Rarely do thunderbolts arrive in the text of the MMD, but the 030224
edition was close enough.  I too am deeply saddened by the loss of
Dean Randall, especially since he had so much to do with my present
(and I hope abiding) interest in mechanical music.  It was he who
replied to the first postings of this green and mawkish contributor,
who was charged with making a local museum's recently acquired player
piano 'player' again.

It was a Farrand, apparently a favorite brand of his (the specific
piano was highlighted in an article in the AMICA Journal late last
year), and the patient and detailed correspondence from him, replying
to my now ignorant-seeming restoration questions, guided me through to
a successful conclusion.  (I have hung on to much of that correspondence,
and bemoan the loss of some of the early ones to a hard-drive crash.
It was all valuable instruction from a master.)

That success led to several more restorations since, and, even more
rewarding, interaction with a host of similar individuals, equally
passionate about their hobby and equally eager to share.

Do such individuals gravitate to mechanical music, or does love of
mechanical music make such individuals?  Whichever -- the combination
is hard to beat.  How fortunate that much of what he had to contribute
is preserved in the MMD and at other sites.  He will indeed be missed.

Dan Harrett
Grand Blanc, MI