Hello all, I have a exciting announcement for you all. Via an online
pipe organ forum, I have been in contact with a friend who is located
in Argentina. It was brought to my attention that his church has a roll
player in its possession. The manufacturer cannot be identified at this
time due to COVID-19 restrictions.

I have a few pictures of the roll player, but they don't show tracker
bar, machinery or controls. The organ was expanded by Laukhuff in 1931,
and it is believed this is when the player was added. My theory is that
the player is Aeolian. This came from the following conversation we had.

After showing him a diagram of a basic roll player, he identified
the take-up spool and said, "It was made of shiny silvery metal if I
remember correctly". After this, I showed him a few photos of Aeolian
consoles and he said it looks "quite similar". Hence, it is most likely
an Aeolian Duo-Art standalone cabinet.

No rolls have been located at this time. A cabinet with a bunch of
small cubby holes is present that could very well have been a roll
cabinet. He has not been in the church since he mentioned it, so we
may have just missed them. I am hopeful that the rolls still are
somewhere, considering the playing hardware is around.

The organ is currently undergoing a restoration attempt spearheaded
by my contact. It is my hope that the roll player may be restored and
re-instated with the organ. Its condition is probably not the best.
After showing him the said diagram of a basic roll player, he said the
metal tracker bar may have been absent. At least they keep the cover
closed, so hopefully it can be restored.

My friend hopes to get into the church and take some detailed photos.
I will keep everybody updated. Some of the photos featuring it in the
background are attached to this post. Wish me luck!

Christian Tedesco
cmt0817@gmail.com.geentroep [delete ".geentroep" to reply]

 [ The player is visible behind the organist. The dark
 [ lines are an overturned chair and not part of the player.
 [ https://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/21/03/05/210305_053023_balcony%20view.jpg 

 [ From the nave of the church, the player can be seen on the right.
 [ https://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/21/03/05/210305_053023_naveView.png 

 [ This is a sketch of the organ loft and the machine my contact has produced.
 [ https://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/21/03/05/210305_053023_PicsArt_03-02-12.23.23.jpg