I am an independent technician (Registered or not makes no difference
to me; what you know and how you do it, does).  I am also acquainted
with those pesky 70's Aeolian players.  I was amused at one poster's
advice in yesterday's MMD to dealers who had these things.  My
experience with these instruments has also been a bit frustrating.

First, they were less than stellar pianos to start with, and although
they were as tall as studios, they were actually more like consoles.
Secondly, their design makes it almost impossible to work on the piano
action.  Thirdly, on top of the problem with the valves, I too have
experienced that the cloth used was of very poor quality, and by the
late 90's, the striker pneumatics were so stiff that they virtually
didn't work, even when the user ran the electric pump and foot-pumped
at the same time.  The cut-off pneumatic seemed to be the worst
problem.  I am sure that many player techs can continue the list about
these hapless little beasts ad infinitum (e.g., the flow valve, which
was merely a plastic-like disc held in place by a piece of tape).

My impression is that there was a resurgence in player interest in the
50-70's, which a number of companies tried to cash in on with ill-
conceived and low-quality instruments, often spinets or consoles, and
various hybrid units combining pneumatic and electrical components,
which were obviously not built with any thought to longevity.  In more
recent years they were supplanted by the Disklavier, Pianodisc,
Pianomation, and other systems that, although they were installed in
perhaps better pianos, tend to be used more as glorified and expensive
jukeboxes than for the appreciation of piano music.

I assume that many would be in agreement with me that the old players
are the best!  To me they are one of the best inventions of man: they
are fun, aerobic, enjoyed by many generations (often at the same time),
and can draw a crowd wherever shown or used.  One of our local
hamburger joints drew clients strictly to play their nickelodeon, until
it quit working.  Some years ago I was called in to see why it stopped
working.  A much-needed rebuild was in order and a thorough cleaning of
the piano and action; fry grease does a number when it builds up inside
a piano!  The job was never done, unfortunately, and one more icon of
days gone by is in demise.

It is certain that doing major work on one of these instruments is a
losing battle and expensive.  But my advice to a piano owner, whether
rebuilding a player or rebuilding a piano, is the same: don't do it if
all you expect is a monetary return sometime down the line.  The only
person making any money on this is the technician.  You should make
your decision solely from a desire to preserve the instrument for
whatever reason, be it just because you like the piano or because it
has sentimental family value.

Thomas West
Greeley, CO