Fellow MMDers, I'm sending this message on behalf of a lady without
Internet access and in response to a request from Bob Pye whom some
of you will remember as an early and knowledgeable contributor to
AMICA publications.  I have not seen this piano, have no interest in
its sale (other than I wish I had room for it) and am working from the
description forwarded to me.  Due to family illness and mobile progeny
(who love the piano but can't lug it everywhere they go) it has become
necessary to sell.

This second-owner, 1923, 6' 4" Steinway Duo-Art XR, serial number
231169, is located in the Okanagan region of British Columbia at
Okanagan Centre.  This is on the mainland a short distance (about
30 km) from Kelowna which is a major centre.

The piano was originally purchased by David Spencer and stayed in his
family until it was sold in the 1950s.  Older folk in the area will
immediately recognize David Spencer as the well-respected founder of
a large department store chain in the area, The David Spencer Company.

Many Vancouverites will remember, for example, the wonderful animated
Christmas scenes in their downtown store on Hastings street.  These
were in a huge display window accessible on all four sides from the
street.  Some may even remember riding the train in the toy department
to visit Santa.  Then there was the 1906 escalator with the wooden
cleat steps that Mom kept me away from until I could be trusted not to
kill myself, not to mention the elevators that seemed to be suspended
on rubber bands the way the bounced when they stopped.

The Spencer chain was bought out in the late 1940s or early 50s by
Eaton's, a Canada-wide chain.  Just a couple of years ago Eaton's was
bought out by Sears and is now called Eatons (less the apostrophe).
So much for history.

The current owner bought this piano from Eaton's in 1959 at which time
it had been partially professionally restored (by someone who knew what
he was doing).  This, in itself, is unusual since it was bought at a
time when gutting was in and restoration was out.  There hasn't been
any untoward meddling with the pneumatic mechanism, but I expect it
will need the usual restoration as the reproducer is no longer working.

It has been well loved and has not left Western Canada.  The case is in
excellent original condition and the piano has been regularly serviced.
I believe it has been tuned on average a couple of times a year since
the family purchased it.

Includes a duet bench but don't know if it's original.  It comes with
57 Duo-Art and 27 88-note rolls.

For contact information and a photograph, please e-mail me.

Jim Heyworth
Sechelt, B.C., Canada