Another Introduction
By Jim Cook
Hi folks,
I'm going to bravely step up as the newbyest of the newbies reading this digest, as I have nowhere near the expertise or experience of anyone who has posted to this group thus far. I was going to be willing to lurk forever, but have gotten carried away by the camaraderie I keep reading and hope I will be forgiven by not having a lot to contribute except for annoying questions from time to time. B-)
I am impressed with the helpful spirits pervading this group, thank you Terry for including me in the list, and Jody for the hard work you are putting into bringing it to everyone (I hope it doesn't burn you out).
I don't actually have a working player piano, I have a 5' Apollo grand, simple case, not an art case, built in 1915, which I didn't even know had been a player until I looked at the bottom and noticed the pushrod holes. I got it cheap because the right front leg assembly had broken off, and the pedal lyre had no apparent way to be connected. (I've envisioned a horrible scenario where a bunch of people are all gathered around the piano singing to the music being played from a piano roll, someone loses control, jumps on the top of the instrument in a fit of 1929 depression era passion, the piano leg buckles, then tears loose, and 700-800 pounds of piano squish the player mechanism beyond all recognition. Must have been quite a crash) Really, it probably just fell over when someone tried to roll it across the room on those little weenie wheels. I rebuilt the leg and built a frame to mount the lyre to, tuned it up and regulated the action somewhat, rubbed at the gray finish until it became a beautiful mahogany veneer, and now it's quite satisfying.
I also have a 1913 Haynes upright I inherited with my house. It was sitting in the only 1/4" deep puddle of water available in an otherwise totally dry basement. It has been a basket case, but is destined to be complete and in good playing condition by the end of the summer. This piano was never a player, but the waste of this instrument made me determined to restore it. If anyone wants the saga, email me and I will be happy to give it to you.
Other than that, I do library data base system and application support, sing in a chorus (the reason I tell my wife I need two pianos), and lurk in rec.woodworking.
Now my annoying question: Terry Smythe tossed a couple of options toward me for replacing the player mechanism, and recommended Piano-Disc, which I've never seen and know nothing about. Does anyone have a lead on who provides this mechanism, what it costs, how difficult is it to install (can I do it myself in other words)? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks and Regards to all,
Jim Cook
47 Washington Park
Newton, Ma 02160
617-630-9443
cook@clsib21.clsi.us.geac.COM (James Cook) |
(Message sent Wed 17 May 1995, 22:56:47 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.) |
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