I just returned from the piano rebuilding shop auction in Philadelphia,
mentioned last week in the MMD.  The sale was run by Barry Slosberg
Auctioneers.  Interesting, the sale location was right next to Comley,
a big industrial auctioneer.  There were "100 pianos" listed for sale.
I didn't count, but there must have been nearly that number.  It was
in an old warehouse being converted to condominiums, from what I heard.

There were dozens of old foot-pumpers, about 50 consoles and uprights,
two reed organs, and lots of benches and parts.  Only about 15 people
showed up for the sale, and the prices were low.  In fact, only a
half-dozen of the players sold, mostly for $5-$40.  None of the straight
pianos sold.  I thought it would be nice to put them all in a container
and send them to Iraq or Cuba where they would be treasured.

Everything needed some work, but most were in good rebuildable shape,
including a couple Knabe (non-AMPICO) player uprights, an Angelus
upright and an ornate 19th-C Steinway ex-player missing all the sharps!

The oddest player was a retrofit type, circa 1900.  It was in a fancy
old Stultz & Bauer upright and the spool box was under the treble end
of the keybed.  It dropped down on two brackets to insert the roll (an
odd type, as the chucks wouldn't take a 65-noter).  It had its original
ornate Holtzer-Cabot motor driving two exhausters mounted behind the
soundboard.

The pneumatics were vertical and under the keybed.  They closed toward
the rear, moving simple pivots which lifted the rear of the keys.
The piano needed restringing and some veneer, but it sold for $10.00
to a local dealer.

I bought a 65-note Angelus push-up in a pretty oak case for $50.
A collection of 1000+ rolls (mostly 88-note) went for around $300 to
a collector, so they will be preserved and maybe transferred to MIDI.
There are about 30 more players still there in case anyone wants to
make offers.  A few have good finishes.  I heard they must be out by
September!

Philip Jamison
West Chester, PA