My name is Pete Knobloch.  I live in Tempe Arizona, and have been
working on player pianos for about 10 years now.

I got my start by finding cheep players from the news paper ($200-$400)
and rebuilding them.  Most of these pianos needed major piano repair
(sound board, action work, tuning pins, strings, refinishing,...) along
with rebuilding the player.  I have picked up most of my knowledge by
reading books by Arthur A. Riblitz and Craig Brougher and rebuilding
these older players.

Around September of 1996,  I was terminated from my programming job and
started doing player piano work as a full time hobby.  I told my friends
"WHEN THE MONEY RUNS OUT, I WILL FIND ANOTHER PROGRAMMING JOB".  To this
day I am still doing player piano work and the checking account hasn't
suffered too badly.

During this time I made friends with Kirk Lightbourne who was tuning my
pianos.  He is a  well known concert piano tuner in the Phoenix area
and loves to write and take his sail boat on long trips.  Ask him about
his solo epic trip to Hawaii about 5 years ago.  Some of the trip
details are found at http://galaxymall.com/retail/eternity/thai.html

Kirk liked my piano work so much that he asked me if I would do all of
his piano repair jobs.  Since I wasn't working at that time, I said OK.
He has given me all of his piano repair work but my love is still with
the old player pianos of the 20's and 30's.

I currently own:
2  - Duo-Art Grand players (Steinway, Steck)
1  - Chickering Ampico-A. Grand
3  - Upright Duo-Art players (1-Steinway, 2-Aeolian)
5  - Misc. other upright players that are waiting rebuild time.

People are welcome to contact me and see my collection if they are in
the Phoenix area.

 [ Pete, welcome aboard, and thanks for your offer to tour your
 [ collection.  -- Jody