The modern Aeolian Musette would be my last choice for a player-piano.
Most in existence do work, but the materials in the player action are
reaching the end of their life. Once you press an old player back into
regular service things are going to start falling apart.
I'd say there is a 95% chance that rebuilding is soon in that pianos
future. The player action stack, being stuffed under the keyboard,
is a real bear to service. The valves are plastic units, that I think
are still available. I do not know what type of glue Aeolian used,
but it's not hot glue!
A 40" upright piano simply does not have the power to make serious
music. Since you are almost certainly looking at a rebuild anyway, I'd
strongly suggest a 1920s-era full size upright. It would be easier to
rebuild, and it would have a far superior tone.
I may get some disagreement here, but the only "modern" player I'd ever
consider purchasing would be a Universal [Culver City, Calif.] or Story
& Clark [Seneca, Pennsylvania].
Andy Taylor
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