Re: Farrand Cecilian
By Terry Smythe
Just got a call from a lady here in Winnipeg who owns an upright Farrand Cecilian player piano, the type with a metal valve and stack beneath the keybed, valves as illustrated on page 139 of the old heavily illustrated Player Piano Co. catalog. The piano is very large, pretty, with a huge, gorgeous rich tone, well worth doing something with. She would appreciate knowing options.
The spoolbox takes only non-standard rolls unique to itself, and very hard to find, even more difficult to find than Artrio-Angelus rolls. It's valves are extremely difficult if not impossible to restore.
Has anyone successfully restored a Farrand Cecilian with this player action? If so, how are the valves opened without damage, then closed again without damage, such that they can be re-opened again in 50-60 years by some other rebuilder?
Assuming restoration is possible, what kind of professional restoration fee is she looking at to rebuild this player action, including conversion to conventional 88-note rolls?
Assuming player restoration is not possible, is there merit in total removal of the player action, and substitution of some contemporary electronic conversion kit? If this is a viable option, what kinds of kits are available, their sources, costs, and installation costs, etc.?
Is she better off to simply bite the bullet, dispose of the piano, as a conventional piano, and find some other player piano better suited to total restoration? I should point out there is some sentimental value in this instrument, which she inherited from her grandmother, and she is inclined to keep rather than dispose.
The thoughts, ideas, and suggestions from others will be very much appreciated.
Regards, Terry
Terry Smythe (204) 832-3982 (voice/fax)
55 Rowand Avenue smythe@mts.net
Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3J 2n6 smythe@freenet.mb.ca
Home page: http://www.mts.net/~smythe
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(Message sent Mon 26 Aug 1996, 16:06:03 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.) |
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