Reproduction Instruments
By Don Teach
The true reproductions of old coin operated machines, such as the Encore Banjo, Wurlitzer Harp, Seeburg H, Seeburg G, and Hupfeld Phonoliszt, seem to hold on to the value that their current makers have given them. Dave Ramey is now making a Banjo Orchestra similar to the original. He is using a Seeburg Harp for the piano which is bigger than the original, giving it a more musical range. We will only see over time how well it fairs in the market place. His reproduction of the Encore has maintained its value for the past 10 years.
The Seeburg H and G reproductions I have seen so far from Ramey always used an original Seeburg piano to start from. He has also built a Coinola SO reproduction and so did Bill Kavorous. (Sorry Bill if I misspelled your last name. As usual I am typing this quickly so I can get on with work.)
There have also been many "reproduction" nickelodeons built with a standard 88-note player used as the base. I do not believe any of these will hold any value. Most use the "O" roll and just do not sound as good as an original. I also believe that the nickelodeons built by Universal Player Piano Co. (Don Barr) will not hold their original sales price.
In his book, "Treasures of Mechanical Music", Reblitz really condemns the "O" roll, based more on his having to listen so many home built "O" roll machines than his having listened to an original Coinola. He has said that if "Treasures" was ever redone (not likely to happen) that he would change his article about new machines and rolls. One of the reasons "Treasures has" not been redone (along with many other reasons) is the large number of corrections that need to be made. The above are only opinions.
Don Teach
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(Message sent Mon 10 Feb 1997, 15:50:47 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.) |
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