Towards the end of my restoration of a Duo-Art organ roll player, I had
the great good fortune of making Richard Vance's acquaintance. We met
at one of Reg Riching's famous roll parties in Ealing, London.
Richard and I had a lot to say to each other, and I suggested that he
visit me. I demonstrated the organ (2M 21R) and we continued our
conversation. I was greatly impressed with his easy command of
technical matters, and his uncanny ability to draw text book diagrams
on any handy piece of paper (even a serviette, which I have preserved).
Not long after his visit I received a mystery package which to my
_immense_ delight was a set of _four_ name plates for the Duo-Art.
He had made the tempo, ventil and roll motor plates, also the Duo-Art
"Made in NY" (with the fancy type face).
The point of this letter is to say that I was amazed at how good these
reproductions are, and I think I am very fussy. This usually leads to
being disappointed, and having to settle for second best, but I can
honestly say that Richard's work is of the highest standard, and quite
equal to the original (when it was new). I count myself very lucky to
have friends like him, and am pleased to have this opportunity to tell
everyone about the marvellous results his process has achieved.
Yours sincerely
Paul Morris
[ See "Replicating Aeolian Lithographed Celluloid Nameplates" at
[ http://mmd.foxtail.com/Tech/index.html
[ http://mmd.foxtail.com/Tech/Cellu/index.html
[ -- Robbie
|