The post about the Schultz Aria Divina is an interesting one.  I think
that I have only seen one, a small grand in a Louis cabinet many years
ago.

We read about a lot of rare systems.  Unfortunately, a huge problem
tends to be connected to the music library available for each.
I really hope that we see more owners of these rare systems, get
together and share their roll libraries so that recuts can be made
while it is still possible.

Art Echo is another relatively scarce system and, unfortunately, the
life for new music for this system was relatively short.  Unfortunately
the rolls that have survived for this system are close to 100 years old
and I think that QRS made most of them.  Unfortunately, the library of
music is very limited and rolls in good playable condition are not easy
to find.

I do not know how well they work in the end but I have heard of a few
Art Echos being converted to play Ampico as the systems are related.

Unfortunately in today's market, the demand is so low for pianos of any
kind, let alone players.  It really is a shame that so many may never
get restored due to the cost of restoration versus any kind of resale
option or demand at a later date.

In the Minneapolis area many Ampico, Duo-Art, and Welte pianos have hit
the market with no buyers and that includes restored ones.  Perfectly
restorable instruments are getting trashed.  For each one trashed, that
is an instrument for which there will be no roll demand in the future.

Right now, you can build a library for Ampico, Duo-Art and Welte
although it was a lot easier for the Ampico when David Saul was
recutting.  The other issue with the music library is that for the
Welte, although it had a massive classical library which really does
not date, the popular library ends in about 1932.  For Ampico, the
library ends in 1941 and for the Duo-Art, about 1939 (I think).

Part of the problem with our beloved instruments besides the restoration
costs to get them to play right is that the music libraries tend to be
very dated.  Songs that were considered classics and standards of
previous generations tend to be unknown to the younger crowd today.

Again, I am glad to see collectors who are generously willing to make
their rolls available for scanning and recutting projects.  This saves
instruments worthy or possible restoration and for the future.  Hats
off to those of you who have shared your originals with the scanners
and the people making recut rolls.

Randy Hammond