Hi to all MMD list subscribers, I had better reintroduce myself as I have
followed the digest for about a year now, but rarely have time to think
about working on my machinery or to read fully, or compose replies to the
digest.

It's really wonderful for the likes of myself, who doesn't often meet up
with enthusiasts in my part of the world, to "hear" the discussions about
machines and collections I've only dreamed about.  Top marks to Jody and
Robbie for (1) the idea in the first place (2) keeping it alive.  And
thanks to you all for your info and opinions offered here.

I live in Palmerston North, New Zealand, and have a Gourlay pumper serial
number 101521 ("Gourlay"  "Toronto"  "Made Specially for Australian and
New Zealand Climate" on the plate) in moderate working order, and around
1000 rolls, in my lounge.  My dark secret is that I have another six
pumpers of various make and condition hiding in the garage for a rainy
day.

The Gourlay is mainly operational, is tidy and has given me several years
worth of enjoyment (and good exercise!) to date.  A few notes don't sound
these days, and there is a problem somewhere as I have plenty of pedal
resistance for a strong rewind but it's lossy when playing and have to
work hard to get reasonable performance out of it.  Any suggestions?

In my city there is a local piano tuner named Allan Birchler, who is also
into players and restores a few from time to time, and I have had the
pleasure of meeting Michael Woolf in Wellington, N.Z. (another MMD
subscriber) and viewing his moderate-sized and fascinating collection of
local and imported items including a Reproduco, a barrel piano, and a
hula-girl lamp!

I should also mention that near Wellington (Pukerua Bay) Leon Clements
(an eccentric gentleman) operates Melody Farm Music Museum, showing his
collection of phonographs, players, reproducers, street organ,
orchestrelle, and miscellaneous paraphernalia by private arrangement.

I concur with Michael's comment that there are a lot of 88-note pumpers
in NZ, but few push-ups, organs, or other coin-op devices except imported
ones.  I seem to recall the Wagener museum in Northland had a small
player organ some years back, in addition to the items mentioned, which
was destroyed by fire (a crying shame...)

I spend most of my time working with, buying and selling Macintosh
computers these days, and will eventually tackle putting electronics
behind a spool-box to do "live" pianola-roll to MIDI conversion.
I see several others have an interest here also.

I have not ventured into serious player rebuilding yet, but I've found
copies of Ord-Hume and Reblitz books in libraries and devoured their
contents.  What is the availability of reprints these days?

That will do for now!  Thanks,

Dave Chisholm, Sideline Systems Ltd
Pre-Used Mac Computers and Consultancy
P.O.Box 876 Palmerston North, New Zealand
Voice Ph. +64-6-353 0050  Fax +64-6-353 0468