Pianola Enthusiasts,  I am happy to announce to all MMDers that a rare
find has been uncovered and completely restored.  The restoration has
just been completed on an 1891 Themodist-Metrostyle Pianola with
expression unit and manufactured by The Orchestrelle Company of London.
It is one of the original seven Pianolas, and the only one of three
with the special expression device that requires 65-Note snake-bite
type expression music rolls, the other two expression Pianolas were
manufactured in the U. K. in July and August of 1903.

This 1891 special prototype and the other six was made especially for
the 1904 St. Louis Exposition where they were demonstrated and returned
to the U. K. after the Exposition.  This instrument has been well
documented and researched through the help of many knowledgeable
collectors world wide, many of whom had access to the original factory
records.  Currently we possess only 18 expression music rolls for
demonstration purposes and are looking for more.

In reference to the restoration of the Pianola: The pneumatic stack
was in a very good state for restoring, noting no signs of a previous
restoration attempt.  All the valve pouches were made from leather and
were in need of no attention other than the Carter's dilution.  The
primary and secondary valves were faced with seal skin and were all
left as is.  The expression valve box was also in excellent restorable
condition as were the pumps or bellows.  The wind motor, manual
expression box, transmission, spool box and tracker bar, governor and
play silence were all in restorable condition.  The cabinet required
20% re-veneering of the quarter sawed mahogany.

It is a real treat to place this instrument in front of my baby grand
and hear the subtle expressions in the music that make these rolls
really sound hand-played!!

Bill Prichard