Regarding Doug Rhodes question on the value of an unrestored Apollo
(Apollophone) expression upright player piano with phonograph in the
upper left of the piano.
My father has a restored instrument such as you speak of, housed
in a beautiful walnut case. It plays its own expression rolls in
addition to regular 88-note rolls.
The piano is a Melville Clark, and the player is an Apollo. It
plays the "Apollo X" roll. I think it also plays the Seeburg "XP",
"Art Apollo", QRS "Autograph Automatic", and the Price and Teeple
"Art Symphonola" rolls. If I'm not mistaken, I think each calls for
a 96-hole tracker bar.
The phonograph amplifying horn is connected to and made as a part of
the back of the upper spool frame. Instead of an air motor, the spool
mechanism utilizes a spring motor which is wound up during the play
cycle. It stores enough energy to rewind the roll all by itself. The
player was manufactured to be operated by foot pedals or electrically;
it has two separate pumps in the bottom.
Recently we were discussing my father's collection and possibly the
sale of some of his instruments. He felt that the value of this
particular instrument was $7,500 or more in its restored condition,
if that's of any help.
Gary Bagley
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