I have a 1917 Nisley upright player, an Autopiano, built in Portland,
Ore., that was my Great Grandmother's. That's what got me started.
Also a 1920 Weber Duo-Art, an Aeolian Orchestrelle model W, and three
push-ups (Simplex, Chase and Baker, Smith Lyraphone). Oh yes, almost
forgot: a Chein Pianolodeon too.
I would guess that my friends would categorize me as a "perfectionist."
But I have been known to take a shortcut or two if it won't be noticed.
I am also a "gadget freak," with a fondness for old cars, slot machines,
cash registers, anything that makes noise or has an engine or gears or
tires. But me being a perfectionist, everything has to work. That's
the rules.
I am a "piano music lover," but I don't play myself. I fix up the units
and let them do the work. I enjoy classical music almost exclusively,
but I find the cutesy tunes of yesteryear interesting. I love to show
off my Weber Duo-Art and have actually found two (count 'em, TWO) people
who were absolutely entranced with the machine's ability to reproduce
real music. Makes it all worthwhile.
It's the hundred-year-old engineering. It's the history. It's the
music. How can you beat that!
Ray Fairfield
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