I'm currently looking at purchasing a second player piano.  I have no
idea where I am going to put it but I'll cross that bridge when I come
to it.

I already have a "standard" 88 note player (Brand: SOLO CONCERTO) which
I have been considering re building.  I really have neither the time
nor the money for this project at the moment and as it is actually
playing I am reluctant to pull it apart and be without a player to
enjoy as well as a piano to play for some months (years?).  Also the
case is not in real good nick.

Today I inspected a Bell player piano.  (Serial Number 33862).  It was
advertised as "Piano good order, pianola part needs attention." There
are only a few small marks on the case and the key tops and fronts are
in good condition.

I discovered that the "attention" needed by the "pianola part" was that
the door to access the treadles would not open.  With this rectified it
did play, but only with the tempo set to 120 and very loud and very out
of tune!  It also had a tracking problem but more on that anon...

There is a switch marked "Solodant" in the spool box.  After a little
research on the 'net, it seems that this was the term Aeolian used for
themodist, which I understand reads expression marks in the form of
"snakebite" perforations on the edge of the roll.  (I have some rolls
like this)

As well as the Solodant switch, the spool box also contains:
    a transposer
    the tempo indicator, and
    the play/rewind switch.

In front of the keyboard are the following controls.  From left to
right:
    button - Loud Pedel
    button - Soft Bass
    button - Soft Treble
    lever - Graduator

This is all to the left of middle C.  To the right of middle C:
    lever - Tempo Lever
    button - silence
    lever - Phrasing Lever

The motor has 5 bellows.

The tracking device is pneumatic.  (On my Solo Concerto it is
mechanical.)  It is located to the left of the spool box consists of a
box with a bellow on either side.  Moving these bellows changes the
position of the takeup spool.

The tracker bar is also different to my Solo Concerto.  From left to
right there are: two holes of a similar size to the "normal" holes.
These are above each other but slightly staggered.  Next is a largish
hole which I am guessing is the sustain, then a longitudinal hole (i.e.
one that is longer across than it is up and down).  In the middle
are the normal 88 holes (I guess - I didn't count them).  To the right
of this is another longitudinal hole and then two staggered holes like
the other end.

I am guessing that the staggered holes are connected to the tracking
device (there are no metal guides to "read" where the paper is) and that
the longitudinal holes or slots are to do with the themodist/Solodant
feature.

After that fairly long winded description I have the following questions:

    Does Bell have a good name as a piano?
    Am I correct in assuming the player action is Aeolian?
    Are my deductions about the purpose of the "extra" holes on the
        tracking bar correct?
    What does the "Graduator" lever do?
    The "Phrasing Lever" altered the tempo - is this what it is
        supposed to do?
    Am I completely and utterly mad for even considering rebuilding a
       player piano?

Thanks

Mark Williamson    o|:)}
Brisbane, Queensland
Australia