-- non-subscriber, please reply to sender and MMD --

I'm a graduate student at the University of California, Santa Barbara
and I've been given the task of doing some research on an Aeolian player
organ that the university has recently acquired.  I have been able to
find a certain amount of information on Orchestrelles and their kin, but
I have not been able to definitely identify the exact model of this
particular instrument.

I am hoping that some of the very knowledgeable folks who read this list
might be able to advise me on the matter.  I was told that the previous
owner believed it to be an Aeolian Grand, although I'm starting to
suspect that it is, instead, one of the earlier (and smallest)
Orchestrelles.  I've read that the principal difference is whether the
reeds are sounded by suction or pressure, although I'm not absolutely
sure how to best discern which method this instrument employs.

Pictures of the instrument can be found at the following links:

    http://www.twasbrillig.org/aeolian1.jpg

This is a shot of the instrument from the front, with the fall-board
open displaying the Aeolian insignia (with the ligated "AE" and
superimposed O and L, which I am told is characteristic of the mid-to-
late 1890's).

    http://www.twasbrillig.org/aeolian2.jpg

This shot shows the front interior of the instrument, dominated by the
venetian swells and the roll case.

The date 1-22-97 is found written in pencil on the case which, along
with the aforementioned lettering of the insignia, leads me to believe
the instrument may very well date from 1897.  The number "2062" is also
present in pencil.  The number "1534" is stamped inside the roll case.

The keyboard range is (not surprisingly) 58 notes, C to A.

The stops are:

    Bass (L to R):
        -Cornopean 8'
        -Bassoon 8'
        -Principal 4'
        -Saxophone 8'
        -Eolian 8'
        -Violina 8'
        -French Horn 8'
        -Subbass 16'

    Treble (L to R):
        -Vox Humana
        -Gemshorn 8'
        -Dulcissimo 8'
        -Eolian 8'
        -Orchestral Oboe 8'
        -Flute 4'
        -Clarionet 8'
        -Trumpet 8'

In addition to these, there is a "crescendo" stop at the far left,
"tempo" and "re-roll" pulls in the middle, and the "pneumatic to manual"
switch at the far right.

Unfortunately, I do not have the instrument's dimensions handy at the
moment.  As is probably clear from the photos, it is roughly the size of
an upright piano and certainly smaller (and shorter) than most of the
Orchestrelles.  The closest thing I've seen to this instrument is a
picture in a German article (Juetteman, H. "Die mechanischen Harmonien
der Firma Aeolian," 1988) of what is labeled as an Orchestrelle Model S
from a Bruchsal, Germany, collection, although, not surprisingly, the
case details are rather different.  Confusingly, a statement by Arthur
Ord-Hume on p. 344 of his recent "Automatic Pianos: A Collector's
Guide..." implies that the Model S was an Aeolian Grand rather than an
Orchestrelle.

The instrument is in generally excellent condition.  An electric pump
was added in the fifties by a previous owner and the knee swells were
removed (their mechanisms being now attached to the pedals no longer
employed for pumping).  My understanding is that all parts required to
return the instrument to its original condition have been kept.  I am
told it was completely functional two years ago, but at present about
six notes do not sound from either the keyboard or the roll mechanism.
Any advice on how I should approach this issue would also be very
welcome.

So that's everything.  Apologies for the long-winded and probably over-
detailed note, and thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

Edmond Johnson
University of California, Santa Barbara
edmondjohnson@umail.ucsb.edu.geentroep