I just saw Matthew Caulfield's note reminding everyone of how
MMD readers in the past provided am introduction when joining the
group.  I think that is a wonderful idea, as I read all the posts
every day, and knowing a bit about various posters would be
interesting.  As I only recently joined, and am not a professional,
I thought I'd explain why I have this interest.

My dad bought a Fisher Ampico grand when I was nine years old.  He
was not a piano restorer (he was a British history professor), but he
was mechanically-inclined and had connections with some scientists at
Redstone Airforce Base whose hobby was restoring reproducing player
pianos.  He also had a network of friends who were woodworkers,
engineers, physicists, etc. who could give advice on mechanics, make
tools, etc.

He restored the piano and on my eleventh birthday he turned it on,
and I remember how astonished he was that it worked.  The first roll
was "The Stars and Stripes Forever".  In fact, he had done a wonderful
job restoring the piano.

After that, he restored another twenty or thirty pianos, and he still
has one.  He is almost 80 now and had always said he'd find a piano
for me and we would do it together.  So this past February, I bought
a 1926 Chickering Ampico grand, and we are restoring the mechanism
together (though he lives near Nashville and I live in South Carolina).
Professional piano folks are restoring the piano itself and it should
be ready in a couple of months.

Anyhow, this is why I am here.  I enjoy mechanical things too, have read
every treatise and book I can find on the subject, and my goal is to
learn enough to service my own piano in years to come.  I want to keep
the piano forever.  I am not in the business.  Thanks to the several
people who have been very helpful this far.  I have been amazed at how
helpful people have been.

Deidre Dixon
Greenville, South Carolina