Maybe someone has heard of this instrument, which was reported as
stolen in California awhile back. Maybe one of you knows the rebuilder
who installed a Pianocorder system into the instrument back in the
1980's.
Based on what I've been told about the instrument, you wouldn't soon
forget it because it is claimed that "the piano was retrofitted with an
electronic player system in the 80's, which cost approximately $5,000.
The finish was all natural wood with massive hand carved mahogany legs
approximately 15 to 18 inches wide at their mating point with the piano
body. The owner believes that since it has hand carved appointments,
it's classified as a one-of-a-kind."
The owners are asking the insurance company to pay (are you sitting
down?) $85,600.
I've gone through all the articles in the Archives and every single
reference book I own, and I can find no reference to a Haines Bros.
piano or player piano that's worth more than $15,000.
If any of you know of, or have heard of such an instrument, I would
be very interested, as would the insurance company, to hear from you.
Musically,
John A. Tuttle
john@player-care.com
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