My thanks to Joyce Brite for taking the "bite" out of my article.  My
sincere apologies to Jody and Robbie for writing in such a manner  I hope
you guys don't think any less of me.  I don't usually "go off" like that.
I didn't until a fellow offered me a original coin piano for that
truck.......dangnabbit!!!!! THAT HURT!!!

   Heres the project outcome.  The piano plays fine with the original
stack.  That means conversions will be limited to player pianos.  The
spool frame, at least on mine, is mounted in the original location.  If
you mount it in the bottom be aware the valves may not seat when the
notes are on (unless the stack has primary valves.) Another good reason
to mount it up top it makes it much easier to remove the player action
without having to cope with a hopeless mess of tubing.

   The add ons seem to work fine. Don't use the spoolframe.  PPC makes
a much better frame.

   The idea of converting non players is very appealing to me the regular
uprights are cheap, plentiful, and some have a wonderful tone.  If the
action could be designed properly, there may be a market for it.

   I am going to find a old upright piano and try to build it into a
player piano. I have been studying on how to do it.

   I have a old primary chest from a old standard.  I'm going to remove
the valves, then bore out the top board to accept valve seats and inside
valves and use glue in washers for the top seats (like a simplex).

  If I can find two good maple 1x4 boards, I'm going to put these in
the piano and  scale them with a carpenters square.  The boards will be
drilled to accept elbows.  These will connect to the modified valve board.

  The pneumatics will be glued on upside down (like a Baldwin). This
way the pneumatics will eliminate their own lost motion.  On top of each
of them will be an adjustment to limit the point of closing.  This will
serve as the stop rail.

   This two tier action, even if it works, will not make me rich.  It
takes a great amount of effort and time to build this and people won't
buy it because of the fact that it uses a used standard primary board
for the workings.

   This is something I want to do just to say "i did it".  The only good
thing that the Ragtime kit did was spark my imagination...  But there's
one thing for certain: any piano I sell will be able to be tuned.  Loose
pins don't exist in my shop.

  One interesting note...  I now own a 1974 checker station wagon that Paul
Eakins bought new.  It runs but needs a restoration.

                                           Thanks JOYCE i owe you one...

                                                             ANDY T
                                                             Sikeston MO