In 031105 MMDigest, Christine Robinson alluded to what may be
a misconception about converting mechanical music machines to MIDI.
It was stated:

> But, and this is a big but, I would miss my old piano rolls, the
> boxes, their musty smell, and all the history that goes with it.
> I would miss the mechanical sound of my Ampico as it softly huffs
> and puffs, and watching the roll recreate musical history for me.

I am aware of (at least commercially-available) MIDI conversions and
each of them was very careful to not disturb the originality of the
machines.  The Broadmoore PowerRoll clipped onto the tracker bar of
a piano just like a roll, and could be installed or removed almost as
fast as a roll.

The Gerety/Chase valve blocks are teed into the tracker bar tubing,
and are thus totally invisible, and the installation can be reversed
by either replacing the tubing, capping the tee or replacing the tee
with a straight coupling.  The Ames Violano MIDI interface is attached
to the back side of the feeder with removable clips on the adjustment
rods.

In every case, the MIDI interface is only augmenting the old roll
frame.  The machine still has to make all its huffs, puffs and wheezes.
You can still have collections of musty old rolls nearby to play when
demonstrating the machine to others, and you can play a roll at any
time.  However, if what you want is the enjoyment of the music, the
various MIDI interfaces permit you to play music without any interruption
or intervention as long as your supply of software holds up.

I know of one collector who had a Gerety/Chase system installed in his
reproducing piano who let it play for a full week!  He always had music
in the background and it performed flawlessly.  If anything, these
interfaces encourage the use of the machines rather than the
warehousing of them until someone comes over to visit.

If you have a Violano, band organ, reproducing piano (with the drawer
closed), or other non-word instruments with the roll mechanism normally
hidden, it would be impossible to tell if the performance were done by
MIDI or a roll.  The only drawback (so far) is with a player piano if
you want to see the words going by.  In that case, you would use a
roll.

These properly designed systems do not in any way detract from the
authenticity of a mechanical musical instrument.  The instrument still
plays the music mechanically.  You can still play with the originally
designed media, but you have the advantage of an expanded repertoire
both in time and quantity.

In addition, those with larger collections can get their instruments
to play together!  I currently have two Violanos in my living room.
One is mine and one is a restoration I am doing for a friend of mine.
Before I pass it back to him, I am hoping to have MIDI interfaces
installed in both of them so I can hear two Violanos playing from
opposite ends of the room at the same time.  To my knowledge, that
would be a rare if not unique event that might be even more exciting
to hear than a double Violano.  I would like to see someone accomplish
that feat with a roll!

Jack Breen
Southboro, Massachusetts

 [ A roll-playing Violano could easily be connected to another with
 [ a multi-conductor cable to play the same notes for greater volume,
 [ much like the double Violano.  To hear a concert with two pianos
 [ and two violin parts would need different rolls on the two
 [ instruments and a synchronizing method, but it could be done --
 [ a Welte-Mignon piano was synchronized with a phonograph record
 [ so that the real piano could accompany Caruso's singing!
 [ Ref.: "Welte-Mignon Player Piano/Phonograph, by Mark Reinhart,
 [ in AMICA Bulletin Vol. 27, No. 3, May/June 1990.  -- Robbie