Hi All,  Additional information as to what the term <Registering> piano
meant.  One must first relate to the design of the pneumatic stack,
which was an extremely air-tight, low-volume vacuum unit.  This taken
together with a small foot pump with one equalizer, rendered the player
mechanism capable of fast note or chord accent, with a minimum effort
upon the pedals.

Gulbransen advertised this capability in part, with their famous
trademark of the baby pushing on a pedal accompanied by the words,
"Easy To Play".

Gulbransen further exploited the capability of their player mechanism
with advertisements of The Registering Piano.  To quote in part from a
1925 ad:

  "(Only Piano of Its Kind)  We admit that it seems incredible that
untrained persons can play like this -- can play by roll, equal to
playing by hand.  Indeed it would be impossible were it not for the
Gulbransen Registering piano, the only instrument of its kind in the
world.

  "For neither ordinary player-pianos, nor reproducing pianos can give
you complete control of the keys, the same as in hand playing.  The
Gulbransen alone does this.

  "Hence you can play not "mechanical" music, but human music, with the
human expression--the Time, the Touch and the Tone Volume that you
yourself impart to it."

To conclude; the meaning of the term "Registering" piano as defined
by Gulbransen may be taken from a 1923 Instruction Roll which states:

  "The Gulbransen REGISTERS your touch; so pedal easily ALWAYS, until
you come to a note to be accented.  An extra touch of a pedal registers
'how much' accent."

John Kadlec
Springfield, Mo.

 [ Was this capability available in other makes of pianos?  Are there
 [ any disadvantages associated with Gulbransen's method?  -- Robbie