In 061207 MMDigest there was an excellent beginning to a book by Art
Reblitz.  The only little detail that history has seem to lost all the
facts about is the date when J.P. Seeburg took over Western Electric.

It is my belief that Western Electric Piano Co. was already established
and producing pianos when J.P. Seeburg took over the company.  This
belief is based on recollections of Jimmy Johnson owner of Western
Equipment and Supply.  He manufactured gambling machines in the 1930s
and later owned Playland Park in San Antonio, Texas.  He remembered
working for Western Electric Piano Co. as a salesman and then as an
officer of the company.

Johnson's story was that he was selling the Western Electric coin
pianos and doing very well when J.P. Seeburg tried to hire him.  He
said "no way," as he was happy with Western Electric Piano Co.  Then
one day the phone rang and Jimmy answered only to hear Mr. Seeburg tell
him (Jimmy Johnson) that he was now working for J.P. Seeburg as Seeburg
had bought the Western Electric Piano Co.

I have heard of two Western Electric coin pianos in San Antonio that
have stacks that look like the typical two-tier Seeburg stack but the
valve covers are like the Cremona stack, with a little square piece of
wood and a piece of fiber acting as the guide for the valve.  I wonder
if anyone else has encountered a Western Electric with a different stack.

In the Music Trades of 1926 an article mentions that Western Electric
was moving to new headquarters.  The new address was the back door of
the Seeburg plant.

Don Teach