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The AMICA News Bulletin Automatic Musicallnstnunent Collectors' Association March 1986 Volume 23 Number 2

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Page 1: The AMICA News Bulletin - Stanford Universityzd484kf1651/23-02.pdf · The Player Piano Group (England) The North West Player Piano Association (England) Netherlands Mechanical Organ

The AMICA News Bulletin Automatic Musicallnstnunent Collectors' Association

March 1986 Volume 23 • Number 2

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The AMICA News Bulletin Automatic Musical Instnunent Collectors' Association

DOROTHY BROMAGE, PUBLISHER POB 275 CCB (207) 7&7-444& Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107

Published by the Automatic Musical Instrument Collectors' Association, a non-profit club devoted to the restoration, distribution and enjoyment of musical instruments using per­forated paper music rolls, AM ICA was founded in San Francisco in 1963.

ADVERTISING Classified: 100: per word, $1.50 minimum. • All copy must reach the publisher by the 10th of

the preceding month. Payment must accompany order. Meke checks' 'flayeble to:AMICA INTERNATIONAL.'"~~

• Checks or money orders from advertisers in foreign countries must be drawn on a U.S. bank.

Displey Advertising Full Page 7V2"x10" $100.00 Half Page 7V2"x43/4" 50.00 Quarter Page 3~B"x43/4" 25.00 Business Card See advertising

section for cost.

• Each photograph or half-tone $7.00.

• See Bulletin deadlines on this page.

• We recommend display advertisers supply camera-ready copy. Copy that is oversized or undersized will be changed to correct size at your cost. We can prepare your advertisement from your suggested layout at cost.

• Payment must accompany order. Typesetting, layout or size alteration charges will be billed separately. Make checks payeble to: AMICA INTERNATIONAL.

• Checks or money orders from advertisers in foreign countries must be drawn on a U.S. bank.

• All ads will appear on the last pages of the Bulletin at the discretion of the publisher.

Publication of business advertising in no way implies AMICA's endorsement of any commercial operation. However, AMICA reserves the right to refuse any ad that is not in keeping with AMICA's general standards or if complaints are received indicat­ing that said business does not serve the best interests of the members of AMICA according to its goals and bylaws.

Single back issues of the Bulletin are available from

the Publisher for $2.00 eech.

PUBLICATION DEADLINES FOR 198&

For January/February issue January 10 For March issue February 10 For April issue March 10 For May/June issue May 10 For July issue June 10 For August issue July 10 For September/October issue September 10 For November issue October 10 For December issue November 10

FOUNDING CHAPTER Pres: Gene McGraw Vice Pres: Diane Lillibridge Treas: Lou Klein Sec/Rep: Pat Stutts

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Pres: JelTy Pell Vice Pres: George Baker Sec/Rep: Susan Stricker Treas: Pat Hodge

TEXAS Pres: Wade Newton Vice Pres: Lorane Smith Sec/Treas: Carole Beckett Reporter: Janet Tonnesen

MIDWEST Pres: Edwin Ward Vice Pres: Liz Barnhart Sec: Lawrence & Margaret

Frazer Treas: Alvin Wulfekuhl Reporter: Sue Ricca

PHILADELPHIA AREA Pres: Frank Diamond Vice Pres: Jay Albert Sec: Bob Rosencrans Treas: Bob Taylor Rep: Paul Woelbing

SOWNY (SOUTHERN ONTARIO, WESTERNNYI

Pres: Janet Drewniak Vice Pres: Carl Guhlow Sec. Chris Barley Treas: Mike Walter Reporter: Bill McCleary

ROCKY MOUNTAIN Pres: Dick Kroekel Vice Pres: Dwanah Wick Sec/Rep: Art Reblitz

Don Wick Treas: Jere DeBacker

LADY LIBERTY Pres: Lenny Finkel Vice Pres: Oliver Vitaki~

Sec: Margery Vitakis Treas: John Ellems Rep: Dennis Valente

CHAPTER OFFICERS IOWA

Pres: George Apland Vice Pres: E. H. Breckenfelder Sec/Treas: Marjorie Apland Reporter: Jack Niewoehner

BOSTON AREA Pres: Judy Welsh Vice Pres: Michael Potash Sec: Bill Koenigsberg Treas: Philip Konop Reporter: Donald Brown

NORTHERN LIGHTS Pres: Jerrilyn Boehland Vice Pres: Tom Wordeman Sec: Tracy Tolzmann Treas: Robert & Katheryn

Duma Reporter: Ruby Ahneman

SIERRA-NEVADA Pres: Bob Patton Vice Pres: Vicki Mahr Sec/Treas: Audrey Winters Reporter: Bob and Sonja Leomon

CHICAGO AREA Pres: Mel Septon Vice Pres: Marcie Plank/

Gloria Taylor Sec: Jerry Biasella Treas: Marty Persky Reporter: Mike Ehart

HEART OF AMERICA Pres: Tom Hellstein Vice Pres: Charles Tyler Sec/Treas: Billie Pohl Reporter: Katie Hellstein

SOUTHEAST AREA: Pres: John D'Loughlin Vice Pres: Norman Arnold Sec/Treas: David Burke Reporter: David Burke

GATEWAY Pres: Paul Stelzner Vice Pres: Roger Wiegand Sec-Treas: Mary Wilson Historianl Reporter: Marilyn McGarland

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AMICA International

1986 CONVENTION PHILADELPHIA, PENN.

JUNE 19 - 21 HOST: Philadelphia Area Chapter

• Do you wish to become a member of AMICA?

Annual fee for u.s. members $22 Canada and Mexico (air) $28 Other non-U.S. countries (surface) $28 New and lapsed members add processing fee $5

• Has your address changecU Write to Membership Secretary.

• Do you have a contribution for the BulletinJ All subjects of interest to readers of the Bulletin are encouraged and invited by the Publisher. All articles must be received by the 10th of the preceding month. Every attempt will be made to publish all articles of general interest to AMICA members at the earliest possible time and at the discretion of the publisher.

See Bulletin deadlines on previous page

Original Bulletin articles, or material for reprint that is of significant historical quality 'and interest, are encouraged and will be rewarded in the form of AMICA membership dues disffounts. (Chapter reports and Forum inqiJires are excluded.)

AMICA International News Bulletin Volume 23 Number 2 March 1986

CONTENTS Features

1986 Annual Meeting 22 NederlandsePianola Vereniging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 22 In Memoriam: Bob Moore 23 Saturday Night Fever 23 AMICA Volunteers 23 "How To" on Valves 25 Song Title Errant 25 Nadia Reisenberg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 25 A True Story 32 Theme (Accompaniment & Variations) 32 American Theatre Organ Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 34 Bill Winston, band organ enthusiast. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 36 Replacement leaders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 38

Departments AMICA International .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 21 News from the Chapters 26 That Special Roll '" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 31 Classified Ads. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 39

INTERNATIONAl OfflaRS PRESIDENT Terry Smythe

(204) 452-2180 547 Waterloo St., Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada R3N on

PAST PRESIDENT Robert M. Taylor (215) 735-2662 1326 Spruce St., #3004, Philadelphia, PA 19107

VICE PRESIDENT Molly Yeckley (419) 684-5742 612 Main St., Castalia, OH 44824

SECRETARY Dorothy Olds (218) 326-2488 1327 Crystal Springs Rd., Grd Rpds, MN 55744

PUBUSHER Dorothy Bromage (207) 767-4446 P.O. Box 275 Cape Cottage Branch, Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Will Wild and Valerie Anderson New memberships

(803) 758-8846 P.O. Box 172, Columbia, SC 29202

TREASURER Tom Olds (218) 326-2488 1327 Crystal Springs Rd., Grd Rpds, MN 55744

BOARD REPRESENTATIVES Founding Chapter: Howie Koff Southern Califor(lia: Dick Rigg Texas: Haden Vandiver Midwest: Vincent Ricca Philadelphia Area: len Wert SOWNY: Rick Drewniak Rocky Mountain: Dick Kroeckel New Jersey: John De Paris Iowa: Alvin Johnson Boston Area: Sanford Libman Northern Lights: lowell Boehland Sierra-Nevada: Bob Moore Chicago Area: Jerry Biasella Heart of America: Ron Bopp Southeast Area: John O'loughlin Gateway: Del Sewell

COMMITIHS TECHNICAL, Melluchetti

3449 Mauricia Ave., Santa Clara, CA 95051

ARCHIVES, Jim Weisenborne 73 Nevada St., Rochest"E£MI 48063

PUBLICATIONS, Dorothy Bromage P.O. Box 275 Cape Cottage Branch, Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107

AUDIO-VISUAL, Bill Blodgett 73 Nevada St., Rochester, MI 48063

AFFILIATED SOCIETIES The Player Piano Group (England) The North West Player Piano Association (England) Netherlands Mechanical Organ Society - KDV Australian Collectors of Mechanical Musical Instruments Dutch Pianola Association

/fhe Cover: Emmett Ford donated this photograph of Nadia Reisenberg, which Society of Friends of Mechanical Musical Instruments he received from Robert Sherman, one of Nadia's two sons. Photo credit: (Germany)James Abresch, New York City. See page 25

* 21 *

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1986 ANNUAL MEETING by Bob Taylor

This year's gathering will be a mini-convention. A short planning schedule and the closing of the hotel where we planned to have our meeting headquarters have caused some confusion in our plans. We still plan to meet June 20 to June 22 in Philadelphia, with the Board Meeting on June 19. Our plans include: • Philadelphia Orchestra Concert (a piano program ) on the

evening of June 19 • Organ concert at John Wavemaker Department Store • Tour of Joseph Hofmann's home • Dinner at Longwood Gardens • Organ concert at Longwood Gardens • Evening colored light fountain display at Longwood Gardens. • Technical sessions, including a presentation on the historical

importance of reproducing piano rolls by a young American interpreter of Gravados' music.

• Recollections by the widow of Welte Mignon recording artist George F. Boyle

• A mart Full details will be in the next issue of Bulletin.

The Australia Question

Canberra School of Music _____ P. O. Box 804, Canberra City, A.C.T 2601 Tel. 46 7811

AUSTRAUA

Jan241986

Dear Dorothy Bromage,

I was given your name and address by Mr. Ray Palmer of AMICA here in Australia. I work quite closely with a number of AMICA members, doing research into reproducing pianos, and Ray sug­gested that I write to you with some research problems, so that my queries may be published in your next Bulletin, and hopefully elicit some replies.

The information I seek is: 1. HUPFELD·DEA: the latest possible catalogue 2. HUPFELD·TRIPHONOLA: I have a 1924 catalogue, but wonder

if anything later was issued, either in supplementary Bulletins, or in complete form?

3. HUPFELD·PHONOLA: I need a copy of the 73 Hupfeld Phonola Catalogue, in the most complete possible form, with the latest date.

4. ARTRIO·ANGELUS: (a) where can Iget a copy of the March and May 1925 Artrio-Angelus Bulletins? (b) Were there any further catalogues or bulletins issued after Sepotember 1925? If so, is it possible to get copies of them?

I would be very grateful for any assistance you can give me.

Sincerely,

LARRY SITSKY HEAD, DEPT OF COMPOSmON

The following was received from W F. Kuil of one of AMICA's affiliated societies, the Dutch Pianola Association (AMICA transla­tion of the society's official name).

Nederlandse Pianola Vereniging by Victor W Kuil

The NPV is in existence since 1976, but a formal start was made in 1981, when the NPV got a legal base. The NPV has approximately 300 members, which is remarkably large for a country like the Netherlands, which has the size of Lake Michigan.

Some of the highlights in our existence are: • 1978 First performance of the first and - to our knowledge - the

only concert ever composed for pianola and symphony orchestra. The composer was Jan Van Dyk, member of the NP\1. The composition was financed by the Dutch Ministry of Culture. The composition was played several times since, either in its original form, or in an arrangement for harmony orchestra, and it was broadcasted by the National radio and TV networks.

• In 1981 the NPV published a book "Pianola's." The book counts 128 pages, in a hard cover edition. (1800 books)

• The NPV has contributed to the restoration of the pianola base in the Netherlands, by means of supply of correct technical information and transfer of know-how we have been organizing restoration sessions, under supervision of professionals. Since 1981, the base of instruments under our members has improved substantially in quality. As a result of the increasing awareness, many members have purchased special reproducing instruments at auctions like "Christies" in London. Several museums have asked for our intervention, both in procurement and in restora­tion efforts.

• We have organized several concerts with the pianola, for audiences up to 1,000 people. In the start phase of the NPV, the attention was more concentrated on the instrument itself, while now we try to organize more musical performances.

• In 1983 we received funds, donated by the "Prince Bernhard Foundation" to purchase a roll punching machine. Prince Bern· hard is the husband of our former queen.

• Instruction meetings were organized to instruct our members how to play music rolls. A survey has indicated that approximately 40% of our members cannot play any instrument other than the pianola.

• The NPV Bulletin has our constant attention. This activity takes a lot of time and effort. For 25% of our members, the Bulletin is the major reason for membership to our association.

• We organize several meetings per year. All meetings are accom­panied by music performances, sales of materials, rolls, books and records etc. Many members come with duplicate rolls for swap deals.

• The NPV conducts studies about (music) historical aspects of the player piano. Our archive and library contains many documents and rolls of historical value. We keep records of specials that are in possession of our members.

• We try to establish good contacts with other associations like yours. Notably there are many contacts with members of the PPG in the UK We are very interested in information about your organization. If

anybody from your board plans to visit Holland please write or call (011-31-70-237307) for a get-together. A shared page in both our periodicals could be another vehicle for mutual information exchange.

* 22 *

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In Memoriam: BOB MOORE: Outstanding AMlCAn (1925-1986)

by Molly Yeckley Bob Moore and I met in 1976 at an AMICA mini-convention in

Joplin Missouri. We clashed immediately over a question of musical values and subsequently became fast friends. I've never been certain which of us gave way, if either. We probably agreed to disagree. I liked Rubinstein; he preferred Horowitz - that sort of thing.

Bob, who lived in Reno, Nevada, died 13 January 1986, of lung cancer. He fought it for almost a year, even going so far as to carryon with plans for a new house even after it became apparent he wouldn't live in it for very long. He moved into his "dream house" (which I referred to in the December 1985 AMICA Bulletin as his "Moore-ish castle") only in early October: I hope he read the write-up but don't know if he actually got a chance before he went into the hospital for the last time, which was mid-December.

Bob was a very special AMICAn: he was a founding member of both Rocky Mountain in Colorado and Sierra-Nevada Chapter of Nevada and was Board Representative for each in tum. The only convention he missed was Detroit in 1985. He had been a member of AMICA since 1972, but had attended the 1970 bash in San Francisco - AMICA's first convention. Perhaps he had to give us some thought before joining.! In those days we met only every other year - a practice some of us - including Bob thought we should return to.

He was typically AMICAn in that he was untypical. A lawyer, he served AMICA unpaid, as do all of us, of course. He quietly served on Goals Committee and, most recently, on By-laws Committee.

If he heard instruments in your collection that didn't play to capacity, or if they suffered from poor rebuilding or lack of any rebuilding, you can be sure Bob grumbled about it to his friends. If YOU were his good friend, he'd tell you just where you went wrong.

Not everyone understood that about Bob; consequently, not everyone liked him. A pity: he wanted and hoped for only the best for all of us and our instruments.

He was musically well-educated, too. He once told me that his mother insisted he learn to play the piano, and that he protested mightily as a child even while learning to enjoy and appreciate performers and performances. He surprised me more than once with his ability to discern wonderful performances (especially on Welte-Mignon rolls) by performers none of us knew. And it also seemed that every time I told him about a roll I'd just discovered, he already knew of it and had it in his vast collection.

He was a most discriminating gentleman. He could insult me deliciously - and usually did - but he was still a gentleman. One of his favorite lines was 'What do you know, Molly: you're only a piano teacher," which never failed to drive me up the wall with laughter. He probably meant every word of it, which was part of his peculiar charm.

He will be missed by all of us for his contributions to the club and by those of us lucky enough to be counted as his friends, even more.

AMlCA Volunteers Here are the names of some special AMICA-type per­sons who have assumed responsibilities in our or­ganization. Now receiving orders and distributing AMICA stationery is Tim Passinault. The new chairman of the Audio-Visual Committee is Bill Blodgett. For replacement roll leaders and Technicalities Bulletins, orders now go to Brian Meeder. Assisting with Tech­nicalities, by storing them and doing the actual mailing, is Ray Siou.

It was great to have these people respond when the call went out for someone to take over these jobs.

Addresses follow. for your convenience.

AMICA Stationery (See AMICA ITEMS FOR SALE in the ads section.)

Tim Passinault 10.5 Hemlock St Munising, MI 49862

(906) 387-2986

Roll leader replacements (See page this issue or mailing cover of most issues.)

Brian Meeder 1206 Miramonte Dr. Santa Barbara, CA 93109

(80.5) 962-100.5

Audio-Visual Committee Chairman (See AMICA Videocassettes in ads section.)

Bill Blodgett 73 Nevada St Rochester, MI 48063

(313) 6.51-8498)

Saturday Night Fever by Leonard Grymonprez

When Harvey N. Roehl, the well known automatic music instrument collector and dire.ctor of the Vestal Press in Vestal, New York, along with his wife Marion, toured Belgium in August 1966, we drove Marion and Harvey to several large dance halls which are called road cafe's in Belgium. In fact, they are not precisely cafe's as some among them could house 700 to 800 people, and even more. Some have two dance floors, one for the elderly and one for the youngsters. There are parking lots as big as double tennis courts and even larger to place the busses and automobiles from the visitors. In summer Saturday nights, one could no longer find a place for a motorbike!

In his "House Organ" - issue no. 3, Spring/Summer 1967, Harvey noted on page 6, the following: "The small country of Belgium has the destinction of being the last country in the world where public entertainment by automatic instruments is a common­place thing, rather than an oddity."

There are well over 60 large dance halls spread over the country, that all have the newly made lOS-key full chromatic Gebroeders Decap orchestrions along with the American made 1-100 Hammond Spinet organ. These orchestrions have two quality Italian made "CrucianeUi" - accordions, saxophone, trumpet, 25 note xylophone

* 23 * with tubular resonators, 25 note Vibratone and Jazz Flute pipes,

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bass drum, snare drum, tom tom, crash cymbals, tambourine, cow-bell and maracas. All these instruments are colourfully illumi­nated and fully exposed and there is volume control!

There are four possibilities with these particular orchestrions I) Hammond organ alone; 2) Hammond organ plus drums; 3) Hammond organ with drums AND both the accordions; 4) full operating orchestrion. Albert Decap, the renowned top skilled noteur and arranger of the finn, makes the very latest hits. Some of these lOS-key orchestrions have the large wooden A110 Grave pipes on counter-melody and are housed in far left and right side niches. The above mentioned four possibilities enable the owner to operate his orchestrion in order to play against the amount of people which are present in the place. One hundred, or a thousand on crowded Saturday evenings! If one counts 60 large dance halls with approximately five hundred visitors, a good thirty thousand people find their amusement in the music of these orchestrions. But there are far more! None of the people use the word orchestrion (except for the rare connoisseurs), but all rather prefer the word dance organ. (OK, we won't discuss something useless to discuss.)

It is quite understandable that there exists an enonnous versatility of characters among visitors, male as well as female, from 8 to 80 of age. Of course, the youngsters are accompanied by their parents or an elderly person who takes care of them. Eighty percent of the visiting dance couples on the weekends are regulars. They are, in fact, one big family. Each one knows the other. Remaining are those of the touring weekend busses, and these visitors stay for about one to three hours and then leave to make place for others. The dance ha1ls are not located inside city centers nor along super highways. Visitors and bus drivers have to know the location. But they do! Most perfonned music is the foxtrot, slow waltz, English waltz, and cha-cha-cha, but other hits of the day are also on demand.

There is an enonnous amusement there among the visitors and dancing couples as they seem to see a challenge against every day problems we all have to conquer. These dance halls easily could cha1lenge many other smaller places of ill repute. They are clean, to modem fire proof concrete structures, have well and serviced toilets, a tip included and fast butler service. There are NO dark comers, a permanent dance hall guide directs the incoming crowds to the exact properly cleaned tables and chairs around the place. There is fresh beer (of all sorts and taste) soft drinks, ice cream, wafers, pancakes, chips, chocolates, sweets, etc. Enough for all and any. Some bars measure forty feet long and even more, but are not reachable on weekends for the public, but only for butler services. Some dance halls have two hundred tables and eight hundred chairs but have to put in more during the summer season.

I never have seen nor experienced one single failure of a dance hall owner, if he sticks with these rules. Some, however, who thought to have a higher kick from the scene, did turn over. (We won't discuss this matter, either.)

These orchestrions are fulfilling a heavy duty task, playing seven days a week, on a round-the-clock basis to attract visitors and tourists. During week days, the visitors consist of pensioned people who are having a day out to one of the many amusement parks we have in the country, and on the way back have stopped by to enjoy a dance or two, or three, or? They all have a great time. They all come once a year, and each time several faces are missing. Some of the arriving busses are promotion tour organiza­tions from all sorts of finns and products, and these people also have a day out and are happy to stretch their legs, have a refreshment, have a snack. Some visitors are tourists from all of our surrounding countries which are amazed by seeing and believing all of the things others had told them before.

Once I asked the owner of the "William Tell" dance hall at Zandhoven if he never met with that sort of trouble one sometimes might expect. He replied; "Look, here people don't dance on top of the tables and if I feel they are running a bit high I put on two or three slow waltzes. It affects them amazingly! However if I feel they are on the low side, I put on a rock 'n roll and they jump up!" You should think he would have said it might get out of hand if five hundred or more customers are in moments of relaxation and enjoyment, but this depends on the skill of the owner. Nothing is more true!

One of the oldest much mentioned dance places in Belgium is "The Fourteen Legs", established around 1900. Some of the readers might wonder about the name, "The Fourteen Legs". The reply to it: the owner had seven daughters! One of these daughters died a couples of years ago at the age of ninety-two. Another subject one must not neglect is the alcohol-test. Of course it even exists in Belgium, as anywhere else. But as written before, eighty percent of the regulars are families, so they agree among each other that one of them should stick to coffee and pancakes. OK the first week dad drove the car, the second the daughter, the third the son and the fourth week, mom. By usinging this scheme of a shift, a full month could be running out without trouble. Clever and fair.

It's useless to compile a list of road cafe's to list the best ones as each regular will stand for his own favorite place and state it's the best one. I myself could only confess let them ALL have an absolute good time and great moments for all people from 8 to 80 and full enjoyment among all. One time, on a usual week day returning from repair work, Dad and I were sitting amidst large groups of elderly pensioned people when suddenly four large touring busses drove up the parking lot and unloaded crowds of yelling youngsters, probably coming back from a school cruise. We thought this will tum out wrong. Alas, how wrong we had thought. After less than fifteen minutes a lot of the girls invited an old grandpa and the boys an old grandma. Nothing is more beautiful to witness and we believe we never have seen more friendship among young and old. People could be nice. When the scholars had to leave, the elderly came outside to wave goodbye to their young friends, and I believe there is nothing else that gives such moments of serenity. Did it all happen through the atmosphere, the get together, the musical influence? No one will know.

A final word now for those which are basically responsible for the daily and weekend enjoyment, the lOS-key Gebroeders Decap dance hall orchestrions. If they had not been equipped with the best components available today, they should not stand against 365-day duty. They have a balanced wind supply via a high quality electric organ blower, and the key frames have all keys in stainless steel with hardened tips. First class rubber rollers and the brass grooved roller are now running in dust protected pre-greased ball bearings and are tracked via a bicycle chain, r€ducer unit and a 1/16 h.p. electric motor which provides an ever synchronic tracking of the music books through the key frame. The other top grade components are serving the rest of the jobs. AND, supported by the late noteur and arranger Mr. Urbain Van Wickelen, the present day high skilled arranger Albert Decap, son of the finn, and owner of his recording finn "ALBERT DECAP SOUND," is able to arrange the most intricate classical music as well the wildest rock 'n roll tune. As all IDS-key Geboeders Decap orchestrions have an identical musical layout, Albert makes an arrangement of a certain tune, or several tunes of the day, and put them into the full automatic punching machine he owns and copies them for as many as he has a want list for. See page 4 of the Autumn 1973 M.B.S.I. Bulletin to study such a rare automatic punching machine. Could there be a stronger synchronization of all that has been described in this article? I say NO!

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"How To" on Valves by Don Teach

This morning [ was inspecting some valve work that a friend was doing on a standard action player. He had bought all new parts and

./ was very eager to get the job done with what he hoped would be excellent results. In our area of the country (Louisiana - very humid) you are most likely to find corrosion on the valve stem and blame the humidity. This is not always the problem. The acid that was used to tan the leather has reacted with the brass valve parts which can include the stem, seat, spacers, and the little pieces that hold the leather in place. It can be scraped off the valve with your fingernail and is usually dark green. Take the valve apart and clean it with lacquer thinner. I usually lap the valve seats on 1000 grit wet or dry paper. Don't bend the valve seats. Just to be safe, clean them one more time with lacquer thinner. Since there are no metal platers in this area I then spray the valve seats with lacquer. Now it is time to lightly sand them again with 1000 grit wet or dry very carefully.

Use leather that is smooth one side and suede on the other for the valve seat next to the pouch. The hole in the center of this leather punching must be tight around the stem or air will leak. Don't let the hole be so tight as to make the leather have a bend or wrinkle ofany kind. It must be perfectly flat or it will leak air. It takes more vacuum to pull leather flat than a player piano can produce. The smooth shiny side of the leather seats against the metal seat. When leather is going to seat against a wood seat you usually use the suede side. So therefore the valve seat in a standard that faces the outside atmosphere will be suede. There are exceptions to every rule and it is best to try your best to use the same leather that the factory originally used. If someone else has been in the player action before you and you are not sure, then you have an excellent time to try several different leathers until the best choice is found. You can also

-' save time and read Art Reblitz's newest book on Player Piano Servicing and Rebuilding, because it is excellent.

11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111

Song Tide Errant by Peter Brown

The Klavier Ampico Piano Roll Catalog for Summer 1985, from the Powell's, lists:

NYMPH ERRANT SElECTIONS: 1. How Could We Be Wrong? 2. The Physician; 3. Experiment (Cole Porter) Played by Frank Milne.

But there is a fourth song on the roUl This roll first appeared in a 1971 Givens-Gourly Catalog, and

Larry Givens had this to say about its provenance: "This roll was made by Frank Milne just before production of Ampico rolls was discontinued in 1941. It was never issued! The current offering is made from a master which was made from the only existing copy of this roll. This copy was miraculously preserved over the years and was recently brought to light in a private collection."

Why was the roll never issued? Frank Milne went to a lot of trouble to layout a master for this selection, and when it was run through the production perforator 16 copies would have been produced. Perhaps it was a special order for someone, because the

recording was made quite late, about 8 years after the show opened in England. How delightful to be able to put in a special order for your own personal Ampico piano roUl

Cole Porter's "Nymph Errant" had its London premiere on October 6, 1933, at the Adelphi Theatre where it ran for 154 performances. The show, produced by Charles B. Cochran, in­cluded 27 songs, and starred Gertrude Lawrence. There were cheers too for Elizabeth Welch, an American singer and actress, who belted out the bluesy "Solomon."

The fourth song on Frank Milne's recording is "Solomon." When I bought a copy in 1971 I asked Larry why he left off the name of the last song and he told me that nobody could identify it. So those of you who have a copy of this roll, please add to the label and leader: 4. Solomon.

!1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111

NADIA REISENBERG by Emmett Ford

November 1985 was the publication release of the 160-page book, Nadia Reisenberg: A Musician's Scrapbook, relative to the pianist and Ampico piano roll artist. It is offered by the International Piano Archives at the University of Maryland.

Nadia Reisenberg recorded, with Benny Goodman for Columbia (MM-629), the Brahms' "Sonata in E flat Major, Opus 120 No.2." As to her piano rolls, she is reported to express dissatisfaction with them. Robert Sherman speculates she realized that, since the time the rolls were made, her playing had improved with development of her technique and interpretation.

Excerpt from The Complete Catalog of Ampico Reproducing Piano Rolls, written by Elaine Obenchain.

NADIA HEISENBERG B. July 14, 1904 - Wilna, Russia

Nadia Reisenberg entered St. Petersburg Conservatory at the age of nine but left her homeland in 1920 after the revolution. She toured Europe for a time before moving to the United States in 1922 where she studied with Lambert and Hofmann. After a December 1922 appearance with the New York City Symphony, Musical Courier admired her "finished technic, taste and musical fervor." Reisenberg made many appearances after that as soloist and recitalist and, on occasion, with her sister Clara. She graduated from Curtis Institute in 1935 and taught there until 1938, made regular European tours, and appeared frequently on radio. In 1939 she performed all of Mozart's piano concertos on radio. She is currently on the faculty of Mannes College of Music and Queens College and teaches privately in New York.

WALTZ Op. 42, No.3, D major Glazounow 60971G

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HEART OF AMERICA Heporter: Katie Hellstein

Life was hard on "Easy Street," especially for a pint-sized policeman charged with maintaining order in the face of a ram­paging giant bully!

This message came through clearly as 28 members and guests of the Heart of America Chapter gathered in Joplin, Missouri December 8 at the home of Mary Jo and Ron Bopp, We were treated to a performance of Charlie Chaplin in the 1917 release of "EASY STREET," while Ron provided expert soun<;l effects and background music from his Style 20 Fotoplayer, Every prat fall brought a thump, each arm swing a whistle; drama was under­scored with "Dramatic Andante," and "Le Secret" enhanced the bright and joyful scenes,

In financial desperation, the inimitable Chaplin donned a police­man's uniform, and in his bittersweet manner, subdued the terror of "Easy Street," won the fair maiden and once again demonstrated his mastery of comedic art,

Santa and Ronnie arrived together on Gerald Koehler's hearse­mounted caliope!

Here we are - Chapter and verse. The style 20 photoplayer gives Ron a share of the spotlight!

(

Ron and Mary Jo Bopp greet guests in front of their Ampico A.

* 26 *

Gee, Ron, that was really interesting!

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Does anyne have a nickel?

Put a nickel in the slot.

Sound effects played an important role in those early films and Ron's machine - produced by the American Photoplayer Company - is a marvel of compactness and was designed to meet all the needs of motion picture houses of smaller seating capacity. Ron himself showed his adroitness as he manipulated the ten piano rolls needed to underscore the film.

But the Bops have other treasures and we were treated to a tour of their new music room which featured a Limonaire 49 key fairground organ, a Wurlitzer Orchestrion restored by Ron, a burl walnut Link 54 key Nickelodeon, Peerless Elite Nickelodeon, and a Mills Violano as well as a wall-mounted display of Ron's coin box collection. Reigning jointly in an upstairs music room were a mellow Regina and a 1926 Mason and Hamlin Ampico Are· producer. These two beauties provided Christmas carols while Nancy and Ed Group led us in a game of musical gift exchange. (Will someone explain again why linda Koehler didn't have to relinquish her "Musician and The Critic" statuettes?)

The Bopp home nesties in a wooded landscape; holly and pine boughs provided sweet smelling decorations for the country kitchen; there was the tree with its old-fashioned ornaments and a fire in the fireplace; cold punch and warm friends - what a way to kindle our

.-/ spirits and brighten us on our way into the Christmas season!

SOWNY

Reporter: Harold Hodgkins ,

On June 22nd. an enjoyable meeting was held at the home of Alice and Carl Guhlow in Cheektowaga. Carl had his pianos tuned up in tip-top shape, and they surely received a work-out during the evening.

The Chickering grand worked to perfection, giving out clear melodious tones with superb expression. The upright also worked well but did not get the attention that the grand did. Over at the side stood a Schultz in a fine cabinet waiting for someone brave enough to commence restoration.

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Carl and Alice Guhlow's 1923 Chickering 5'4N Ampico.

Walter Pinchin, Harold Hodgkins, and Bruce Bartholomew by the 1918 Weber Duo-Art.

* 27 *

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Reporter: Bill McCleary

Ester Pinchin, Mrs. Whittaker and Holly Walter.

Muriel Hodgkins, Ester Pinchin, Mrs. Whittaker and Holly Walter.

Carl Guhlow at his 1923 Chickering Ampico.

After the usual exchange between the "expert" technicians present, the call for lunch came and all thoughts immediately turned to food.

Soon it was time to leave. A pleasant evening had come to an end. What could we wish for more? We had good conversation, good fellowship and good food.

On July 27th, a very interesting meeting was hosted by Chris and Jim Barley in their SI. Catharines home. Jim's pride and joy 88-note John Raper player provided delightful entertainment both with rolls and when Gary Lemon favoured the group with his artistic accomplishments.

Several of the male members honed their technical skills by viewing AMICA video tapes about rebuilding Ampico and Duo-Art mechanisms.

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Chris and Jim Barley beside their John Raper player piano.

Not only wre there many reouilders of pianos in attendance, but also during lunch it was noticed that many of these same people r

~

could build a pretty respectable looking submarine.

*28 *

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TEXAS Reporter: Janet Tonnesen

On the weekend of October 26 & 27, members of the Texas Chapter of AMICA made their way to Houston for a long awaited meeting with members there. We were met in the lobby of the Brookhollow Hilton Inn by Gib Gibson and given a page of brief, but very complete, directions to all the houses on tour should we get separated from the caravan led by Gib. At the scheduled departure time we left the hotel in a seven-car caravan for the Gibson's house which was first on the tour.

We were warmly welcomed by Emma Gibson and introduced to the other hosts whose homes we would be visiting later. Emma and Gib have an extensive and varied collection of musical instru­ments and antique items all very atractively displayed in two rooms specially built to accommodate their collections. A swimming pool was sacrificed for this purpose - imagine the contractor's surprise when informed 'he was to fill in the pool and build over it! But AMICAns understand the need for such a project. Some of the instruments we enjoyed hearing and seeing were a Welte Brisgovia Orchestrion, Reproduco Duplex Organ, Lochmann Original Or­chestrion, North Tonowanda Band Organ, Wurlitzer 105 Band Organ, Chickering and Steinway Reproducing Grand Pianos, Deagan Shaker Cbimes, and assorted music boxes. A favorite in

Gib Gibson with his Welte BriSgouia Orchestrion.

A close look at the Mortier.

Gib's collection is the Deagan Celesta Vox which has a console and can be played manually or by a paper roll. There were so many wonderful things to see, but there were still three more homes to visit, so back to our caravan. The second home on tour was the home of Dick and Charlotte Howe. As we arrived we were cheerfully greeted by their recently acquired calliope in the driveway. Inside we enjoyed hearing Dick's 1930 Knabe Ampico B Reproducing Grand Piano. Dick and Charlotte have a very large collection of original Ampico rolls and literature. I particularly enjoyed seeing the large framed poster of Ampico recording artists. Other rare items in their collection include a three disc Eroica Syrnphonion, an Ampico Cabinet Grand, a Molinari Monkey Organ and a 1929 Model G Capehart Orchestrope Juke Box, an Atwater Scott Radio, an original Ampico roll cabinet, and assorted music boxes. Charlotte had a wide selection of beverages for us to enjoy while Dick demonstrated the various instruments and gave a brief history of each. Charlotte has a large and very colorful collection of cruets displayed in a large window in the breakfast area. The sunlight coming in the window highlights them beautifully. Again, all too soon it was time to leave this wonderful collection and lovely home to join the caravan and keep as close to the schedule as possible.

On our way to the next home on tour we stopped at Gib's place of business where he has stored his 1907 Mortier Belgium Dance Organ. It has recently been restored by Alan Bies and Steve Boehck and plays superbly. The mighty Mortier is 36' long and 18' high and has 540 pipes. Gib is looking for a new home for it, or, as he says, it's either that or sell his home and move into the organ.

The next home on tour was the home of Alan Bies. It was the home of John Milroy, the developer and Mayor of Houston Heights, and was built in 1895. It is now a registered historical landmark and is currently undergoing restoration. New electrical plumbing, and air-conditioning systems have been installed and the kitchen has been modernized without losing its original charm. It now houses items from the collections of Alan Bies and Steve Boehck. Alan and Steve managed to find time to do much of the restoration of the house themselves even though they are full-time restorers of antique mechanical musical instruments. Soon after arriving we went out to the back of the house where there is a

Dick Howe demonstrates his expertise on the player accordion. Steve Boehck, Richard Tonnesen, Bill Flynt, and Bob Shimp pay * 29 * close attention.

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Alan Bies' ~urlitzer 180 Band Organ.

Tom Beckett gets a closer look at Vince Walker's music box. Standing are Steve Boehck, Vince Walker, and Carole Beckett.

carriage house where most of their restoration work is done. In the driveway was a Wurlitzer 180 Band Organ. It was built in 1930 and is one of only 5 such instruments produced. Like the Mortier, the restoration was meticulous and its wonderful music brought passers-by close to marvel at it and enjoy its happy sound. We sat under the giant pecan trees and sipped icy margaritas prepared by Alan and enjoyed the music performed by the Wurlitzer, and later by a Limonaire Band Organ in the carriage house.

Inside, Clarence and Eva Bies, Alan's parents, were busy preparing to feed the ravenous groups of AMICAns. After retiring the Wurlitzer for the evening, we went inside to see the rest of Alan and Steve's extensive collection. Just to mention a few ­there was the Welte Concert Orchestrion, an original Encore Automatic Banjo, Hupfeld Phonolizt Violina, and a Seeburg H Orchestrion. Before we toured the upstairs where there were

. many small music boxes and phonographs, we held a brief business meeting. Shortly thereafter, a delicious barbeque dinner was served by Alan and his parents complete with home-made pecan pie. The Hupfeld provided after-dinner music while we socialzied. Then, we drifted back to the hotel to revive ourselves for the next day.

Sunday morning we went to Vince and Mary Walker's home. Mary had prepared breakfast for us, and we enjoyed it out in the backyard among the roses. Vince and Mary are expert rose growers and are active in the Houston Rose Society. After touring the rose gardens, we went inside again to view their extensive collection of clocks, watches, and American brilliant cut glass in lighted showcases. They also have a beautiful collection of Boehm, Cybis and· Doughty bird and flower porcelain sculptures in show­cases. There's even a collection of music boxes including a 2T Regina Changer, a 27"Regina casket box, and a22" Polyphon bell box. I must admit I spent most of my time enjoying the porcelain and glass collections. Time passes so quickly, and soon it was time to head back to Dallas.

Our thanks to Gib and Emma Gibson, Dick and Charlotte Howe, Steve Boehck, Alan Bies, Clarence and Eva Bies, and to Vince and Mary Walker for showing us their wonderful southern hospitality during this weekend.· Everything was well organized and carried out smoothly. (I think they must have had practice.) A big thank you should also go to Bob Smith and Wade Newton for helping to make the October meeting in Houston a reality and one that Texas Chapter Amicans will long remember.

~~~~~~~~~~~

FOUNDING CHAPTER Reporter: Jack Edwards

Tradition is traditionally thrown out the window with the Founding Chapter. This is why the Christmas party, which is traditionally held at Dick Reutlinger's home was held at Bill Wherry's Orinda home.

Bill has quite a coilection of instruments including three or­chestrions (a Seeburg, an Empress, and a 1915 Wurlitzer), a Mills Violano, a reed organ and various juke boxes, too. But the item which draws the most interest is a roll changer for Bill's Steinway Duo-Art.

Bob and Carol Sipple enter with goodies.

* 30 *

I

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Being a Christmas party, Bill distributed gifts, and all felt the joy

./

Roy Paulsen at the organ.

Host Bill Wherry and Roy Paulsen share a word.

of the season. We all had a good time. The only slightly sad part was during the business meeting when

Phil McCoy acknowledged that the entire board of officers had reached the legal limit of their terms of office, and would be replaced at the next meeting. It was only sad in that we had all gotten used to Phil McCoy's friendliness, Bob Wilcox's dependability and Isadora Koffs efficiency. We had also gotten used to the off­the-wall Pneumatic Pneus, but all things, both good and bad, do pass.

The Chapter's nominating committee has seIected Gene McGraw to run for President, Diane Lillibridge for Vice President, Elmer Klein for Treasurer, and Pat Stutts to run for Secretary-Reporter. We wish them all well.

QRS #10-450 "Rainy Days and Mondays"

Tim Passinault 105 Hemlock Munising, MI 49862 Phone: 387-2986

#2224 "Who's Sorry Now" Played by Cook or Milne

Mary McCarthy 3542 Signal Hill Ave NW Roanoke, VA 24017 Phone: (703) 344-9763

Connorized "Oriental Stars" (Monaco) Played by Eva Reeves

Randolph Herr lll-07 77th Ave Forest Hills, NY 11375

Phil McCoy and Dick Reutlinger.

* 31 *

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ATraeStory by Don Teach

Several years ago I was a traveling salesman for Leslie Speaker Co. and loved to visit player rebuilding shops in my spare time. Iwas lookingfor an Ampico once and had only enough time to call the man who had it. My brother-in-law heard the conversation on my end of the phone and asked what I thought about the piano the man was selling, My family has been in the piano business many years buying and selling used pianos sometimes at a profit. He wanted to know if any money could be made on it. The seller had assured me over the phone of the highest quality rebuilding that had taken place and how well the piano played. It had been refinished to a beautiful satin finish. In fact it had been restored by one of the last of the old factory· trained piano men in town, a man who was around when the piano was new so he knew exactly how it should be. I explained to the brother-in-law that IF the piano was indeed restored as well as the man on the phone said it was then the piano was a good buy and money could be made. Brother-in-law asked how could you tell if a piano was restored. Now was his golden opportunity to listen. I explained that a restored instrument should look and sound like it did the day it left the factory. Put on a test roll and listen for every note to play.

My territory to travel was large so it took several months for my return to his home for a visit. As I was saying hello to everyone my sister was eagerly pulling me toward the living room. There sat the Ampico [ had been' always wanting with its new proud owners wanting to know how much money they could make. Imust confess that I really did not want the piano to keep. Ialso wanted to sell it at a profit. The sad part was not my new partners but the restoration that the piano company in town had done. [t was refinished but not like it should have been. It was indeed a satin finish or should we say a dead flat finish with open pores in the wood showing because it was what could best be called a one day finish. The brass pedals had been painted gold as had the rest of the hardward on the piano. The new pump cloth on the reservoir had been placed over the original cloth with staples and glue. The new cloth was also regular pneumatic cloth intended for small pneumatics. The piano still had the original dead bass strings, worn hammers, and original everything. Nothing concerning the piano had been restored. The few pneumatics that had been recovered, including all expression pneumatics, were done in light pneumatic cloth. They were poorly trimmed. Needless to say it was a less than perfect restoration. It played loudly all the time with no expression. My brother-in-law repeated the requirements for a restoration Ihad given him. [t did indeed have a new finish, new cloth, new tubing, and played a standard 88 note test roll. He also wondered why his friends could not hear the expression that he heard. The next four years were not the best in our family relations history. The moral of this story is a simple one: If you don't know a proper restoration from a poor restoration then find several people whom you can trust. I am not saying every old factory trained technician is a poor one. The final outcome was to buy my brother­in-law a new piano for their home, and the poor old Ampico is now resting quietly in the back of the warehouse.

This is just one story on poor restorations. The worst case happened about 12 years ago in South Louisiana. A man took a Wurlitzer Orchestrion to the president of the local Piano Techni· cians Guild for a restoration. The technician took all the original parts out of the machine and sold them to a dealer in the north. He replaced the original insides with new "0" roll parts from a supply company. The owner of the Wurlitzer to my knowledge does not realize what was done to his orchestion. I asked the technician why he did this once, and he thought he was doing the right thing.

Recently while on vacation I saw a once fine Atnpico gqmd in an antique shop. They were very proud of their restoration. They had one of the last player technicians come out of retirement to restore the instrument. Pipe clamps are just not my idea ofa fine restoration.

It is sad enough to come acrosss a gutted instrument that once provided enjoyment for many. It is just as sad to come across a poor restoration. My goal for the 1980's is to become the very best Ican be at restoration work and hope other technicians will have the same goal. I have already bought several copies of the new book by Reblitz and have given them to others, hoping to encourage better craftsmanship.

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It's Ragtime in Duluth! by Tom Olds

My wife, Dorothy, and I belong to the Lake Superior Ragtime Society (as listening members). They/we are having a ragtime bash on August 1-2-3, 1986. All "Ragtimers" are invited to attend!

The contact person for more information is: Yvonne Clotier r

2416 Banks Avenue Superior, WI 54880

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THEME (Accompaniment and Variations)

by Mark Dennis Zahm Duo-Art grand pianos, especially the late style, sometimes used

side mounted junction blocks to send the tubing down under the instrument. I have re-built 3 and each was slightly different in the lay-out of the tubing.

In each instrument all the control levers were in the spool box rather than the usual key-slip area. They consist of "Motor," Tempo," "Play-Re-RolI" and two push buttons and a lever for accent. Also "Duo-Art," "Repeat," and "Normal-Soft."

The following schematic is based on a 1933 Aeolian. For the sake of space limitations I have condensed the information to simple diagrams and listings.

* 32 *

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AMERICAN mEATRE ORGAN SOCIETY

Do you enjoy the music of the theatre organ? If so, you have this in common with many other AMICAns. Just in case you are not aware of ATOS, here are parts of the colorful ATOS brochure, for your information. (The membership form is also reproduced on the mailing cover.) Marv Horowitz, Massachusetts AMICA member, has a theatre organ in his home that can be operated by not one, but four, player units! In the lobby of the Fox Theatre in Detroit is a Moller organ that is another example of a theatre organ with a roll-operated mechanism. Those who attended the AMICA Convention in 1985 had the opportunity to hear it. ATOS members find the ATOS journal to be an exceptionally ( fine pUblication. In it, you may read about the 1986 annual convention to be held in Richmond, Virginia.

iNTRODUCING

AMERICAN THEATRE ORGAN

SOCIETY

>: >:

~ :r.

~ ~ ~ m

JOIN ATOS

TODAY

CHAPTERS Many goals of AYOS are Carried oul On

the local level by ChaPI('rs. Each hOlds meetings. SOcial. and concerts in audilori. urns. reslaurant. and privale residences.

Among the many activiti cs hosled bychaplers ...

• Social contach with persons of similarinterests.

• Concerts and Workshops by local and nationaliy recogniz(~d organisl

s .

• OPPortunify fo help build lOCal inieresl and put on sho

w8 .

• AClive in mOVing, rebUilding, inSlalling and mainlaining pipe organs.

• Young organist cOnj>elitions, leading to nalional finals, Provide recognition and incenlives for lomorrow's artish.

• Silent film ptesentations.

CONVENTIONS An annual convention is hosfed by a

local chapter and i. a great lime to ..

• H ' variety of Otganists On numerous makes and lypes of organ installations.

• Enjoy five days of memorable music and

ear a

entertainment.

• Attended by nead.v /,000 Persons from arOund the World each summer.

ATOS is a dedicated group of musi· ciarts, technicians and enthusiastic listeners devoted to the preservation. maintenance ·and continued enjoyment of the theatre organ.

Since its founding in 1955 ATOS has grown into an international Society of nearly 6,000 members in 19 countries world-wide. There are over 55 chapters in 3 i states and foreign countries.

A1'05 is helping young organists by sponsoring a Young Artists Competition which climaxes annually in the selection of a national winner. Most chapters take part in the selection process on the local level.

Comprehensive archives. a library and technical information about the theatre organ is being assembled with the goal of establishing" national headquarters featur· ing this material. It will be available for study by members and historians.

THI

(ATO~)

/

;,

* 34 *

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IN THE

The A1'05 Journal. Published Bi·Monthly

• Plenty of organ newi.

• Technical news and tips.

• Organ playing guidelines.

• Reports of chapt r a tiviti $.

• Loads of illustration.

• Calendar of upt'orning ev(~nh.

• Histories of great org ns, famou theatres and artists of past and pWl'senL

• Classified ads section.

• Annual convention cov rage.

• Record and tape reviews.

• Official reporta from National ATOS.

'nd completed form

and remittance to:

A1'05 Membership

P. O. Box 420490

Sacramento, CA 95 42

MEMBERSHIP APPLlCATION FORM The excitement of theatre organ and A1'05 sound great. 'J'm joining today and right:

Name

Stre-·t

it'; tat IZip

will be a member of

chapter (if applicable).

o I want to help fOITn

neces. ary details and application forms.

YOUR DUES ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE

THE NEWEST (OLD) SOUNID AROUND IS HEARD AMERICAN THEATRE ORGAN SOCIETY

have marked my du,-, category at

_

_

---------_.~_._._-

_

a chapter In IllY area: pl"a,,' "·,,d

Membership Categories

o Life nwmbership $1,000

o Benefador $250

o Patron $ 100

o Sustaining $50 o Contributing $35 o Rer(ular $20

Optional 'rvict'~

o First Cia $12 additional.

o Foreign Airmail $20

additional.

(Oue8 are f6r 12 months

from the month re cived

and cover one hOlls hold.)

*35*

Page 18: The AMICA News Bulletin - Stanford Universityzd484kf1651/23-02.pdf · The Player Piano Group (England) The North West Player Piano Association (England) Netherlands Mechanical Organ

Entausiast takes amusement park

Winston said he could sit forhome with him "You think I'm a nut. There hours, listening to the organ. But he's afraid "people would be coming In are several hundred of the door with fire axes", and he re­ us,""Come on and hear, come on and hear, spects his neighbors' rights. it's the best band In the land." - Bitt WinetonSo he's selective when he decides - Alexander's Ragtime Band which of his 28 organ rolls wl1l fill his apartment with sounds associated

By PEGGY SCHULZ with painted horses and a warm of The Journal staff Winston prefers the traditionalsummer day.

amusement parks and roller coasters Each roll contains 10 to 12 songs. over the modem theme parks and It may not be the best band In the land, but It's certain­ The titles range from "The Fluffy rides of today. ly one of the most Impressive In this BJDa1l; Milwaukee Feathers March" to "It's Not Unusu­

apartment; al," made popular by Tom Jones. "They're bUIlding ~em _now but Sbarlng quarters with Bill Winston, 42, Is a four-foot· ''You can't just go down to Radio they're too tame ... too plastIc," he

high WurUtzer band organ, an IDltrument that comet Doctor's and get them," Winston said. complete with drums and cymbals and usually Is found II said. Most are purchased, at about He especially remembers the an amusement park carousel. $12 each, from collectors at meetings "Flying Turns" at Euclid Beach, near

Although Winston Is legally blind, he has no lack 01 of fellow enthusiasts. ClevelaJid, Ohio, where be spent vision wben ,It comes to band oraans, amusement parIu Winston's love for band organs mucb of bls cblldhood. ~ music boxes. HJ. search for the old-fubfoned fun 01 was predated by his fondness for "It was like a bobsled ... Up to 60 his youth has becoine more difficult as old amusemenl amusement parks. When he was 6 ~ mph ... I would ride a horse to parks close one by one, but It has led him to purchasE years old, he visited the now-defunct Cleveland now to be able to ~ that various mechanical musical Instruments. Venice Amusement Pier in Venice, thlna," Winston IlIld.

Calif. At 9, he rode the Little Dipper One August afternoon in 1982, on TIle Wurlltzer organ, made In 1928, was rebuUt'by the in Melrose Park, Ill. But the first a visit to the Royal Americ:ao Sbows

Stinson Orpn Co. of Bellefontaine,' Ohio, Dd deHvered "real big roller 'coaster", Winston at theWlscoulnState Ftlr,'~ to Winston IIi september 1984. The orean, wblch occu­ rode was the Great American Scream happened by tie eattIUIIl'andflltlll '" pies IlOOd,portion of Wlnston'sllvlft8 room, ~s mu­ Machine at Six Flags Over Georata, love with b"" ~~' 1'be . sic with 55 pipes, two drums, a xylophone ~nda cymbal. near Atlanta, in 1974. That's when he happy tunes WOUIht _ 'blidi. to )at It Is played with music rolls. . fell In love. amuseJlent __he IQWd."1ldd.

He's ridden 60 dlfterent roller A few. yean later, beWII.bllto On a recent weeknight, Winston gave a .mall concert coasters since and hoPes to ralse that buy some: teeof.ds of band 0rgaD IQU­

in hi. home. A system of pneumatic valves read the per­ total to 100 or more. Toward that sic, and In 1B64 joined the flrltpfforated paper roll, and a rousing tune of "Alexander's end, he visits an average of 6 to 8 many amusement park and JDUIIc Ragtime Band" overflowed Winston's apartment. The amusement parks every year. In box enthusiast groups. He bad to absence of any responding phone calls from his bUIlding 1985, he visited 12. wait until 1984 to actually briDg a neighbors allowed for a second tune, "king Cotton If it were possible to pk:,kone of band organ bome. March." the 60 as his favorite, it Might be In addition to the WurJItzer organ,

The xylophone's bars pealed bell-like atop the var­ "The Beast," at King's Island Park Winston'owns a .mall, electric' con­nished oak cabinet and the drums thumped on either side. near Cincinnati, Ohio. The InItial sole organ; a sympbonla table-top

drop on that coaster is 135 feet. parlor organ built in 1900; an Orga-The organ pipes wheezed.

• W"''''''oo I 'e:: '""Q,) ·C~ Q,) .. ....,1 ClJI Q,)><Q,) en- ccnI: .e,,; ~ ClO '" "'..10: -'" U "':c ° Q,l:= '8 ° o.e l:l 0" .. :s! &l u 11:; <5 o.e "':a ° Q,l -d - ~~.el:", u~ ~~ z-_ "'=Q,l-~=c..'" "''''-'''0I:~ D- Q,ll:.~_>.",,.'S: Q,l.2", :s-e .1:- ClO""- Q,l'" Q,l~-_._ c"'I:"'" :: ''':S''_-_- 2~ u.e I: 5 ca... ~ ...<:) ~u ....,,,; e'<:) Q,) I: '" I: "'0 :l u__ .. .e._ >. Q,) '" .-.c - ° Q,).;:; 0 ...., ... Q,) '" "0 • ~ • :SQ,·e-",Q,~",·~ e"'o.:::asQ,o Sl "'<Sll: .e3:-'8 ..,>. ~"''=~-~~5.e D '" I: "';;:: -I: u::!: u "" '" -; '" ><.! '" Q,l too '" Iii:s '" ~ '(3:S.::: ° "'.:=:'_ -. c :;o~ u ui 3 >< ° "0. '0 -d ~ § 3 :c § < ~ gj '0 < ~ ..5 ~ t: ~ ~ ~ e ~ 8..10: -; ~ e:."'ou -",,,,°_5- c- ._",.e O!I -~ '" ..Io: c Q, .. c0:s. "'cClOC Q,l.!!l- cD -fl). Q,l ",-"0 .. "0 - C--D-:S :So "0 C :;l Q,l . Q,'O Q,Q,l.2.~ '" '" "'0:=Q,l8·- ..10:' -'" OIl ",Q,lQ,l~ "'''''''c:S~8 .1:. ",'- D :s!",I:Q,:> :>"'-uO.e ° Q,l - ~.~ '" Q,l t Q,l "0 '" Q,l 'E _ '" C ~ '~'W - :s < C '" ,,; '" '" ;; '" '" '" Q,l _ '" ~ Q,l _ Q, U ~ ~ ~:a § •.5' ~ 8. 3 ° ~ ~ .~ '" ~ u 8 .9 ;:l ~:c ..5 '" '" Q,l Q,l'c Q,l '5 .e '0 § >< >.5 8 - I:.e ~ 'Q,.!!!l ~ <.>. '" :S::E t..lo: '" -; ~ 8 '0 "5! _..0= as §.e ~ ~ -g .g '5 D E ~ u"''''0''''0- -; '-8 ° _ ... >. 'Oo~ .... uc·u;... .=OC;O~- '" 8 • rn y .- ,&J '"t: C ~ fJ) ...., .: c c .. "'0 .c - ~ ~ ......- <1.J as Cd 0 0 "g - ='.... ~ ~ Q.,.. t/) .. Ii ..... ti .-~ ~~_fJ)Q,)._=o~~c~·~.cQ,)~U50~_o_~~~D~~~~._ ~~~COC~ ~c~~~3i8~Q,l~~!"'g~Q,l::Q,l~U~~=~S~~Q,l~'5~~~~3~~~~;~ 8 '" ~ _ c Q,l Vl "0 .~ ~ ,5 § 8 2l .e .e:c 0 '5 u c Q,l.9 Z _ -5 :s § ~ ° 0. ~: :s OJ D Q,l 'C c ~ Q,l

'08 0 "'u Q,lQ,_'O_ u- o ~ ~"'8-Q,l~ .e_ c"O'O~8c"'.e-~ i.e "'c a!<=~g~ ~g~~-~~D~~£OJ~.e~g~~%~:a~c ~~~>.~'Oc;~

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;go;:;:'O;>,Q,l8-u-_~~.ec-:s",::I:='<EEOJ'Orn; ;.~~-: _ -'<E Q,l OJ: :=o...e 0 .... to ..... 0 e:u '= 0 .... 0 e:u - ;::::I ...... '-.D 0.... ~ ....... ..c: c:.- :.,.l ._......, .~ s:: E 'C c:l ~ ;:;.. s:: OJOO E--oOJ_~c _oEmrnD NO'<'<_~~ ~ ~~ D~ m __ U~,_c::: - 0.:.:: .... c.. OJ) C. ~

* 36 *

Page 19: The AMICA News Bulletin - Stanford Universityzd484kf1651/23-02.pdf · The Player Piano Group (England) The North West Player Piano Association (England) Netherlands Mechanical Organ

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Page 20: The AMICA News Bulletin - Stanford Universityzd484kf1651/23-02.pdf · The Player Piano Group (England) The North West Player Piano Association (England) Netherlands Mechanical Organ

Because some mailing covers of the Bulletin do not carry the order form for AMICA's roll leader replacements, here is the basic information for future reference.

Replacement Leaders .~

These 111/4" X 17" reprints, not trimmed and without tabs, are excellent replicas of the more popular types of reproducing piano roll leaders. While intended for roll repairs, they may also be used for decorative purposes. To splice, overlay new leader on old roll, lay a straightedge on an angle, cut through both papers with a sharp knife, rliscard scrap, and butt-join with magic mending tape on top surface.

L----==_-.J ID> llJO"'ART

RECORDING Il_~~~'~'""(11'''' ,It" j)u,l·drl

,

Send order to Brian Meeder, 1206 Miramonte Drive, Santa Barbara, Price: 25¢ each Please make checks payable CA 93109 minimum order $3.00. to AMICA Intemational

Mailing name and address must be printed and must include zip code. Indicate style and quantity desired. Include postage and handling COSI.

Checks or money orders

Postage and Handling: $2.25 ~/""--.

from foreign countries must be drawn on a

U.S. bank.

A. Brown on buff B. Black on white C. Black on white [For early red (Area for IMost common) label boxes) reusable

artist photo)

.:.r:=;:i;==;:--;:;~;~;~~~;-~ A: U ,'.. IIII A M IF' IT C d iiil It·· .~1i$:.;i§f<1t~

E. Green on white F. Green on white (Most common) (Favorite Fifty &.

Selected Roll Service)

'J(.~CO~1>/.",(G I _Ii?R USE O~~Y ON THE hMPI~ i i

G. Welte Brown on buff (Most common)

D. Black on white IVery late rolls by combined Aeolian/American)

r-"

1 . Note: Early Welte's with blue leaders may be repaired with this brown leader. Many of these when reissued had brown leaders.

* 38 *

Page 21: The AMICA News Bulletin - Stanford Universityzd484kf1651/23-02.pdf · The Player Piano Group (England) The North West Player Piano Association (England) Netherlands Mechanical Organ

I

CLASSIFIED

FOR SALE FREE CATALOGUES: Old piano rolls and sheet musicfor sale. Many scarce items. We also buy. Send stamp for each list to: Ragtimes, Box 367, Port

.' Washington, NY 11050.

AMPICO, DUO-ART, WBJE parts for sale. Large quantity available. Please send SASE & $200 for list. Jim Brady, 5259 Tacoma #14, Indpls, IN 46220.

REPIlODUONG PIANO - 61-inch Mehlin & Son grand with Welte mechanism, completely rebuilt professionally by Bill Hatzenbuhler in 1985, mahogany case refinished, restrung, regilded and in absolutely perfect condition, $8,500. Photos on request. Ron Haban, 71lJ7 Boston State Road, Hamburg, NY. (716) 649-Bl5.

MASON II HAMUN OR STBNWAY REPRODUCING PIANO with art case unrestored also music box from old slot machine and coin operated singing birds. Mike Gorski, 770 Dover Center, Westlake, Ohio 44145 (216) 871-6071

WEIER UPRIGHT DUO-ART MAHOGANY CASE. Fully restored and playing beautifully. $3,000 or best offer. Henry Bruning, 3880 N.W. 48th Place, Gainesville, FL 32606 (904) 377-7714.

"MARSHAlLWENDBl. Ampico BArt Case, excellent, unrestored, best offer over $3,000. 5'~ HAINES AMPICO late A, fair condition, $1,500. PIANO ROlL GRAPH PAPER - Make Your own rolls I 12¢/ft. - min. 1lJ ft. plus 1.50 postage. Free sample - send S.A.S.E. SIX ORIGINAL IUD WB.TE classical rolls plus new Test Roll - all seven $175.00. Randolph Herr, 111-07 77th Ave., Forest Hills, NY 11375 (n8) 520-1443.

WEIER UNIKA, in superb original condition, with 17 rolls (25 originals) and reproduction matching roll cabinet. Exceptionally clean instrument. $15,000. Martin Roenigk, 26 Barton Hill, East Hampton, CT 06424. (1lJ3) 1fjJ-8682

"'BARRa ORGAN'" lOOK by Arthur Ord-Hume. Extensively illustrated 567 page hardcover book covering monkey organs, organ clocks, paper roll organs, fairground organs, etc. Originally $25. Now out of print, small remaining stock, now $1lJ postpaid. Martin Roenigk, 26 Barton Hill, East Hampton, CT 06424.

UNRfSTOIUD Mill'S VIOlANO Good restorable condition. $6,500 OBO. SASE for details. Patricia Simonski, 867 Seminary Rd., Norwalk, Ohio 44857

PlAYER PIANO ROIlS for sale at super discount. SASE for catalog and price list. Baley's, 310 Grandview, Kalamozoo, MI 49001.

lUSH II LANE ART ECKO upright reproducing piano. Instrument is complete and in excellent restorable condition. Walnut case. Price $600.00 (or offer) Carl Kempf, 1lJ23 Gober Ave., Smyrna, GA 3OOllO

AEOIJAN ,ROIlS made in Spain, excellent condition: 22 classic and Spanish rolls $55. Also Beethoven Quartet and Wagner. 3 LP box set of Welte artists: $25. 5 LP box set of Duo-Art artists: $35. Art Faner, 4507 Garden Ct., S.E. Salem, Oregon 97301.

1924 KNA. 5'4" AMPiCO A GRAND in mahogany case, professionally refinished/restored. John Pearson, 10444 Woodchuck Point, San Diego, CA 92131 (619) 578-5535 evenings.

DEVlLllSSSPRAY GUNS for refinishing pianos. Model JGA with quart cup only $140.00 ppd. Frostner bits all sizes for building player components. These are not the cheap imports but are American made. They are for vt drill press. Six inches long, no tip out bottom. These are the BEST. Write Shreveport Music Co., 3019 Highland Shreveport, LA n104.

HAINES AMPICO GRAND unrestored $2,500. Knabe 5'8" Ampico Grand unrestored (a really good piano) $4,500. Louis XVI Marshall and Wendall Ampico grand unrestored $4,000. Seeburg "Gn wanted. Shreveport Music Co, 3019 Highland, Shreveport, LA n104.

AMPICO -MODEL Bn 1140901. Completely re-built and refinished, light manogany, walnut inserts, matching upholstered bench. Price $16,500. Can (617) 337-1207 for appointment to view.

CRANFORD, NEW JERSEY, SUNDAY, APRIL 77, Largest show and sale of vintage phonographs, music boxes and automated instruments in the Eastern United States. One day only, 8 am-4 pm, no early buyers fee. Best Western Coachman Inn, adjacent Exit 136, Garden State Parkway. Hun­dreds attended our fall event, come see why. Bilton, Box '15JXJ7, Chicago 6062S.

88-NOTE PIANO ROIlS for sale, 1910's to 1911J's. Send Stamped self­addressed business envelope for list. Byron Shoemaker, 970 Vine St., Macungie, PA 18062.

CHICKERING 5'4" AMPICO A GRAND. Excellent restorable condition $3,000.00 with rolls. Also Duo-Art strout upright pumps - unrestored $600.00 with rolls. Jim Baer, Mayfield, MY (502) 247-9477 nights only.

CHICKERING AMPiCO "A" 5'4", Florentine Art Case, similar to style 52, p. 286 in Encyclopedia. See December ad. Professionally rebuilt, restrung, refinished. Magnificent. $13,500. CONOVER RECORDO 5"1:', nice older refinish, restrung, thoroughly reuilt. S39S0. WURUTZER APOllO 4'10", choice original condition, 49 Opollo (Art Echo) rolls, very similar to Ampico A. $3500. Photos and video available of all. Tim Wheat (612) 574-5972 wkdays, 780-5699 eves, weekends.

UNK mLE C lYLOPHONE COiN-ftANO with traps, restored, $9,500.00; MOIUR ARnm RESIDENCE PlAYER PIPE ORGAN in mint original playing condition, self-contained in gothic walnut lumber case with 41 Artiste organ rolls, $10,500.00; 92-KEY MORnER CAFE ORGAN, baroque facade, hand-carved, complete except for topmost finial, $48,000.00; WURUlZER LODGE PIPE ORGAN, 2 manual, 3-rank, ideal for keyframe operation, complete, partially restored, $1,500.00; MORnER/GAVIOU 84-key Cafe Organ Main Chassis #663, no pipework, $5,000.00 excluding 2 unoriginal Mortier side-eabinets. CAFE ORGAN PlPEWORK and chests from DeCap Fiesta, including Univox; A.cO ORGAN-ROll PERFORATOR with paper cutter, $2,500.00; MELVlW CLARK APOllO UPRIGHT PlAYER PIANO, partially restored, $750.00 PAUL LOSCHE SOLO FLUTE, VIOUN, CLARINET ORCHES11UON with Digital Player System and cassette changer, prof. refinished and completely restored and playing, over 8 hours of programming, with original Losche 69-note rolls; best offer over $30,000.0, will consider partial trades. DIGITAL PlAYER SYSTEMS for Band Organs, Cafe Organs & Orchestrions. Above prices are Exclusive of crating and shipping. Robert L. Baker, Electric Orchestras, Inc., 29962 No. Terre Drive, LibertyviUe, IL 60048 (312) 367-7996 day or evenings.

RECUT WURUTZER STYLE 17 PlANORCHESTRA ROIlS, also known as Philipps Pianella (P) or Regular PianOrchestra (RPO). Easily adaptable on PhilippslWurlitzer style 88-hole tracker bars, i.e. photoplayers or in~tru­

ments that play PM or PC rolls. 150tunes - classical, ragtime, show-tunes -all pre-1915 with excellent arrangements. Brad Reinhardt (1lJ9) 226-1332

CREMONA G WITH RUTE PIPES - Totally restored to factory new condition. I doubt that a better or nicer one exists. Please contact Bill Hirsch, 16 Ketch Rd., Norristown, N.J. 07960 - Days (1lJ1) 642-2407 ­Weekends and evenings, (1lJ1) 267-9690 (not after 9 PM local time please)

SEEBURG L (late model) with 4 doors. Totally restored to brand new condition. A real gem. None better. Bill Hirsch, 16 Ketch Rd., Norristown, N.J. 07960- Days (1lJ1) 642-2407 - Weekends and evenings, (201) 267-9690 (not after 9 PM local time please)

1927 MASON II HAMUN AMPiCO A GRAND.5'4" mahogany case, original unrestored instrument (drawer tubing, control switches, roll transmission, twill hoses, have been replaced), Serial No. RT 36041. Ampico plays, piano in excellent condition, original ivories, a collector's dreaml $6,950.00 Bill Koenigsberg, 77 High Pine Circle, Concord, MA 01742, (617) 369-8523.

1986 NORTHEAST MUSIC WEEKEND featuring Vintage Phonographs, Music Boxes, Automated Instruments, and much morel First, attend Doyle's Annual Music Auction, directed by Glenn Kramer, on Saturday, Apri/26th, Newburgh, NY (see 1n page ad elsewhere this issue) Details (914) 896-9492/6390. Then, on Sunday, April 17th don't miss Lynn Bilton's Show, Best Western, Cranford, N.J. - Largest Show of Mechanical Music in Eastern USA - Details (312) 677-7455. Both within 1 hour of NYCII

Page 22: The AMICA News Bulletin - Stanford Universityzd484kf1651/23-02.pdf · The Player Piano Group (England) The North West Player Piano Association (England) Netherlands Mechanical Organ

,... '....l=:JC

WANTED "'" WANTED: Seeburg KT or similar "G" roll instrument; or Coinola X or

similar "0" roll instrument; or fully restored Regina ]7" or 2(}l4" changer. MUSICAL ANTIQUES ALSO WANTED: Seeburg or Coinola "Piano" shaped wall coin box. It-specializing in Reproducers, all grands,~~ Charles Hildebrant, Box 52, Oldwick, New Jersey 08858. 201-439-2256. refinishing, and all player pianos. WELTE ROLLS - Dick Howe, 9318 Wickford, Dr., Houston, TX 77024 (713) 680-9945.

NEW ADVERTISING SERVICE

See your business card printed in the AMICA News Bulletin! The cost is as follows:

1 issue $10 2 issues 18 3 issues 2S 4 issues 32 5 issues 39 6 issues 45 7 issues 51 8 issues 56 9 issues (1 yr.) 60

• A reminder will be sent prior to expiration, if multiple issues are requested.

• Make check payable to AMICA International. • The card will appear on Yo page in the ad section

of the Bulletin. A card with dark print on a white or very light background is best. Please note that some colors, such as light blue, do not reproduce well. If in doubt, make a photocopy of the card to check this aspect, before sending.

• Send to: Publisher, AMICA News Bulletin P.O. Box 275 CCB Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107

BULLETIN DEADLINES ARE PRINTED ON THE INSIDE OF THE FRONT COVER.

AMICA ITEMS FOR SALE

AMICA BULLETINS, BOUND ISSUES: 1971, 1972, 1973 bound Bulletins at $15 each. 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980 bound Bulletins at $18 each. 1981, 1982, 1983 bound Bulletins at $21 each. 1984 and 1985 bound Bulletins at $24 each. PRICES INCLUDE POSTAGE AND HANDLING. Spiral bound to lie flat. Send order to Mary Lilien, 460 Olympiad Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90043.

AMICA TECHNICALITIES BOOKS: Volume I (1969-1971), $9.50 postpaid Volume II (1972-1974), $7.50 postpaid Volume III (1975-1977), $8.50 postpaid Volume IV (1978-1980), $6.50 postpaid

Reprints of interesting technical articles which have appeared in the AMICA News Bulletin, arranged and indexed into appropriate categories. Brian Meeder, 1206 Miramonte Dr., Santa Barbara, CA 93109.

Roll Leaders: Duo-Art, AMPICO and Welte: Excellent replicas. For order form, see mailing cover of Bulletin or write to Brian Meeder, 1206 Miramonte Dr., Santa Barbara, CA 93109. Send order to Brian.

AMICA STATIONERY: $3.50 (letter size), $3.20 (note size), including mailing charges. Fine quality stationery with ornate AMICA borders. Each packet contains 25 letters and matching envelopes. Send orders to Tim Passinaull, 105 Hemlock St., Munising, M149862.

PLEASE MAKE AU CHECKS PAYABLE TO AMICA INTERNATIONAL

COMPLETE RESTORATION FACILITIES

OWNER OPERATED 17 years of experience in each related field

of restoration.

CASE AND VENEER REPAIRS any carving can be duplicated

FINEST HAND-RUBBED MIRRORS FINISHES

!~ OR SATIN FINISHES AVAILABLE ART CASES RESTORED

Concert Quality Regulation Lowest Prices, Known References,

Guaranteed Work. only the worlds finest known grades of materials are used. They are always fresh and continually checked.

Hot glue and original materials used throughout wherever possible.

Craig Brougher

3500 Claremont Independence, Mo. (816)254-1693 64052

·x ;II . -~

~

The Automatic Music Company

Sales and Restoration

Orchestrians

Reproducing Grands

&nd Organs

Player Pianos

We cooer the full srope ofrestoration. Lifetime experience with a rommitment to quality and ariginality.

Your instrument is our pride and reputation.

Tim]ackson Box 752

Quitman, TX 75783

( 214) 7 63-2 918

Page 23: The AMICA News Bulletin - Stanford Universityzd484kf1651/23-02.pdf · The Player Piano Group (England) The North West Player Piano Association (England) Netherlands Mechanical Organ

Proud of Your Instrument? Have It Restored by Experts.

Here is what the Piano Workshop Does:

Specialize in rebuilding all types of player pianos and other automatic musical instruments

Restring, rescale and repin instruments

Replace pin blocks, soundboards, hammers and other action parts

Regulate piano action to proper specifications

Hand rubbed refinishing

Restore antiques

Over 20 years research and development in rebuilding pianos

Piano keys recovered, sharps & naturals

Send all or part of your instrument for proper restorations.

PIANO WORKSHOP 3166 W. 33 St. Ph. 216-631-1777 Cleveland, Ohio 44109 24 hr. answering servo

ill525 ~

BROADMOORE AUTOMATIC INSTRUMENT RESTORATIONS

Restoration of orchestrions and reproducing pianos our specialty.

Finest materials used.

"Each part is treated as the most important part in the machine."

We are authorities on authenticity.

Prices of restoration ~ary according to the grade of work you select - from "Excellent" to "Perfect."

No trade secrets - we will gladly discuss procedures thoroughly with any customer.

18 years experience ­references proudly given upon request.

aU

lPLaurence Broadmoore, Owner 1709 "c" First St. San Fernando, CA 91340

818/365-6231

'i2lli~

Still going strong! VERBEECK JOHNNY VERBEECK (4th generation)

builds monkey organs organ builder in Belgium as well as big fairground organs.

He also repairs - to perfection - all kinds of European organs He has just restored the famous MORTIER DANCE ORGAN called "T A J M A HAL"

He can come and repair your instrument at home! .~,

: His phone no: Belgium 3.663.04.11

His address: Eikenlei, 179 B-2127 St. Job in 't Goor Thank you for your attention! Belgium

Page 24: The AMICA News Bulletin - Stanford Universityzd484kf1651/23-02.pdf · The Player Piano Group (England) The North West Player Piano Association (England) Netherlands Mechanical Organ

VIDEOCASSETTES VHS or Beta 2

TO OBTAIN A LIST WITH PRICES

AND DESCRIPTIONS, WRITE OR CALL

AUDIO-VISUAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN

Bill Blodgett

73 Nevada Street

Rochester, MI 48063

(313) 651-8498

~~i\MICA1~ -n,,~'-

ARTCRAFT Music Rolls

Spring Releases Send for your FREE issue of ARTCRAFT NEWS, which describes the following 1986 music rolls: Triangle Jazz Blues (Ampico); Gershwin's Three Preludes for Piano (Duo-Art); Rube Bloom's The Futuristic Rag (88-Note); Graceful Ghost Rag by William Bolcom (Duo-Art); Rialto Ripples Rag by Geo. Gershwin (88-Note) - and other unusual NEW selections for the Player-Piano connoisseur!

We hope to release the "Toccata" from Boellmann's Suite Gothique as a Duo-Art Reproducing Roll later in the year. The SS-Note roll transcription is the work of the talented S.F. musician, Eric Bernhoft, who is currently arranging other "pipe organ" masterpieces for Player-Piano. The long-awaited Duo-Art roll of Mephisto Waltz should be ready later in the Season also. Since we produce only 20 to 40 rolls of each title, it is imperative that you get in touch with us! We now have a mailing list that will keep you informed automatically about all forthcoming rolls.

ARTCRAFT Music Rolls 18 High St. (P.O. Box 274)

Wiscasset, Maine 04578

L~~~~~~~~~~~~'~~~iil~t",~:~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ DOYLE AUCTIONEERS and GLENN KRAMER (MBSI & AMlCA Member) ~ ~ Will present at least TWO MUSIC RELATED AUCTIONS each year! ~ ~ 1 - ANNUAL MUSIC AUCTION -A "live" fully-cataloged auction featuring fine Mechanical Music Machines, ~ ~ early musical instruments, and related antiques, collectibles and ephemera - to be presented every SPRING. '[;£$:. '$'!!\ 2 - MUSIC COLLECTIBLES MAIL AUCTION -A fully-catalogued "Absentee" auction - to be ~ ~ presented every fall. If it is related to music, and able to be shipped by UPS, it should be in this AUCTION! (1985 ~

catalogs available Nov. 4th - $6.00 with results.) ~

~ Our 52-page catalog for the May 11, 1985 ANNUAL MUSIC AUCTION was awarded "1st Place 1985 Specialty Auction Catalog" by ~ ~ the National Auctioneers Association, and the MBS News Bulletin reported "You might have thought it was Seeburg East with a Seeburg ~ :::fJt1 A, E, KT, KT Special, G and an H! A Nelson Wiggins 8, a Wurlitzer CX Orchestrion, a Coinola Midget and more ... enough to ~ ~ make a collector's knees go weak Doyle's descriptions (were) accurate ... that trustworthiness is a breath of fresh air in the auction '[;£$:.JY!f. world." (Back issues of this catalog with results· $6.) ~ ~ . ADDmONAL MUSIC RELATED AUCTIONS WILL BE SCHEDULED! We will be pleased to travel and arrange the ~ ~ PROFESSIONAL cataloging and sale of YOUR COlLECTION - either '\on site" or at one of our far.ilities. ~ :t~ NOW ACCEPTING CONSIGNMENTS FOR OUR APRIL 26, 1986 ANNUAL MUSIC AUCTION! SINGLE PIECES AND ENTIRE ~ ~ COLLECTIONS! Catalogs available April 7, 1986 - $6 (with results) . Order yours now! ~ ~ ~.

~ MUSIC SALES DIRECTED BY ifI IGLENN KRAMER ~~,. (MBSI and AMICA member) '[;£$:. $Y!l P.O. Box 328, 20E Taylor Lane ~

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Fishkill, NY 12524 (914) 896-6390

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