Hello Folks,  I write to you from Canada's fair capitol city of
Ottawa, where I am currently on tour with the Stratford Festival,
at the National Arts Centre until November 29.  What a treat to start
my day with the Digest.  But darn these notebook keyboards ;-)

This thread about the destined-to-crackup styrene plastic Dynavoice
compels me to once again trumpet the virtues of Aeolian-American's
short lived (less than 50 were ever produced) and robust (the only
plastic in it is the still supple neo-vinyl tubing runs) 1950 Pianola
keycap player.

In a nutshell, the machine was developed by the shop boys under the
direction of Wells Bennedict at the Rochester plant in '48/'49.
Originally intended to be fitted with a modified and miniaturized
Ampico B system, the project funding was cut off by the president who
ordered that all existing units be assembled and 'get 'em out of here'.

Thus this splendid (and heavy) re-engineered culmination of  post-war
player technology -- housed in a lovely walnut bent-plywood 'waterfall'
shell and separate sewing machine sized vacuum pump (operating at
around 100", 65" minimum) -- was flung into the consumer marketplace
fitted with an 88n laterally shifting brass tracker bar (79 notes
active - plays all 88n formats) and a bass & treble manual expression
system incorporating infinitely variable push-button needle valves
controlling Hickman 'curtain' grid regulators.

My rebuilt Pianola was on display at the last two AMICA conventions
tickling the plastic ivories of a Kawai P100 digital piano and anyone
who examined and heard it in operation could not fail to be impressed
with the superior engineering.  (Unfortunately we were not able to fit
the PowerRoll into the spoolbox without loosing a few crucial screws;
could be done, though :-))

Rather than attempt to list all its innovations I submit 7 jpeg images
for your consideration.  I am *still* working on an article for the
Bulletin (I'll be back at my 'real' keyboard in December), which
continues to expand as more information comes my way.  Included in the
section about Vorsetzers in general is the 1960 Dynavoice, and with
permission I will incorporate Digest subscribers recent insights.

Originally priced at about $600, the most I have paid for one is $200.
Got two free.  Heading down to North Virginia to pick up my fifth one in
December.  The original 'test mule' prototype is in the loving hands of
a Massachusetts collector and clearly shows the path toward the final
internal configuration of this overlooked household device of the
fabulous 50s.

I'd love to correspond with anyone who has memories of or has one
to unload, or would like to know more detail about the internal
components.  I think they (and all music making machines of any
stripe) are delightful.

Dave Kerr