88-note or 65/88-note pushups aren't quite as rare as used to be made
out. Folk wisdom at one time was there were only a handful of them in
existence, but in Europe one or two appear on eBay each year -- always
Aeolian Pianolas, it seems, although 88-note Hupfeld Phonola pushups
were made and I know of one such Angelus model.
Over recent years a good dozen or more have appeared, which is enough
to keep up with demand! You have to keep a close look-out on the
pictures, as they're rarely distinguished from 65-note versions in the
text so it's all in the picture. They tend to sell for the equivalent
of $600 to $1200. There have been a few sold within the hobby for five
times that sum, but usually that was down to personal circumstance and
for restored instruments.
On the other hand, 65-note pushups are usually given away or sold for
notional sums. This is mostly fashion, because they work very nicely,
especially the later Pianolas with split stacks and Themodist accenting.
Musically they're surprisingly effective, as they omit only the top and
bottom octaves, which are rarely missed.
Here in the UK, 65-note rolls of standard classical repertoire are to
be found without much difficulty, and dance rolls up to the 1930s can
be found.
Julian Dyer
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