Yesterday MMD's "eBay watch" [at the bottom of only the email version
of MMDigest] listed a "keytop player by Maestro Co., Elbridge, NY",
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1490780711

I have been watching this item with some curiosity since it was first
listed.  It seems to me to have been mis-described as a "keytop player".

 [ That was my best guess, but now I agree with your analysis.  ;-)
 [ -- Robbie

The little actuating rods that extend from the bottom of the chest
appear to be too small, and incorrectly placed, to operate piano keys
correctly.  And the chest seems too small to contain and array of
pneumatics large enough to play a piano.  The gasketed edges of the
chest bottom, and the aligning pins on the ends, suggest that the unit
was meant to be "plugged into" some larger instrument.

Could this be the "primary unit" for a Vorsetzer, or more likely an
actuator for the valves, in some kind of player reed organ?

Perhaps Kevin McElhone or Blaine Warner could explain what this object
actually is.

Richard Vance

 [ The eBay item will be displayed until 7 December 2001.  The
 [ web browser "Page Info" shows that the images are stored at the
 [ antique dealer's web site, at
 [
 [   http://www.vlrantiq.com/images/007890.jpg
 [   http://www.vlrantiq.com/images/007890a.jpg
 [   http://www.vlrantiq.com/images/007890b.jpg
 [   http://www.vlrantiq.com/images/007890c.jpg
 [   http://www.vlrantiq.com/images/007890d.jpg
 [   http://www.vlrantiq.com/images/007890e.jpg
 [   http://www.vlrantiq.com/images/007890f.jpg
 [   http://www.vlrantiq.com/images/007890g.jpg
 [
 [ Is that a small spring-motor in image 007890d.jpg ?
 [ -- Robbie