Hi all, I'm very new to this game and have in fact just started
restoring a Cramer pianola (my first one).  I have just come home
from Auckland, New Zealand, after four days away, to read with
amazement MMDigest.

While away I met my first photoplayer.  Here is its history, as told
to me by Les Stevenson, an organ builder who has been heavily involved
with Wurlitzer in New Zealand.  The photoplayer is a Wurlitzer, piano
number 24658, and had two cabinets.  It is the only one to come to New
Zealand.  Wurlitzer sent out one Photoplayer and five organs.

The Photoplayer was installed in the Strand Theatre in Auckland's Queen
Street.  This theatre later became the Mayfair Theatre and ended its
life as the Cinerama Theatre.

I do not know when the Photoplayer left the theatre but it was acquired
by an organ builder who lived on Waiheke Island.  Unfortunately he
demolished the side cases and used them in organs he was working on.
The piano and accompanying bits ended up in a shed in Mt Eden, where it
is sitting today.  I heard about it though a good friend and collector,
Jonathon White from Whakatane.

I live in a small community called Opotiki, in the Bay of Plenty,
and over the last twenty years I have been involved with the Opotiki
Theatre Trust, which purchased the 500-seat theatre and has kept it
alive in a community of just 4,000 people.  The theatre has for the
last five or six years run a silent movie festival, and I hope this
is where the Photoplayer will in the future come back to life.

I have acquired the Photoplayer and in the next three or four weeks
will return to Auckland and retrieve it.  It is in a very sad state
now and will need a total rebuild.

I am daunted at the task that lies ahead of me but am determined that
New Zealand's only Photoplayer will not go to the rubbish dump.  I will
have to form a trust to raise the finance needed, and call on any help
I can get (especially MMD).  I don't even know the model yet or where
to get plans to work from -- any help will be gratefully received.

I have no side cases or content or plans, I need to find them all.
If anyone can help with finding these I would be grateful.  No great
rush as I have no funds as yet, but if I have a list of where to look
when the fundraising is done, it will be a great start.  My first start
is to bring it to its new home and access the damage.  I have started
a photo collection which I will put on line to detail the journey.
My special thanks to Jonathon (support), Rod (who showed me the beast)
and Les (for his knowledge).

This will add another Photoplayer to the list; hope there are more
about.  Let's hope that it sings again in about five years from now
at the Silent Movie Festival at the Deluxe Theatre Opotiki.

Regards all,
Don Paynter
Opotiki, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand

 [ What is a good "restoration plan" for Don?  He will need this when
 [ he solicits funding.  Assume that there is no useful documentation
 [ which would give all the manufacturing details.  -- Robbie