As a longtime reader (lurker) of the MMDigest I have learned a lot,
more than I knew even to ask questions about.  I have lived in the
Louisville, Kentucky, area for 46-odd years.  I got my start in
Cleveland, Ohio.

A friend of mine and I hung out at a combination antiques store and
soda fountain.  One day the owner brought in decrepit Starr Pullman
player piano.  I paid $300 for it and got it moved down our basement,
with the idea that someday I would get it to play (I had always wanted
one).  I started reading everything I could find on rebuilding players,
but I needed supplies.

I found Kap Piano in the telephone book and talked to Bill Kap himself.
Not only did he sell me the materials but he took me on the grand tour
of the store.  I hung out there every Saturday for a long time and,
with his permission, I brought my hi-tech-ish Norelco Carry Corder and
made recordings of many of the machines.  The one that stands out after
all those years was the Mills Violano Virtuoso.  It was in the final
stages of repair.  All the covers were open and I saw how it uses
solenoids instead of pneumatics.  At the time I recorded it the piano
was leaning on the wall behind the machine.

After long weeks of covering pneumatics, cutting and gluing pouches,
trial and error and error and error, my Starr Pullman player piano
played!  As a matter of fact, the vacuum unit made so many years ago
needs replacement.  I plan to call him in the next little while.

Musically yours,
Austin Matlow