Hi All; Wow, what a wonderful medium the Internet and MMD has brought
together in the wonderful people, a fellowship with the rich experience
pool we all enjoy every day. I was not able to attend the auction
(from California) but was expecting competition and high prices.
The Pianino rolls were a special attraction to me as I am considering
building a Wurlitzer Style 50 "Kiddie Organ" with drums and bells,
a chromatic organ with roll and MIDI. Is it possible someone out
there, maybe who bought the Pianino rolls, or possibly someone else
who would sell me a roll or two at a low price to get me started?
I built four Roy Norman organs years ago, and tons of pipes I sold
and I am just now finishing restoring a Pianola 65-note push-up player
to play a Yamaha MIDI keyboard piano/organ with tons of voices. What
a fun machine it will be.
I remember talking with Durrell years ago and trading violin pipes
for parts and material, and I can remember his voice. What a fantastic
and gentle man. I also remember the day I discovered the books,
"Encyclopedia of Automatic Musical Instruments" and "Put Another
Nickel In", at the San Jose Main Library while on my lunch break.
I was thunderstruck by this pneumatic "high tech yesterday", with
multiplexing and lock-and-cancel valves (flip-flops) and the fairground
organs which played perforated folding cardboard music "books". More
libraries should have that and other books!
Anyway, I will miss Durrell very much, but there _is_ still you all!
Very truly with kind regards,
Robert Leber - coming up on 65 on August first!
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