Hi all,  I am corresponding with the owner of the John Broadwood and
Sons grand player piano, although it is out of my price range (and
where would I put it, anyway) [140804 MMDigest].  I asked in the
email for a close-up picture of the tracker bar but they sent the
same picture that is on the ad.  I then requested another picture
closer just now.

I also told them it would be a good idea to remove the cover in the
front of the piano and to place the spool shelf back in and screw it
down.  I thought that would protect the crankshaft on the motor from
being damaged.  I suggested they measure the piano as to length to
be posted in the advert at  http://www.ebay.com/itm/221499966346 

I said they didn't have to hook up the tubing.  I noticed in the
picture they sent me that there is a set of pedals laying there to the
left in the picture of the spool frame.  They said the picture was a
photo of the parts removed before it came to them.  I have since asked
the present owners if there was an electric connection on the bottom of
the piano somewhere that would show that it could be run electrically,
like the Triphonola, and also pumped manually.

There are some large holes in the tracker bar: two on the right,
I think, and two on the left, along with some slightly enlarged regular
holes in the bass and treble next to the large holes.  But the picture
is too far away to see the holes clearly.  I tried to save it as a
picture in my picture viewer and look at it with the built-in
magnifying glass but I couldn't find a way to do that.

It looks like the pneumatics face down, like I think in the Kranich and
Bach player actions, but it is not the "kissing valve action".  'Tis
a mystery that I'm sure someone, can solve -- maybe the European guys?

I forgot to add in the last article that I still have two or three
totes of 88-note rolls for sale.  Each tote holds 60 or 70 rolls.
I wanted to hear them but don't have room right now for anything that
plays (or even doesn't play).  Everything is in storage, and I want to
consolidate both storage areas to lower my cost, so things have to go.
Let me know your needs.

Thanks,
Tony Marsico
West Mifflin, Pennsylvania (near Pittsburgh)
tel.: 1-412-304-3896

 [ The tracker bar appears to have holes for 88 notes plus treble and
 [ bass accents ("snakebites").  Could the system be an early Aeolian
 [ Themodist Pianola made in England?  Or maybe a Hupfeld Solodant?
 [ -- Robbie