts have said that the recovering economy, cou- just sits there. it doesn't play "puttin' on the Ritz.") pled with increased overseas demand from places like China, the restaurant's first days have drawn preservationists makes the company more attractive. and downtown residents curious about what had been going on 228 aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 behind the doors of 27 e. William st., near the san Jose stage town san Jose is finally going to jell." Company theater in the artsy soFa (south First area) district. then they hopped up to examine the violano-virtuoso "it's great to have a place that is a tribute to old technol- and try to figure out what substituted for a violin bow. "it's like ogy in a place where we worship new technology," said customer three little rotating elements are pulling the strings," goldstein Barbara goldstein, an arts consultant who formerly headed the guessed. city's public art program. Williams later explained that the manufacturer, the Mills sandy swirsky, herself a collector of music machines, novelty Co. of Chicago, invented a circular stack of celluloid booked the orchestria for a san Jose Woman's Club luncheon. "i pieces -- revolutionary for its time -- to emulate a bow. With the think it has wonderful potential," she said. "there have been company still in business, he can purchase replacements whenev- pizza parlors with pipe organs, but most of those are gone now." er the faux bow wears out. there's no problem getting new paper rolls of music either; any time old rolls are found, someone recuts them, he said. and a turlock company turns modern songs into player- piano versions. But don't expect to hear Rihanna or Carly Rae issuing forth from the bellows of the machines at orchestria palm Court. Williams first has to introduce a whole new generation to Margie, Minnie, Lulu and a few other gals. "You can bring pearl, she's a darn nice girl, but don't bring Lulu. You can bring Rose, with the turned-up nose, but don't bring Lulu." (1925, by Billy Rose, Lew Brown, Ray hen- derson.)
Ed Note: Story may be seen at: http://tinyurl.com/qhdvfhp
summerlink indeed, Williams believes his restaurant will win over Las vegas, nv anyone whose only contact with player piano music has been at 17 august 2013 an amusement park or pizza parlor where one tinkly tune played ad nauseam. he has more than 500 paper rolls of music and 2013 Patriotic Parade Winners countless 78 RpM records for these beauties -- and beauties they are, antiques crafted of mahogany or quarter-sawn "tiger oak," a Best Non-Commercial Float wood-grain pattern that was "all the rage in the teens and twen- 3rd place – Wurlitzer Band Organ ties, then just fell out of fashion," he said. Many have their origi- nal stained-glass embellishments. these machines were the technological marvels of the time, and -- in the days before radio and amplified sound became common -- any restaurant, bar or movie theater that couldn't afford to hire a house band had one, Williams said. he's been amassing these behemoths -- it takes four people to move each one -- since the mid-1990s and meeting with other aficionados in the automatic Musical instrument Col- lectors' association, an international society founded in san Francisco. a decade ago he came up with the restaurant plan and purchased this 1910 building that was originally an auto show- room. earthquake retrofitting came next, then fleshing out his vision. the result is a music palace with an organic, locally sourced menu, a wine/beer/coffee bar, an antique peanut "toast- ing" machine and a soda fountain that serves vintage beverages like the poppy Dew and the arctic phosphate. oh, and if you can't hear your cellphone call because one of the machines is playing, just step into the old wooden phone booth for some quiet and privacy -- as san Jose stage chief kathleen king had to do during her post-theater snack Fri- day night. at a nearby table, goldstein and her husband, John pastier, an architecture critic, were dishing on dessert and nostal- gia while a rendition of "swanee" played on the piano near the front door. "it's a nice curiosity" -- and a good addition to the neighborhood, pastier said. "i wonder if this is a sign that down- This instrument is owned by AMICAn Robert Goodale.
aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 229 In Memoriam
cerning how to get around the city, and also warned me about potential tourist scams and what to look out for. and for that, i am forever grateful! Philippe Rouillé Besides his knowledge of mechanical music instruments and his love for them, philippe was fluent in both english and german which allowed him to work as a translator. a fine example of his work was the translation from german to French of "Musee d'in- struments de Musique Mecanique." he also had a passion for horology and published "Le grand Livre des Montres" (the Big Book of Watches). in addi- tion to these books, he also published many articles for the mechanical music societies. philippe was an advisor and translator for the semi-annual mechanical music auctions in Chartres. he worked with Robbie Rhodes and myself to post photos and descriptions on the MMD web site of the items offered for sale, and also the prices realised after the auction. the mechanical music world has lost an exceptional man. those of us who were fortunate to know him will greatly miss him.
Joyce Brite [email protected] i was saddened to hear of the passing of philippe Rouilli while i was attending the aMiCa convention in san Francisco. philippe was a part of the MMD since the early days and he was the first French member to join the list. he was active in sev- eral mechanical music organizations including aaiMM (association des amis des instruments et de la Musique Mecanique). philippe and i first "met" through MMD when i responded to an early post of his concerning the lack of non-english language articles. i replied to him in French which i'm sure surprised and intrigued him. a couple years later, i made my first trip to europe and actually met philippe in paris. i found him to be a gentle, soft-spoken man with a sweet smile. he was reserved but very generous, with a great sense of humor. he accompanied me on a few trips around the city when he was not working. When he couldn't go The late Philippe Rouillé, Joyce Brite and Douglas Heffer with me, he gave me helpful advice and guidance con- at a piano repair workshop in Paris.
230 aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 always find food. he had a lady come in weekly to clean his place and also paste labels on the rolls he stocked. Ray Siou Ray sold a, g, o, M, nos, Duo-art, ampico, app, 125, (Roll Mogul) 150, and 165 rolls. in an undated letter from mid-1987, he men- tions having an inventory of 60,000 or more rolls that is growing every day, and an insurance policy on them for $10,000. then he says, "Do i worry? Look at my income tax for last year [he enclosed a copy of his 1986 Federal return], and see where i made any wages last year." Under an arrangement made with play-Rite owners, John Malone and his mother Jeanne, Ray was able to sell music rolls very cheaply, $15 or less per roll in lots of a dozen or more. Ray bankrolled the purchase of roll paper from paper mills and he also procured the necessary roll boxes. play-Rite's perforators were located in a shop adjacent to the Malone residence on north palm street in turlock, Calif. John Malone's day job was with pacific gas and electric Company, san Francisco. the hundred- mile drive from turlock to san Francisco took John through oakland, thereby solving the shipping problem of getting fin- ished, bulky, heavy rolls from turlock to oakland inexpensively. Jeanne Malone produced the rolls in her north palm street shop and John transported then to Ray's oakland warehouse/home. Under the play-Rite/siou arrangement, if a person con- tacted Ray to buy rolls in smaller quantities than he would sell, then the customer was referred to play-Rite, where the Malones would arrange to fill the order (at a much higher price per roll), by requisitioning the needed rolls back from Ray's stock. selling music rolls by the dozen meant a lot of grunt work, packing the rolls and getting them to the post office, a job which Ray came to struggle with in his later years, as his health declined. Being that Ray's earlier employment was in the butch- er business, as Chuck schoppe describes in his aMiCa memori- al, it was perhaps natural that Ray used heavy, waxed cartons the July-august 2013 issue (v. 50, no. 4) of the AMICA used for shipping poultry meat as his choice for boxing the roll Bulletin carried on p. 170 Chuck Schoppe's memorial for Ray- shipments. that led to some humorous moments when the post mond "Ray" Siou, who died May 22, 2013. office was transporting cartons marked "chicken. keep cool." My first contact with Ray began inauspiciously in the if there was any empty space in the roll shipment a cus- mid-1980's, when i wrote to him, using Library of Congress sta- tomer received from Ray, he could always find some surprises tionary (which i thought would impress him as being my place of packed in, being things that Ray had bought for a song at the post employment). i was interested in buying a Wurlitzer 165 roll or office unclaimed-items auctions he loved to attend. i've gotten two, just to have them as keepsakes. i got a typical siou toothpaste, cassette tapes, aprons, perfume, tee shirts, notepads, response, castigating my misuse of taxpayer time and expense to as well as the occasional mechanical music document of great conduct non-government business. But, after getting that off his historical interest. chest, Ray told me how to contact a local customer of his who although Chuck schoppe mentions Ray being born in might help me, since Ray sold rolls only in lots of twelve rolls or China and coming to the U.s.as a child, Ray says in a letter dated more, although at prices so low that no one else could match June 18, 1987, " i didn't get out of California until i was 45 them. years old. i've been to europe and you can keep anything they Ray was right. his prices couldn't be beat, and i ended got, which is churches, museums, zoos, and whorehouses. i hope up in the next few years buying every Wurlitzer 165 roll he had. to get to Florida one of these days, but i can't make the band our correspondence extended through more than thirty letters, organ rally this year because i can't find anybody to feed my out- and in them is reflected the various siou personalities: the cur- side cats. they are wild and there is no way i could catch them mudgeon, the salesman, the honest and generous friend, the cat and board them with the vet." lover, the frail human succumbing to old age. on February 27, 1988, Ray wrote, "My roll making to my letter of october 7, 1986, when i expressed the days are over. i'm getting my social security in april and getting worry that Ray might not be selling 165 rolls much longer, he over $800 is nothing to sneeze at. i can't run a business at the replied, "Borrow the money. Don't leave any money behind same time, so i have been selling the rolls off piecemeal off to when you die. Cancel your burial insurance. give your body to small dealers who are like spiders, waiting for flies." in July he the pet food co." wrote, "i retired from business but not from selling rolls because Ray lived at 1612 east 14th street in oakland, Calif., a i still have over $50,000 worth at wholesale here." big warehouse-like building in which he housed the stock of Ray's letters from the mid-1990's reflect an aging play-Rite rolls he sold, plus a collection of orchestrions, band process, asthma, inability to lift heavy boxes, but at the same organs, and other roll-playing instruments. he lived upstairs time a desire to help me as i undertook to sell the 165 rolls that i alone, except for a number of cats, eight according to one letter, was having play-Rite cut for me as the new 165 roll mogul. at that were dear to his heart. Ray also fed a number of outdoor one point he chided me for not letting him bargain on my behalf cats that didn't live in his building, but knew where they could
aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 231 with Jeanne Malone to get the best possible price for having the rolls cut. around 2001 he sent me a copy of his lawyer's letter listing the documents that had been executed to settle his affairs post mortem. also he sent a chart showing his estate disposition plan. the striking part of that document is the first provision: "Up to $5,000 (or current cost per cat at retirement facility) for each indoor and outdoor cat to be distributed to organization or individual caring for the cat(s)." in the end, though, the animal shelter took all the cats, probably breaking Ray's heart. a long time elapsed until i contacted Ray again. the occasion was my having tom Meijer arrange the march "Bom- basto" for me. that tune was tune 1 on roll 6530, but missing on the roll when Ray first had it recut. he spent his life looking for the original Wurlitzer version which he strongly believed still existed, and probably in the John Maxwell collection, But he could never get it. so i sent him a recording of the roll as per- fected by the Meijer addition. on august 31, 2008, Ray wrote, "thanks for the DvD [sic] of your rolls. i don't have my organ any more. it has been on the blink for more than 3 years. ... i'm living in my mother's condo now. all i do is watch tv and some music. ... p.s. i'm looking for a assisted place with 3 meals a day, so i won't be long where i'm living now." Ray never found out that he was right about John Ray clowning with a tool of his trade. Maxwell having the original "Bombasto" roll. in December 2009 glenn thomas became aware that Mike ames was selling what was left of the 165 rolls from the John Maxwell collection, which ames had acquired from the Maxwell estate. glenn bought the rolls and discovered the long-lost "Bombasto" among them. glenn has posted a Youtube clip of his band organ play- ing both the Wurlitzer version and the Meijer version. i had intended to send the clip to my old friend. But it's too late now. i did send Ray some other CD's, and that resulted in my last letter from the loveable old curmudgeon. on February 23, 2010, he wrote: "i want to thank you for the CD's you have sent me. i can't play them only in the daytime as the old folks living here can't stand loud noise. My brother Ben [Benton siou] who is living at my old building is scare[d] of the crime around the area. his wife doesn't want to live there because of the noise and people trying to break into the building at night. ... the old phone is still working, but all the instruments are done dead. Rats had gotte into the old 165 organ and ate everything up." Ray in parade within his Chinese community. Ray ends by saying that he was thinking of moving to a senior center, but that kind of living is too confining after having played in the band for many years and having lived so long in his old east 14th street warehouse. he had sold that building five years ago, but the new owners moved out and the bank foreclosed. Ray's estate trust had the chance to buy it back at half price. he reports that, while all the instruments are there, all his rolls are in storage, and his brother Benton is moving out next week. although Ray's final writing to me left it a bit unclear whether he did move back to his beloved home/warehouse, it seems from what Chuck schoppe wrote that he did return to live there until early 2013, when he moved to a Chinatown apartment and then, in his last few months on earth, a nursing home. My wife and i visited Ray siou in 1989 on our way to san Francisco, diverted from ever getting to that big city by the san Francisco earthquake. We were in san simeon, Calif., when the earthquake hit. Ray was the most cordial and generous host you can imagine, and we thoroughly enjoyed our visit. My wife left, loaded with recipe books which she still uses today when she wants to prepare something special and exotic. and yes, Ray himself was special and exotic. Matthew Caulfield Ray with a few of his instruments. [email protected]
232 aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 Bob Hunt portland press herald portland, Me 22 august 2013 Robert h. hunt Jr., 71
kenneBUnk -- Robert h. hunt Jr., 71, of kennebunk, died peacefully Friday morning, august 16, 2013 at his residence with his family at his side following a 5 year battle with Chronic Myelomonocyte Leukemia, outliving his medical staff's expecta- tions for someone fighting this particular disease. Bob was born January 8, 1942 in Worcester, Mass., the son of Robert h. and Marie Davis hunt, and was an alumnus of Bancroft school, the Choate school and Worcester polytechnic institute. on March 20, 1971, he married susan Litwinowich. they celebrated their 42nd anniversary this year. Bob was a design engineer, putting his talents to work in many fields. he worked for amar g. Bose, at the inception of the Bose sound era. he then worked for noted Boothbay yacht builders paul Luke, and hodgeton Brothers, installing electrical and electronics systems in luxury yachts. he was employed with 8 January 1942 - 16 august 2013 Corning in kennebunk for 32 years until he retired. not one to sit it is my sad duty to report the passing of Bob hunt from still for long, he created his own company, e.t.C. in Biddeford, kennebunk, Maine. Bob was an active member of aMiCa, with which he operated for 7 years before selling it. at the time of his numerous contributions to the Boston Chapter. passing, he was operating his second company, hunt piano Com- Bob was a retired engineer who became very active pany, which integrated digital reading of music with player piano restoring player pianos and reproducing pianos. his greatest rolls, creating virtual player piano rolls, increasing the range of contribution to the field, many would say, was the development music a player piano could play. he loved working with people of his "VirtualRoll" system which allows any type of pneumatic all over the world, especially australia and europe. player system to operate from computer scans of music roll files. he was an active member and past Master of York Bob constructed no fewer than seventy-five systems, Lodge #22, aF & aM, Murray Chapter in West kennebunk. he with continual improvements in the technology. some may was a member of the automatic Musical instrument Collectors’ recall seeing my Chickering concert grand ampico which i had association (Boston Chapter). on display at the aMiCa Convention 2008 in Los angeles. Bob as a youth, Bob summered in Boothbay harbor. he personally assisted me in installing the VirtualRoll interface, developed a love of boating which lasted throughout his lifetime. enabling the instrument to have a nearly unlimited library of he was passionate about his boats, the Optimist and Optimist II, music. which he operated out of southport Marina in south portland for Bob developed a fast-moving leukemia a couple years over 17 years. he and susan especially enjoyed cruising the ago; he did a remarkable job of fighting the disease, though we waters of the British virgin islands. all knew what the outcome would eventually be. susan and her family wish to extend their sincere grati- Fortunately for us, Bob had the foresight to share much tude and thanks to Dr. ilyus and his staff, Beacon hospice, and of the technical knowledge required for the further development the wonderful care attendants from home instead, for their com- of his "VirtualRoll" with others who should be able to take over passionate and loving care of Bob. the reins. survivors include his wife susan Litwinowich hunt of Mr. herb lindahl, piano technician and player piano kennebunk; a son Robert hunt iii of Windham, a daughter restorer of south Windsor, Connecticut, spent several intensive tracey hunt of portland; a brother James hunt and his wife ann sessions with Bob just weeks before his demise, learning much of southport; a grandchild neeley hunt of Windham; many of the detail necessary for the construction and assembly of the nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers- and sisters- in- law; and his VirtualRoll. loving cat 'scooter.' it was indeed Bob's fervent wish to see that his "baby" should live on and, indeed, it will. should friends desire, memorial donations may be made to: the York Lodge #22 Tom Ahearn po Box 55 West kennebunk, Me 04094 Ed Note: First appearing MMD 17 Aug 2013, reprinted here with permission. ts
aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 233 ADVERTISING FOR SALE
GeNeRAl INFORMATION ABOuT All ADVeRTISING IN The GOlDeN AGe of AuTOMATIC MuSICAl INSTRu- The AMICA BulleTIN MeNTS by Art Reblitz. award-winning classic that brings his- torical, musical, and technical informa- All advertising should be directed to: tion to life with hundreds of large, vivid terry smythe color photos. We guarantee you'll find it 55 Rowand avenue to be one of the most interesting, inspir- Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3J2n6 ing, informative books you have in your phone: (204) 832-3982 (email preferred) e-mail: [email protected] library-or your money back. everyone has been delighted, and some readers ad copy must contain text directly related to the product/service being have ordered several copies. get your offered. extraneous text will be deleted at the editor's discretion. adver- copy today for $99 plus s/h. Mechanical tisers will be invoiced, with payment to aMiCa treasurer. telephone Music press - a, 70 Wild ammonoosuc ads will not be accepted due to high risk of errors. aMiCa reserves the Rd., Woodsville, nh 03785 right to edit or to reject any ad deemed inappropriate or not in keeping with aMiCa's goals and objectives 603-747-2636 2-14 . http://www.mechanicalmusicpress.com the BulleTIN accepts advertising without endorsement, implied or otherwise, of the products or services being offered. publication of busi- ness advertising in no way implies aMiCa's endorsement of any com- Weber 6’ Duo-Art grand piano, partially restored 30 years ago. mercial operation. irene Castle original owner. $7,500. 200 rolls available. See- AMICA PuBlICATIONS ReSeRVeS The RIGhT TO ACCePT, burg K with violin pipes, 1912 with dancing ladies, partial ReJeCT, OR eDIT ANY AND All SuBMITTeD ARTICleS restoration. $5,000 Contact Phil Soyring, 509 Curry Rd., tru- AND ADVeRTISING. mansburg, nY 14886, or phone evening (607) 387-6308. rf all items for publication must be submitted directly to the editor for consideration. Seeburg F, Western electric Race horse Piano, early Wurl- ClASSIFIeD AD RATeS FOR AMICA MeMBeRS: itzer Pianino, Nelson Wiggins Style 8, Wurlitzer D with pipes, 1-100 Words $20.00 Coinola C expression piano, Seeburg e with zylophone, See- non-member rates are double for all advertising. burg e with flute pipes, Coinola Cupid cabinet piano, Regina DISPlAY ADVeRTISING Sublime piano, complete Wurlitzer 10-tune, Wurlitzer Photo- Double page $ 200.00 player pipe chest, Seeburg drunk monk piano, land of the Full page $ 150.00 Rising Sun glass also, Coinola X orchestrion, tall case Western half page $ 75.00 electric cabinet piano with zylophone, North Tonawanda, Quarter page $ 50.00 Capitol piano with violin pipes, Contact John Pohlpeter in Business Card $ 30.00 oregon City, oR, (503) 631-8033 or rf non-member rates are double for all advertising [email protected], Special 6 for 5 Ad Offer - place any ad, for a full year (6 issues), and http://anothertimerestoration.com/ pay for only 5 issues. payable in advance. photographs or halftones $15.00 each. Loose sheet or insert advertising: inquire Deagan Tower Chime Systems available, 10-note or 18-note, Display advertisers supply camera-ready copy. Copy that is oversized or options include keyboard, organ relay, undersized will be changed to correct size. We ordinarily do not prepare roll player, and/or Westminster chim- advertisements from raw content. ing device. Restored and installed, 35 years of experience. these systems PAYMeNT: advertisers will be invoiced. Make check payable to have outlived their towers or congrega- aMiCa inteRnationaL. typesetting and layout size alterations charges will be billed if required by professional services. tions, and are the finest tower chimes ever built. take your instrument col- DeADlINeS: submissions must be received no later than the first of lection to new heights! Contact the odd months (January, March, May, July, september, november). William Pugh, top Rung tower the Bulletin will be mailed not later than the first week of the even Chime & organ service, athens tn, months. 423-252-0244, [email protected] http://www.Deagan.com rf
Three Gulbranson rebuilt stacks, 2 long and 1 short. Contact Music is well said to be the speech of angels. Dave Shoemaker, po Box 26, Jaroso, Co., 719-580-7529 Thomas Carlyle
234 aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 amazing 1926 6' Steinway Duo-Art Reproducing Grand Piano, and bench. Recently fully restored and rebuilt by certified and reputable technician - tom ahearn. exterior is in very good condition! our grand will rock your world with music unmatched by any other piano, with inflections and sound as though you were listening to the masters in person. to play it personally, the keys respond only as a steinway can and is a pleasure to play. Wonderful instrument. also available are roughly 450 rolls to be sold separately although we will send several with purchase, of the buyers choosing as a gift. asking $28,000. Located in port orchard Wa. 98367 360-521- 6434 rf [email protected]
aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 235 236 aMiCa Bulletin - sep/oct 2013 Please visit these suppliers of rolls
Brian Stahl: Piano Ticklers Music Rolls Dick Hack: Hack Mechanical Music P.O. Box 220, Elizabethville, PA 17023 2051 Chesapeake Road, Annapolis, MD 21409 email: [email protected] email: [email protected] www.pianoticklers.com (410) 279-5859 Cell Days Phone: (717) 599-1369 (410) 757-2164 Home Evenings Rob Deland: Blues Tone Rolls Kukral Collection: www.bluesrolls.com Welte-Mignon and 88-Note Rolls email: [email protected] 216 Madison Blvd., Terre Haute, IN 47803 Phone: (847) 548-6416 Phone: (812) 238-9656 email: [email protected] Bob & Ginny Billings: Sierra Music Rolls 14010 Rim Rock Drive, Reno, NV 89521 Julian Dyer email: [email protected] 5 Richmond Rise, Wokingham RG41 3XH, Phone: (775) 853-4659 United Kingdom www.pianorolls.co.uk Leedy Brothers Music Rolls email: [email protected] 4660 Hagar Shore Road, Coloma, MI 49038 www.leedyrolls.com John Motto-Ros Phone: (269) 468-5986 - Fax: (269) 468-0019 “Nickelodeon Rolls” “A” “G” “O” Rolls & Boxes Larry Norman: Rollertunes 110 Allen Ranch Road, Sutter Creek, CA 95685 www.home.earthlink.net/~rollertunes 209-267-9252 email: [email protected] www.johnnysmusicrolls.com Phone: (540) 721-7188 e-mail: [email protected] Keystone Music Rolls Don Teach: Shreveport Music Co. P.O. Box 650, Bethlehem, PA 18016 1815 E. 70th Street, Shreveport, LA 71105 [email protected] email: [email protected] http://www.keystonemusicroll.com Phone: (318) 798-6000 - Fax: (318) 797-4572 Gnaw-Vol-ty Rolls Robin Pratt: Artists' Choice Music Rolls Stephen Kent Goodman email: [email protected] www.gnaw-vol-ty.com Phone: (419) 626-1903 E-mail: [email protected] 516 Pierce Street, Sandusky, OH 44870-4725 Fax: 866-828-2165 Steve Bentley, SB-"O" Rolls series. D.C. Ramey Piano Company, LLC. Play-Rite Music Rolls 17768 Woodview Drive 1536 N. Palm St., Marysville OH 43040 Turlock. CA 95380. U.S.A. 708-602-3961 Phone. (209) 632-5784. www.dcramey.com Fax. 209) 667-8241. email: [email protected] email: [email protected] Ed Sprankle Piano Roll Auction QRS Music Technologies, Inc. Search for my eBay Seller ID:jensprank 1026 Niagara Street, Buffalo, NY 14213 email: [email protected] Phone: 1-800-247-6557 - Fax: 1-716-885-7510 Jennifer Sprankle www.qrsmusic.com 6114 La Salle Avenue #491 Oakland, CA 94611 Magic Melodies 360 Lawless Road, Jamestown, KY 42629 "Pipes of Pan Music Rolls" Phone: (270) 343-2061 (Formerly Schmidt's) 207 S. McCrary St. David Saul: Precision Music Rolls Woodbury, TN 37190 1043 Eastside Road, El Cajon, CA 92020-1414 615-563-5814 email: [email protected] http://www.popmusicrolls.com email: [email protected] Joyce Brite: Player Piano and Mechanical Music Exchange Ed Gaida Music Rolls http://www.mmdigest.com/Exchange/ PO Box 8174 http://www.mmdigest.com/Exchange/rollpage.htm San Antonio, TX 78208 email: [email protected] [email protected] http://www.gaidamusicrolls.com/