I had a private E-mail and thought I would share some of the answers
with the MMD group or you can skip this message.
Dave Ramey of Lynwood, Illinois in USA has made replicas of the Encore
self playing banjo for many collectors around the country. His first
customer was the only one that had a machine made with some original
parts. This first machine was later redone with all original parts
including an original case. The second machine had maybe one or two
original parts. ALL machines made after these first two have
100 percent new parts in them. The banjo in these machines all say
Encore on the fretboard. He has made 44 of them as of July 1999. He
still takes orders for these machines and the most recent machines have
a banjo that is closer to the original than the first dozen machines he
made. The rolls are $40.00 each. The instrument comes with five recut
five tune rolls for $22,000. You can order one from him at 708-418-2045.
Dave Ramey also makes the Banjo Orchestra. This is a totally new
instrument from the casters up. These machines feature a piano, banjo,
snare drum, bass drum, tambourine, triangle, wood block, castanets, and
cymbal. The piano is a sixty one note piano like the ones used by
Seeburg in the K and KT models. He got his first piano for the banjo
orchestra from Don Teach. The banjo in these machines say Ramey on the
fingerboard and have the Ramey Piano name cast into the piano plate.
The music rolls are arranged by the noted music roll arranger Arthur
Reblitz. These arrangements are very good. The basic cost for one of
these machines is $67,000 with a $15,000 deposit required. The cabinet
is six feet six inches tall, four feet four inches wide, and two feet
seven inches deep with a weight of only 650 pounds (approximate).
Order yours today.
Dave Ramey operates the D.C.Ramey Piano Co. with his son Dave Ramey Jr.
Dave Ramey Jr. is also a very good craftsman having worked with his
father for years and also did set designing and construction.
Don Teach
1610 E. Bert Kouns
Shreveport, LA 71105
318-798-6000
Visit the MMD Gallery for pictures of an Encore Banjo.
[ Mike Ames has one of these Banjo Orchestras. Its beautifully built
[ and I've really enjoyed listening to it. -- Jody
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