The proprietor of the player piano shop in Boonton, NJ, was Ted
Spangenberg. I first met Ted about 30 years ago, played piano for
him and we wound up singing a lot of old songs together. After that
I was "adopted", you could say, into Ted's musical family, which
included most anybody who ventured in the shop and showed a true love
for the old machines and more importantly the music.
Ted introduced so many people to mechanical music over the years,
and he was always generous in sharing his wealth of knowledge on the
machines and related rebuilding topics. He was great friends with
Ed Freyer, the true pioneer in recutting A-, G-, 4X- and Link rolls,
and I was fortunate enough to have heard some of my first nickelodeon
music in the company of these great guys (over beer and cigars).
Very happy memories.
A kinder and sweeter man never lived, and I miss Teddy very much,
and as his many other friends and acquaintances, cherish the times
we shared together.
All best,
Frank Himpsl
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