Although I am not an organ or player technician, I thoroughly enjoyed
Jim Crank's extensive article about the player pipe organs in the
most recent AMICA Bulletin (January/February 2010) and his explanation
of the history of these mostly residence pipe organs and how these
wonderful machines worked -- I understood some of it.

And like the reproducing pianos that we all love so much, while each
player system resulted in beautiful organ music, they were different
from each other much like Ampico, Duo-Art, Welte, and others were
different from each other, yet still resulted in wonderful piano music.

While Jim and other player organ experts like him are still around,
perhaps it would be a good idea to have them collaborate on book about
the history and technical aspects of these player pipe organs before
it is too late.

I wrote to Jim to suggest there should be a book.  He replied,

  "Such a book is badly needed before those of us who have made a study
in depth of these various players are all gone and the information goes
with us.  May I suggest that you put this thought on the MMD web site.
As I said, there are some of us who know these players and I for one
would gladly contribute to such a book.  AMICA can also fund such a
book, look at what they do already."

Bobby Clark
Raleigh, North Carolina