In reply to Spencer Chase, I am sure that I would not be able to tell
the difference between his piano being played by roll or E-roll.
Spencer is obviously a gifted inventor and engineer and has created
a piece of equipment that many people will want to buy and fit to their
pianos.  All I am saying is that I do not approve of this act, and that
was my honest reply to the original question.  I do, however, offer
Spencer my congratulations on a brilliant piece of work and good
fortune with his sales.  Who was it that said 'I may not approve of
what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it'?

My comment about the sterility of the performance is that, in spite
of there being no discernable difference in the quality of the music,
I will _know_ that the music is being created by some electronic
interface and that will cloud my judgement and spoil my enjoyment.
I prefer to see the paper roll and play the instrument as originally
designed.  Sorry, but I'm just giving my opinion, which is what Bill
Finch asked.

I see that Julie Porter has reacted to the controversial element of my
posting!  I was expecting more responses to this.  It may interest you
to know that I am not wealthy or particularly old.  I am a working man
who has been collecting and restoring for more than twenty-five years
and am still one of the youngest in the various mechanical music
societies of which I am a member.  I just prefer my instruments to be
in original condition.  What's wrong with that?

I would be only too pleased to spend some time with Dr Haspels.  I think
we have similar ideals.  I support the pinning of modern tunes on new
barrels for old instruments.  What I don't support is the fitting of
a MIDI system to that same 15c clock.  I don't think Dr Haspels would
approve of that either!  Indeed, I have arranged some Dave Brubeck
tunes for my own 52 key street organ.  To keep mechanical music alive
and interesting for generations to come we must keep up with musical
developments.  However, I will cut these modern tunes onto cardboard
books and someone with a newly built MIDI organ can have them on a
chip.  Horses for courses.

Best regards from an unashamed purist,
Nicholas Simons