Introduction
By Ron Rainville
Hi all -- member 390 here. Even though I joined this great group sometime ago, I have yet to introduce myself, so here goes. I am Ron Rainville, otherwise known as recordo@aol.com OR recordo@ix.netcom.com, the latter being necessary because of "problems" with AOL. (Does that sound familiar???) My interests, with regard to mechanical music, are Recordo pianos and their expression mechanisms. I also collect Recordo rolls -- not a large collection, but I've managed to gather together about 400 or so and am always looking for more.
And now, for a little history. I began rebuilding players about 1960, all of them being the 88-note variety. I subsequently happened upon a Fischer Ampico Grand, which I rebuilt (very, very, slowly), with wonderful results. Concurrent with this new acquisition, I began collecting Ampico rolls, eventually amassing about 800. I might say at this point, that all of my reproducing piano rebuilding experience has been either Ampico or Recordo, no Duo-Arts or Welte-Mignons. Ampico seems to be the most prevelant in the Springfield, Massachusetts area.
Several years later, I sold the piano and rolls and decided that after being a pianist since the age of about 7, (I am now 56) I would venture into the world of the Hammond Organ, which I did, and eventually taught organ for about 10 years. I still have the Hammond (RT-3) with two Leslie and two Hammond tone cabinets, often playing along with rolls played on my Haines Bros. Recordo B piano.
As interesting as this foray was into the Hammond world, I found myself eventually returning to 88-note and reproducing piano rebuilding. However, this time I decided to concentrate on Recordo, which incidentally was the first expression system I had ever come across, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Jody says that there is a lot happening in our group with regard to expression pianos. I would like to hear from everyone, whose interest are allied with mine and who think that perhaps Recordo deserves a better place in the history of the "reproducing" piano. This is particularly true of the Recordo C expression mechanism, very few of which were actually built (darn!!).
I think sometimes that I actually prefer "building" to "rebuilding". Woodworking is a hobby, and I've used that to construct a number of Ampico stacks, a mountain of valve blocks and several Recordo-type expression mechanisms. At present, however, I am in a recovery mode, recuperating from major surgery, and so have little opportunity to do any woodworking at the present time.
So there it is -- a brief synopsis or me and my mechanical music. It's certainly a pleasure to associated with such a wonderful group of enthusiastic people, especially when you have, for example, Craig Brougher contributing regularly to the Digest. And if you don't already have a copy of his Orchestrion book, get one. There is always something more to learn.
Ron Rainville
[ Welcome to the Digest, Ron. With your experiences at both building
[ and rebuilding perhaps you could tell us if it would be possible to
[ add Recordo mechanisms to an ordinary pumper to play Recordo rolls.
[ Long ago a Recordo fan asked me this question, and I'd forgotten it
[ 'till now! I must admit, a good Recordo is a _very_ pleasant
[ instrument. -- Robbie
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(Message sent Tue 21 Jan 1997, 23:48:48 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.) |
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