[ Ref. Duo-Art System Removed From Steinway --

It bothers me, every time I see the parts of a piano for sale, because
the piano was unrestorable.  I believe all pianos are restorable.  If
the piano plate is there then it is restorable.  You may not want to
take the time, but it is possible.  See what Dana Johnson did with a
PianOrchestra that was burned almost to the ground:

  http://www.mechanicalmusicpress.com/history/pianella/w32a.htm 

This is a great article about the PianOrchestra that was in the Milhous
collection sold to a collector in Texas as an original machine with
original pipes.  It is all new, with new pipes!  I watched Dana re-cast
the roll mechanism and machine it, and the new piano action pin block
sound board -- all new, all made to match the original.

I saw Dave Ramey reconstruct a complete Nelson-Wiggen with a new piano
plate, starting with a gutted case.  I remember when he started
rebuilding and then finally building new, entire Encore Banjos.

Art Reblitz has duplicated complete insides for nickelodeons to the
point that an expert can not tell it's new.  I have seen him make
complete piano actions with soundboards, all new, and new stacks for
pianos -- anything missing he has made.

Terry Haughawout makes Mills Violanos like new from junk, as he is
a master machinist and restorer.   Give him a Mills castor and he can
complete the Mills instrument to like new.

Several nickelodeon restorers have to regularly have metal parts cast
and machined.  This has been done for years with nickelodeons.

Look at the latest article about a Wurlitzer Harp being reconstructed
in, I think, the AMICA Bulletin.  The Wurlitzer Harps and Encore Banjos
have been duplicated for several years by restorers.

The bottom line is it's restorable if you have the time and strong
desire.

Don Teach
Shreveport, Louisiana