I too have dealt with Player Piano Company, mainly during my novice
years.  When I first started rebuilding players, I read every written
word I could obtain on the subject, including Durrell's rebuilding
instructions for various actions (B-49 Book).  They are a recipe for
disaster to the novice.  In neither instance, did his instructions
work, and following his simplex rebuilding instructions caused the
total destruction of a whole set of pneumatic units.

What Durrell did not point out in these instructions is that if you
soak Simplex units in water, they will come apart.  However, he does
not point out that the thin pouch boards will warp, despite sanding the
sealer off of them.  Once warped, the unit will be impossible to be
airtight again, phenoseal or not.  As a former employee pointed out
(and I still have the E-mail letter), "I begged him not to publish
that, he soaked them in water, and once he seen that they came apart,
he threw them away."

This confirms my suspicion that he wrote that entire article on
speculation, rather than doing a actual rebuild on a single Simplex
unit!  For the more experienced people, who know better, these
instructions are a moot point and almost laughable.  But for the
novice that follows these instructions, it is not at all funny.

Also the "pre made valves" will not pass the test as well as the old
unrestored valve!  I may also mention that the "Simplex valve tester"
is the most ill-designed unit I have ever seen, and the holder spread
out the first time I used it.  The novice who thinks, "Well, he is
in the player business, so he _must_ know what he's talking about,"
is in for a rude awakening.  It is a blind trust, from a mistaken
notion, and a trust that Durrell has shattered with me many years ago.

This is not about the cloth, or how he may have gotten shafted on some
supplier.  This is something that he wrote on his own of his own doing.
Anyone who writes rebuilding instructions on conjecture, and
speculation, particularly to a market that thrives more on one-time
player rebuilders than professionals, is very reckless.  If you charge
for information, it should at least be based on some type of actual
experience!

Now it's time to address the supplies.

Time and time again, It has been proven that sponge neoprene will only
work for a short time for valves, along with "artificial leather" and
other unusable choices presented to the unsuspecting novice browsing
the catalogue.   So if Mr. Armstrong is truly "honorable, honest etc."
as a few people here has so adamantly stated, then somebody please tell
me why don't he withdraw that useless junk from the catalogue, knowing
full well that it has been proven totally unsuited for players by every
reputable rebuilder worth mentioning?

The unsaid insinuation of past posts -- "Well, Durrell got stuck with
it from some nasty supplier, so it's perfectly justifiable for him to
be able to stick it to you too" -- I'm sorry fellas, but that just
doesn't wash with yours truly.

Now there is the pouch leather, originally thick stuff that has been
sanded down, and rough.  It leaks like a sieve.  So to cure that, it
is suggested that the defective pouches be sealed in some way.  Schaff
sells pouch leather, and I invite all to compare it to the PPCo stuff.
Fact is, Schaff pouch leather will not need sealing at all in the
common pedal player.

The replacement inner valve facings for Standards are defective.  These
appear to be tight enough; however, the plastic coated facings are just
thrown in a bottle and they become concave.  To flatten them, you have
to squeeze the force-fit collars and backing plates too tightly, and
the valve will not have enough wobble.  Conversely, if you install them
like they are, the convex shape will flex when suction is applied,
making it impossible to adjust the valve travel correctly.

I am not going to speculate whether Mr. Armstrong is a honest man or
not; I do not have a ax to grind.  But frankly, his written information
and goods caused me to spend unnecessary money, time and grief while I
was learning how to rebuild these things.  Where I come from, actions
speak louder than words.  But I do know that he tends to be much more
outgoing toward the better known rebuilders, who could really do him a
lot of damage without their endorsements, the same rebuilders who are
willing to overlook and make excuses for defective goods.  The same
rebuilders who insist on perfection and, clearly, there is a double
standard for some reason, and the loudest voices are the ones that have
a vested interest.  That is understandable.

But to us "average" guys, Durrell doesn't care one bit what we think.
In the few phone conversations, I've had with him, I have found him
very rude.  Maybe I am just one of those people who doesn't have enough
"clout" to be important to him.

I apologize if I have offended anyone.  However, it's only my opinion,
as we all are free to express opposing points of view.  I am certain
that this posting will invite many comments and raise many eyebrows.
I seriously doubt that anyone will be clamoring to put this article up
on a web site.  It will no doubt prove to be a very unpopular posting.
But if I can save one aspiring rebuilder from the grief this company
has caused me, I will.

Andrew T Taylor