We are downsizing our collection, and are selling our rare Tel-Electric
piano and roll collection.  The piano is unique, in the literal sense
of the word.  It is the only known factory piano, with "Tel-Electric"
and "1907" cast in the plate, and "Tel-Electric" on the fallboard
decal.  All other known systems are after-market installations of the
player mechanism.

The piano is a quality instrument, a 56" upright, mahogany finish,
includes sostenuto, and the tone is good.  There are no known defects
with the piano, though it needs complete rebuilding, after over 100
years of use.  It needs refinishing, and some of the veneer is
separating.  The player mechanism works well.

The Tel-Electric system is all electric, driving the keys and pedals
with solenoids.  The roll player is a separate console, connected to
the piano by a fat cable.  It is a 65-note system, and has 3 expression
levels, under control of perforations in the rolls.  It also has
accent, and sustain and soft pedal functions, also controlled by roll
perforations.

The keys are pulled down by a rotary magnet bank under the keybed,
using a system that completely isolates the key from the magnet when
the piano is played by hand, so the touch is not affected by the player
mechanism.

Two original roll cabinet/console stands are included, as are a spare
console and spare parts.  The original motor/generator has been
replaced by an electronic power supply, which is silent, unlike the
motor/generator.

The rolls are made of sheet brass, about the thickness of piano roll
paper, and are enclosed in metal canisters about 5" long.  Until 1912
they were all arranged, after which they were mostly hand played by
well-known guest artists.  Roll production ceased in 1917 when the war
effort took all the available brass.

The catalog of rolls was quite large, perhaps as many as 8,000 titles.
We know of over 4,000 that were issued.  Our collection includes around
900 rolls, plus a lot of duplicates.  Many rolls are quite long, with
multiple tunes.  The catalog shows over 100 rag type rolls, of which we
have around 50.  Some of the rag tunes are not otherwise known.  The
rolls are contained in 3 horizontal drawer filing cabinets, which are
included with the piano and rolls.

Volume 6 of our Rollography is a 600+ page catalog of Tel-Electric
rolls and a technical discussion of the system.  It is available in PDF
form from AMICA.

We are anxious to move the piano and rolls from our dining room and are
willing to consider any reasonable offer.  The scrap value of the rolls
alone is around $2,000.  Contact us if you are interested.

Bob Billings
Reno, Nevada
tel.: 1-775-853-4659
perforator@sbcglobal.net.geentroep [delete ".geentroep" to reply]