Re: Automatic Music Mailing List
By Terry Smythe
Greetings to all, and many thanks Jody for your very much appreciated initiative in making this list server possible. Let's hope and encourage all users of this list to tell others about it, and let's build up its membership to something really encouraging.
This list server is not aimed at members of AMICA, MBSI, ATOS or any of the many other organizations out there that represent a slice of this unique musical heritage. It's open to anyone sharing an interest in any form of musical instrument that plays by itself in some way, be it reproducing and player pianos, nickelodeons, orchestrions, band organs, player pipe organs, monkey organs, cylinder music boxes, disk music boxes, horn phonographs, self-playing musical toys, etc., etc., et al, be they new or old.
By way of introduction, I got started in this wonderful avocation back in 1968 with the acquisition of a huge New Scale Williams player piano, soon followed by a 1930 Mason & Risch 6'1" Duo-Art reproducing grand, a Violano, and a Seeburg KT orchestrion. I've been collecting these instruments for over 25 years, and currently have a rather firm grip of Manitoba, soon to be relieved as I make many of my collection available to the 'needy', rather than the 'greedy' like me.
My prize pieces are my 1898 28" Kalliope upright coin-op disk music box, a 1908 Cremona style 3 nickelodeon, a 24" unknown sublime harmonie 12 tune cylinder music box, and a 1912 Mason & Risch 6' Louis XV foot pumped grand in process of conversion to Ampico A.
About 10 years ago, job pressures forced me to set aside restoration activities, although I continued to be active in AMICA and MBSI. My current AMICA activities include assembly and publication of *Technicalities* for AMICA members, now up to Volume VI.
About a year ago, I slipped into early retirement from my previous position as GM of the Manitoba Taxicab Board, and am now Executive Director of the International Association of Transportation Regulators, another volunteer position, representing taxicab regulatory authorities worldwide.
First thing I did on retirement was to build a proper workshop in the back half of my double-long garage, and then an addition onto our home. Eleanor plans to continue working for a couple more years as an EKG Specialist at Winnipeg's major Health Sciences Centre. The weather should be warming up soon, and I should once again be able to get back to my avocation and shrink back my collection to a more manageable level.
Over the past 26+ years, I've accumulated 12 reproducing grands, all art cases; 2 reproducing uprights, an upright 65/88 Steinway pumper, a player reed organ, 2 nickelodeons, a disk music box, a cylinder music box, and 2 horn phonographs. Time has come for tough decisions. :-)
I was first introduced to the InterNet in December 93, and never cease to be amazed at what's out there, and that I never seem to be able to get off the front end of the learning curve. Always something new.
For the InterNet, I'm writing an FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) about our special interest, including such information as related associations, sources of books and supplies, sources of instruments and music rolls, disks, etc., InterNet resources such as this list server, etc.
I welcome contributions from others in this discussion group, and as this FAQ nears completion, I plan to post it here first for final corrections and editing, before posting it to rec.antiques, misc.music.makers.piano, misc.music.ragtime etc. Let me know of neat web sites found, new sources of supplies, etc.
Let's hear from others in this new discussion group, and get to know one another. As a special request, it would be very much appreciated if everyone would include within their "signature", their correct email address (sample below), as the InterNet sometimes clips a few characters off the end of some people's imbeded email address. As a consequence, it then becomes impossible to reply to a specific person by email if that person's email address is not also somewhere else within the message.
Sincere regards to all.
Terry
Terry Smythe *Sounds of Yesteryear*
55 Rowand Avenue Restoration and enjoyment of vintage
Winnipeg, Manitoba automatic musical instruments.
Canada R3J 2N6
204) 832-3982 email: smythe@mbnet.mb.ca
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* UniQWK #5002* Don't let yesterday consume today. |
(Message sent Tue 18 Apr 1995, 04:21:17 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.) |
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