When I first started working on player pianos I got my beginning
lessons with an old timer in his eighties; he used to talk about
all the old factories in Chicago and the surrounding area.  It was
fascinating to listen to his recollections about his visits to the
Gulbransen factory and how immense in really was.

He related that the plant had railroad tracks through the entire
length of the plant and that the upright pianos and lots of players
were double stacked in rail cars.  I remember him telling me that
there were entire trains destined for states like Michigan, etc.

He told me about the time he was at the factory to return a player
stack for replacement and how they took the faulty stack and dumped
it in a pile and handed him a brand new one for a few dollars.  I guess
that it was at that time he ran into A.G. Gulbransen and chatted with
him for a few minutes.  It must have been a really interesting time to
be alive, and he related so many great memories that I was happy to be
his assistant.

Jim Jelinek - Player Piano Clinic