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ELTE-MIGNON � AMPICO � DUO-ART � ORCHESTRIONS � BAND ORGANS � VIOLIN PLAYERSP L A Y E R P I A N O S � N I C K E L O D E O N S � P I A N O R O L L S
P L A Y E R P I A N O S � N I C K E L O D E O N S � P I A N O R O L L S
AMICAwww.amica.orgT H E
B U L L E T I N
Volume 45, Number 5
October/November 2008
AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTCOLLECTORS’ ASSOCIATION
Entire contents © 2008 AMICA International Printed by Engler Printing Co., Fremont, OH • [email protected] 261
VOLUME 45, Number 5 October/November 2008
FEATURESMusician Hits the Road With Homemade Band . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .265A Piano, Two Boxers & Fortitude . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Phillip L. Baird . . . .266Roll Playing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Donald Rosenberg . . . .268A Summer Classic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2692008 Convention Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Terry Smythe . . . .270The Anatomy of A Wurlitzer 105 Table Favor . . . . .Jack M. Conway . . . .271AMICA Convention Officer, Committee & Chapter Reports . . . . . . . . . . .274Convention Photos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .287Convention Workshops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .318New Roll Company Formed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .319
DEPARTMENTSAMICA International . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .262-263President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .264Publisher’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .264New Piano Rolls & Recuts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .320Chapter News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .321Classified Ads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .334
Front Cover: From A Postcard submitted by Anthony L. Engels
Inside Front: Sheet Music Cover “What’s the Name of That Song?”
Inside Back Cover: Welte Stock Certificate submitted by Anthony L. Engels
THE AMICA BULLETINAUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT COLLECTORS' ASSOCIATION
Published by the Automatic Musical Instrument Collectors’ Association, a non-profit, tax exempt group devoted to the restoration, distributionand enjoyment of musical instruments using perforated paper music rolls and perforated music books. AMICA was founded in San Francisco, California in 1963.
PROFESSOR MICHAEL A. KUKRAL, PUBLISHER, 216 MADISON BLVD., TERRE HAUTE, IN 47803-1912 -- Phone 812-238-9656, E-mail: [email protected] the AMICA Web page at: http://www.amica.org
“Members-Only” Webpage - Current Username: “AMICA”, Password: “welcome”Associate Editor: Mr. Larry Givens • Editor Emeritus: Robin Pratt
AMICA BULLETINDisplay and Classified AdsArticles for PublicationLetters to the PublisherChapter News
UPCOMING PUBLICATIONDEADLINESThe ads and articles must be receivedby the Publisher on the 1st of theOdd number months:
January JulyMarch SeptemberMay November
Bulletins will be mailed on the 2nd weekof the even months.
Dr. Michael A. Kukral, Publisher216 Madison Blvd.
Terre Haute, Indiana 47803-1912Phone: 812-238-9656
e-mail: [email protected]
MEMBERSHIP SERVICES
New Memberships . . . . . . . . . . $47.00
Renewals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $47.00Additional $5.00 due if renewed
past the Jan. 31 deadline
Address changes and corrections
Directory information updates
Additional copies ofMember Directory . . . . $25.00
Single copies of back issues($10.00 per issue - basedupon availability)
William Chapman (Bill)53685 Avenida BermudasLa Quinta, CA 92253-3586(760) 564-2951e-mail: [email protected]
To ensure timely delivery of yourBULLETIN, please allow 6-weeksadvance notice of address changes.
AMICA Publications reserves the right to accept, reject, or edit any and all submitted articles and advertising. While the AMICA Bulletin offers accurate and historic information to its members, the bulletin, its publisher and the AMICA Board cannot be held responsible for
contributions that may be considered by some as inaccurate, speculative, or of an OP/ED Format
ISSN #1533-9726
262
AMICA INTERNATIONAL
– INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS –
PRESIDENTJohn Motto-Ros110 Allen Ranch RoadSutter Creek, CA 95685209-267-9252e-mail: [email protected]
PAST PRESIDENTMike Walter65 Running Brook Dr.Lancaster, NY 14086-3314716-656-9583e-mail: [email protected]
VICE PRESIDENTTim Baxter939 Briarcliff Rd. NEAlanta, GA 30306-4664404-377-1220e-mail: [email protected]
PUBLISHERDr. Michael A. Kukral216 Madison Blvd.Terre Haute, IN 47803-1912812-238-9656e-mail: [email protected]
SECRETARYMarlene Beckman4046 SE 53rd StreetBerryton, KS 66409-9714785-862-0128e-mail: [email protected]
TREASURERRobbie Tubbs7405 WillowRaytown, MO 64133816-313-1075e-mail:[email protected]
AMICA ARCHIVESTom Hutchinson15361 Hopper Rd. Sturgeon, MO 65284e-mail: [email protected]
CONVENTION COORDINATORFrank Nix6030 Oakdale Ave.Woodland Hills, CA 91367818-884-6849
AMICA MEMORIAL FUNDRay Dietz1250 Lanier Rd.Martinsville, VA 24112-5212
HONORARY MEMBERSMike Walter65 Running Brook Dr.Lancaster, NY 14086-3314716-656-9583e-mail: [email protected]
AUDIO-VISUAL & TECHNICALHarold Malakinian2345 Forest Trail Dr.Troy, MI 48098
WEBSITE MANAGERKarl Ellison6 Lions LaneSalem, MA 01970-1784e-mail: [email protected]
MEMBERSHIP SECRETARYWilliam Chapman (Bill)53685 Avenida BermudasLa Quinta, CA 92253-3586Phone & Fax: 760-564-2951e-mail: [email protected]
– COMMITTEES –
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AMICA INTERNATIONAL
BOSTON AREAPres: Bob HuntVice Pres: John VanOpdorpSec:Treas: Dorothy BromageReporter: Don BrownBoard Rep: Bob Hunt - [email protected] AREAPres: Jerry BiasellaVice Pres: Richard Van MetreSec: Carol Veome - 773-338-1042
[email protected]: Joe PekarekReporter: Curt CliffordBoard Rep:FOUNDING CHAPTERPres: John Ulrich - 510-223-9587
[email protected] Pres: Karen SimonsSec: Bonnie and Bob GonzalezTreas/Bd Rep: Richard ReutlingerReporter: Jack and Dianne Edwards -
[email protected] OF AMERICAPres: Robbie Tubbs -
[email protected] Pres: Charles TylerSec: Rick McDowell - 816-781-1965Treas: Mike Schoeppner - 816-767-9766Reporter: H.C. and Marlene BeckmanBoard Rep: Gary CraigLADY LIBERTYPres: Vincent Morgan -
[email protected] Pres: Bill MaguireSec: Richard Karlsson
Treas: Maryam MorganReporter: Martin “Buzz” RosaBoard Reps: Marvin & Dianne Polan
631-673-0388Newsletter Editor: Bill MaguireMIDWEST (OH, MI, IN, KY)Pres: Don Johnson - 248-650-1840
[email protected] Pres: Liz BarnhartSec: Hilda MerchantTreas: Alvin WulfekuhlReporter: Christy CountermanBoard Rep: Liz BarnhartNORTHERN LIGHTSPres: Paul Watkins -
[email protected] Pres: Ron OlsenSec: Michael LuBrantTreas: Barbara WatkinsReporter: Jerrilynn BoehlandBoard Rep: Alan Turner & Paul WatkinsPACIFIC CAN-AMPres: Carl Dodrill - [email protected] Pres: Halie Dodrill - [email protected]: Mark SmithbergReporter: Peg Kehret Bd. Rep: Carl Dodrill - 206-236-0067ROCKY MOUNTAINPres: Jere DeBacker - [email protected] Pres: Ken HodgeSec: Louise LuceroTreas: Fred WilsonReporter: Larry Emmons
SIERRA NEVADAPres: John Motto-Ros - 209-267-9252
[email protected] Pres: Doug & Vicki MahrSec: Sonja LemonTreas: Doug & Vicki MahrReporter: Nadine Motto-RosBoard Rep: Chip LusbySOWNY (Southern Ontario,Western New York)Pres:Vice Pres: Mike Walter -
[email protected] • 716-656-9583Sec: Garry Lemon - [email protected]: Holly Walter -
[email protected]: Garry & Anne LemonBoard Rep: Audrey Cannizzaro -
[email protected]: Nancy Group & Anne LemmonSOUTHERN CALIFORNIAPres: Richard IngramVice Pres: Mike ChoateSec./Reporter: Shirley NixTreas: Diane ReidyBoard Rep: Frank NixTEXASPres: Rich Clayton - 972-369-0470
[email protected] Pres: Bill Boruff - [email protected]: Janet Tonnesen - [email protected]./Bulletin Reporter:Maureen Barisonek -
[email protected] Rep: John & Suzanne McCall -
AFFILIATED SOCIETIES AND ORGANIZATIONSAmerican Theatre Organ Society (ATOS)President - Ken Double1201 McDuffie St. #173Houston, TX 77019Phone: 713-520-1911Email: [email protected] Organ Editor - Jeff Weiler1845 South Michigan Avenue #1905Chicago, IL 60616Phone: 312-842-7475Email: [email protected]
Associazione Italiana Musica Meccanica Villa Silvia - Via Lizzano, 124147023 Cesena (FC), ItalyPhone: 0039-547-323425 Fax: 0039-547-661264Email: [email protected]: www.ammi-mm.it
Australian Collectors of Mechanical Musical Instruments19 Waipori StreetSt. Ives NSW 2075, Australia
Netherlands Pianola AssociationNederlandse Pianola VerenigingAtt. Jan van Hulzen, Member of the BoardChopinrode 252717 BH Zoetermeer, NetherlandsEmail: [email protected]
Friends of Scott Joplin1217 St. Croix Ct.Kirkwood, MO 63122-2326website: http//stlouis.missouri.org/fsjoplinEmail: [email protected]
International Piano Archives at MarylandPerforming Arts Library,University of Maryland2511 Clarice Smith Performing Arts CenterCollege Park, MD 20742Phone: 301-405-9224Fax: 301-314-7170Email: [email protected]
International Vintage Phono & Mechanical Music SocietyC.G. Nijsen, Secretaire General19 Mackaylaan5631 NM Eindhoven, Netherlands
Musical Box Society of Great BritainAlan Pratt, EditorP. O. Box 299Waterbeach, Cambridge CB4 4PJEngland
Musical Box Society InternationalRosanna Harris, Editor5815 West 52nd AvenueDenver, CO 80212Phone: 303-431-9033 Fax: 303-431-6978Email: [email protected]
Netherlands Mechanical Organ Society - KDVA. T. MeijerWilgenstraat 24NL-4462 VS Goes, Netherlands
Northwest Player Piano AssociationEverson Whittle, Secretary11 Smiths Road, Darcy Lever,Bolton BL3 2PP, Gt. Manchester, EnglandHome Phone: 01204 529939Business Phone: 01772 208003
Pianola InstituteClair Cavanagh, Secretary43 Great Percy St., London WC1X 9RAEngland
Player Piano GroupJulian Dyer, Bulletin Editor5 Richmond Rise, Wokingham,Berkshire RG41 3XH, United KingdomPhone: 0118 977 1057Email: [email protected]
Smithsonian InstitutionDivision of Musical HistoryWashington, D.C. 20560
Society For Self-Playing Musical InstrumentsGesellschaft für Selbstspielende Musikinstrumente (GSM) E.V.Ralf SmolneEmmastr. 56D-45130 Essen, GermanyPhone:**49-201-784927Fax:**49-201-7266240Email: [email protected]
CHAPTER OFFICERS
I hope that everyone enjoyed the previous Amica Bulletin as much as I did
because I relied on former longtime publisher Robin Pratt to handle everything for
me. Who else has the experience and connections to do this? For this I must thank
Robin, not only for stepping in this past summer, but for elevating the quality of the
bulletin during his 14 years at the helm to a level that we can all be proud of and
strive to uphold.
Halloween is here and maybe gone! I always have a piano playing near my front
door as trick-or-treaters arrive in droves on my porch. It sometimes adds to the fun so
I say why not do it. The question always becomes: what roll or rolls can I stand to lis-
ten to for 3 hours?
Happy Halloween and Thanksgiving to All!
Mike Kukral
Publisher since 2003
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
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The Convention Report is included in this issue, but I would like to point out a few things thatwere decided at this year’s Board Meeting:
First of all, the annual dues will be raised to $55 effective January 2009, and a new MembershipDirectory will be issued next summer. As a cost-saving measure (printing and postage), the Mem-bership Directory will be substituted for one issue of The Bulletin.
Second, a new position of Advertising Manager was created for the purpose of obtaining advertising for The Bulletin and for the Membership Directory. An ad for this position will appearin a future Bulletin. This will be a great opportunity for someone who would like to earn some extraincome. A set percentage (to be negotiated with Board) of ad space sold will be offered as a commission.
By the time you read this, we will have had our second annual Organ Rally, October 11/12, inour little town of Sutter Creek. With help from the AMICA Southern California Chapter, who havethe organs, and the Sierra-Nevada Chapter, it gives us an opportunity to expose automatic music tothe public. I wish it was easier, and less costly, to move a pumper or reproducing piano into a publiclocation.
Again, please take a look at the AMICA website, www.amica.org. There is a wonderful selection of 2008 convention photos inthe Photo Gallery.
John [email protected]
FROM THE PUBLISHER’S DESK
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The Express-Times-July 6, 2008
Submitted by Bill Dean
USICIAN HITS THE ROAD WITH
HOMEMADE BAND
Elysburg, PA. Dave Wasson’s self-playing band organ consists of 456 wooden pipes of different sizes andsounds he has handcrafted over 23 years.
Wasson’s organ is like the mechanicalpipe organs used on old-fashionedcarousels that mimic the percussion,strings and brass instruments of a band.
But Wasson’s music machine is so bighe has it mounted inside a 1997 box truckhe hauls all over the country.
This weekend, Wasson brought themusic of his organ-in-a-truck to Knoebelsfrom his home in Erie.
He and his wife of 12 years, Darlene,were two of more than 100 members ofthe Carousel Organ Association of America at the park on a recent weekendfor a club rally.
Collectors of antique band organs, and
crafters demonstrated about two dozen ofthe music machines throughout the park.
“We’re like antique car collectors,”said Organ Association members GeorgeCooper, 59, of Ohio. Cooper describedWasson’s organ as an unusual findbecause of its size. Most handmade organswould fit on a tabletop, he said.“Thisranks right up there with top-notch,”Cooper said, while looking over Wasson’sorgan and discussing “regulated pressure”and “static pressure” with him.
Wasson said an increasing number of organ enthusiasts are building their ownbecause buying antiques “is so expensive.”
Some sell for tens of thousands of dollars.
In addition to being a skilled craftsmanand a “journeyman machinist,” Wasson is
a musician. He arranges all the tunes onhis library of 80 paper rolls of pre-programmed music. The rolls are loadedonto his machine to make them play.
Wasson, 45, once used X-acto knives tocut holes by hand in the musical paperrolls, the same kind found in playerpianos.
Mechanically-produced wind thatblows through those holes creates themusic.
But in 1992, Wasson saw a “perforator,” a hole-punching machinethat fits on a desktop. He then decided tobuild his own.
“I spent every day after work for aboutthree months until 8 or 9 at night,” Wasson recalled of building the machine.“You don’t watch any TV.”
Dave Wasson, seen here June 28 inElysburg, PA, travels around the country with the self-playing bandorgan he built. The musical instrumentis like the mechanical pipe organs usedon carousels to mimic the percussion,strings and brass instruments of a band.His is mounted inside a 1997 box truck.
M
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By Phillip L. Baird
APIANO, TWO BOXERS
& FORTITUDE
After reading the last issue of theAMICA Bulletin, and spotting the suggestion from John Motto-Ros that an article on rebuilding experiences, plus Dr.Kukral’s Kimball Welte-Mignon pianostory, I decided to have a bash at writingmy story. Now knowing that I would besubmitting an article to a professional,scholarly, dignified, and august publication as the Bulletin, I hesitated tosully its reputation with my offering. Suffice it to say, this story is offered to allthose professionals and unskilled alike,who have traveled down this road beforeand take it as a chuckle from one who hassurvived to tell the adventure.
The “non-prestigious piano” involvedin my story is my Kimball 6’2” repro-ducing grand. However, who is one tojudge what prestigious really is? I first metmy piano in the living room of DickKroeckel during the Denver AMICA con-vention. On the home tour, I stood acrossthe room listening to the grand playingaway and was impressed firstly by thesound. I moved closer to the instrument tosee that it was a Kimball. I was impressedand delighted. After some negotiating, apurchase agreement was made and thepiano had a new home in St. Paul.
After a year, I decided a completerestoration of both piano and reproducingsystem was in order. My first task was toremove the Welte system and make readyfor removal to Kovaks Piano RestorationShop, in St. Paul. Mind you, I do knowthe pump from a tracker bar, but I confessI was in unknown territory with the rest.Therefore, I madly labeled every movingpart and tube. Then I decided what wasbeyond me, it was time to consult the professionals. The pump immediatelywent to Tom Wurdeman, who within aflash had it back working perfectly. Next,the old electric motor went to a chap whowas within a week of retiring from hismotor business. He was familiar withgreat motors of both Kimball and Moellerpipe organs. He was now happy to retire
from the motor business and know he hadrestored an eighty-year-old Kimball motorto what appeared to be sparklingly new.
Of course when doing this operation,one is in a definite learning curve, and onemust learn from mistakes. The first stagehad the piano torn down to the soundboard then refinished. The next processwas gilding of the harp, new hammers, pinblock, strings and whippens. Kimballwhippens were no longer available andalternates were used in the action. Fortunately, the case was in very decentshape and did not necessitate a restoration.Minor scratches and dings were easilyrepaired. In the Kovaks shop was anotherKimball straight piano of same size, whichhelped as a model. Also arrived was a 9-foot Mason-Hamlin concert grand,which helped to elevate the atmosphereconsiderably. Two Kimballs and a Mason-Hamlin, how much better can it be?
In the process of customizing the pinblock, Kovacs wanted the top mechanismand spool box, as he designed new fittingsso the top system would be solid andsecure. The day finally arrived when thepiano was completed, and I gave it a thundering workout and pronounced itwell done workmanship.
As one forced to learn from errors, myfirst error was to leave the piano standingon its side, assuming reinstalling of theplayer action would be so much easier.This was a three-month delay and not agood idea. The hammers and damperswere very unhappy with this arrangement.Mr. Kovacs had to return, admonished thesituation, and rectify with all new adjust-ments and corrections.
The main stack pneumatics was ingood shape so all push rods wereremoved, polished and new nuts wereapplied. This being my adventure, I wasready to wear my player piano techie hat. Inoticed that most of the large pneumaticswere in less than desirable condition andwith the advice from Don Barton; I shouldnot do something half way, but do all the
expression pneumatics and the whole lot,and be done with it. Thank you….Mr.Don, you were right. Therefore, to theBarton shop they went and came back allpretty and pink.
Now we had all these newly refur-bished bits to go back into a piano. Sud-denly my techie hat was not working. EdCopeland, artisan and technician, of Don’sshop, agreed to spend what became hoursand hours of putting Humpty Dumptyback together again. This being a veryslow process, having to put bits in place,which often required removal repeatedly,or one little bit becoming obstreperous.
Having a Welte-Mignon tubing chartblown up on a large scale saved us frombeing committed to an asylum forthwith.However, one found the Kimball Company had differing ideas on routingsome tubing. If one tube was to travelfrom St. Paul to Minneapolis, as indicatedby the chart: Kimball devised it shouldtravel via Big Woman Lake with a layoverin Gopher Junction. Finding the bigwoman was easy, but it appeared the junction was engulfed into the bosom ofthe Big One. At this point, we consultedMr. Grindle, the Boxer, and directed himto read up in the Arthur Reblitz pianomanual addressing this particular situa-tion. Meanwhile, we repaired to the liquidrefreshment cabinet for personality adjust-ment and frustration management. After arespectable interval, we returned and thedog saved the day.The result of this enter-prise is more than satisfactory. The pianois greater than a huge hunk of furniture. Itis a living, breathing, machine capable ofinstilling joy and emotion in the listenersand thankfulness to all those professionalswho helped to bring this instrument backto life. We commend their art, whichsadly, might fade away in the mists oftime if we are not diligent in preservation.
Knowing some wags would consign aKimball to the rubbish heap, not being aso-called prestigious named piano; wetake solace in the fact of this instrument’s
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terrific sound and ability to reproducequite accurately the magnificent recordsof great pianists. It is a delight to bringthis piano to life for the first time listenerand inform them that this is a complexsystem devised over one hundred yearsago. Then inform them this was the musical computer of its day and is itsancestor most directly.
Lastly, even in our approachingdotage, we enjoyed the trip and the asso-ciation with all those involved, and wesalute anyone who has ever attemptedsuch a project. There were moments thatrequired an escape to my 1912 “room oftranquility” and installed a roll on the1914 Aeolian pumper, the same pianothat once arrived in deplorable condition.
My friends, we know the marvel ofmechanical pumping and electric playerpianos, which make our essential modernday computer look rather timid, muchless, the appliance stuck in people’s earsfor communication purposes. Yes, theoperation was a romp, and never mindwe lost Gopher Junction in the process.
continued. . .
Phillip “Number Please” Willa & Grindle “We can solve this”
Ed “Here’s Big Woman Lake”
Ed “Best work on his back” “Room of Tranquility”
The 2009 AMICA Membership Directory is in the works!
If your Email address has changed in the last 2 years,
please email our Membership Secretary Bill Chapman
your new email address along with any other changes
you wish to have reflected in the new Directory - TODAY!
268
By Donald Rosenberg, Plain Dealer Music Critic, The Plain Dealer-July 8, 2008
Submitted by Martin Hersch
ROLL PLAYING
In a new CD of old recordings, Broadwaycomposer Richard Rodgers does his owntunes
Oh, to have heard Mozart play hispiano concertos or Beethoven interpret hispiano sonatas. Sound recordings, alas, didn’t arrive until the years followingThomas Edison’s invention of the phono-graphic cylinder in 1877.
Another popular early recording medium was the piano roll, which allowedeminent composers and performers to
document their artistry for the masses.Mahler, Saint-Saens, Debussy, Rachmani-noff and Gershwin are among the compos-er-pianists who can be heard on pianorolls. And now, so can Richard Rodgers.
Thanks to Harbinger Records co-founders Ken Bloom and Cleveland’s BillRudman, as well as former WCLV
FM/104.9 announc-er Albert Petrak,this new collectionof Rodgers pianorolls and liverecordings gives usa close idea of howone of Broadway’sinspired composersintended this musicto sound.
“Richard RodgersCommand Perfor-mance,” also anendeavor of Rud-man’s MusicalTheater Project,will be released oncompact disc thismonth at a sug-gested retail priceof $16.95.
What discoveries!
From 1926 to 1929,Rodgers madeeight piano rolls ofsongs he wrotewith lyricist LorenzHart. The perfor-mances are buoyantand emphatic,showing the com-poser to be a deft
pianist with an impish sense of rhythm. As American composerWilliam Bolcom, an authoritative pianist
of American popular songs, points out in aprogram note, Rodger’s piano rolls revealhow tempos have slowed markedly sincethe 1920s. To be sure, Rodgers shows nointerest in smoothing out phrases or softening accents. Even in his bittersweetballad “With a Song in My Heart” (part ofa medley from “Spring Is Here”), he teases the theme, dashing into “song”before relaxing a bit for “in my heart.”
The results are magical here andthroughout the piano rolls, especially ascaptured in these pristine transfers. Therolls are “played” on a Boesendorfergrand piano, which provides a grand senseof Rodgers’ gleeful keyboard artistry.
There’s more. Rodgers also is presentin a series of demos and radio tracks assinger, conductor and accompanist, mostlyin songs catapulted by witty and ferventHart lyrics. The surface noise can’t detractfrom the infectious music-making.
The only contributions from Rodgers’second career with Oscar Hammerstein IIare “A Wonderful Guy” from “SouthPacific”—including verses that werealtered before the show’s 1949 opening—and the waltz sequence from their television score for “Cinderella.”
Rodgers warbles amiably in songs from“Mississippi,” a 1935 film, and enjoyssparring with Charlie McCarthy (the puppet alias of Edgar Bergen) during adaffy radio spot introducing “A Little of You on Toast,” which is sung with ineffable charm by Don Ameche.
But the gems here are the piano rolls.Along with Gershwin, Kern, Porter, Berlinand a handful of other immortals, Rodgershelped raise Broadway standards to anearly pinnacle. His piano rolls take usback to an era when a bounty of America’sgreatest popular songs originated on themusical stage.
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From Playback, Volume 15 Issue 2, Summer 2008
Sent in by Kelly Goodman
ASummer Classic
“Take Me Out to the Ball Game” is nameda Towering Song by the Songwriters Hallof Fame on its 100th Anniversary.
Hello Dr. Kukral,Thought the enclosed might be of interestto other members. Von Tilzer is seen a loton piano rolls.Have a happy summer,Kelly Goodman
Lyricist Jack Norworth (1879-1959)and composer Albert Von Tilzer (1878-
1956) were twoTin Pan Alleypros who, onehundred yearsago, set theirhands to writinga baseball songin waltz time—the title was“Take Me Out tothe Ball Game,”and it hasbecome one ofthe most belovedand performed ofall Americansongs. On June19th, the Song-writers Hall ofFame honored itwith its ToweringSong Award.Now in the pub-lic domain, three
different publishers represented the original version of the song, over theyears: York Music, Broadway Music andJerry Vogel Music. Norworth and VonTilzer were far from being baseball fans. Itis said, in fact, that neither had everattended a professional baseball gamebefore the song was written.
Many years after the song was written,Norworth claimed that he was inspired towrite the lyric on a Manhattan elevated
train after spotting an ad for a game to be played that day at the Polo Grounds.Norworth and Von Tilzer’s creation wasan almost immediate smash, selling millions of recordings, piano rolls andsheet music copies, spending seven weeksat the top of the 1908 charts. Jack Nor-worth, himself, is believed to have beenthe first to perform “Take Me Out to theBall Game,” at a theater called theAmphion in Brooklyn. The most popularof many early recordings was by thesuperstar Haydn Quartet on the Victorlabel. Since then, the song has been waxedby hundreds of artists, from the BostonPops to Jimmy Buffett, from Donald Duckto Dr. John to Gordon McRae to MandyPatinkin (in Yiddish!). There have been atleast 160 copyrighted arrangements of“Take Me Out to the Ball Game” and ithas been used in over 1200 movies and television programs. In 1949, a Tech-nicolor MGM musical was made calledTake Me Out to the Ball Game, starringFrank Sinatra and Gene Kelly as singingand dancing ballplayers.
Curiously, the tradition of singing thesong at nearly every Major League gameis of fairly recent vintage. Legendarybaseball announcer Harry Caray sang thesong over the public address system at a1976 Chicago White Sox game during theseventh inning stretch, joined by the fans.Today, almost all Major League gamesfeature the playing and singing of thesong.
In conjunction with the song’s Centennial, the U.S. Postal Service will beissuing a commemorative “Take Me Outto the Ball Game” stamp this summer, anda coffee table book—Baseball’s GreatestHit: The Story of “Take Me Out to theBall Game” by Andy Strasberg, BobThompson and Tim Wiles—documentingthe song’s history and place in the nation’scultural life, has been released by HalLeonard Books. Familiarity with “TakeMe Out to the Ball Game” has become
part of the DNAof what it meansto grow up as anAmerican, a factrecently acknowl-edged by theSongwriters Hallof Fame as it recognized thetune with its Towering SongAward on June19th. In Base-ball’s Greatest Hit, many little-knownfacts about one of America’s most famoussongs are brought to light. Among them isthe connection between “Take Me Out tothe Ball Game” and the origin of TheASCAP Foundation. In 1975, it was abequest from Amy Swor Norworth, thewidow of lyricist Jack Norworth, thatfunded the initial program of what was tobecome the ASCAP Foundation—theGrants to Young Composers (now knownas the Morton Gould Young ComposersAwards). The funding was from royaltiesgenerated by the Norworth’s song catalogue, including “Take Me Out to theBall Game” and “Shine on HarvestMoon.” In other words, Norworth’s hitmade possible the ever-expanding ASCAPFoundation, which supports music education and talent development in abroad range of musical genres—a majorleague legacy for a one hundred year-oldsong! —Jim Steinblatt
Jack Norworth
Albert Von Tilzer
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This was my 18th AMICAConvention, within 37 years member-ship, and once again outstanding!Many, many thanks to Frank and ShirleyNix and their committee for their superla-tive efforts in organizing and making ithappen. It was clearly a huge under-taking and they are to be commended.Very much appreciate yet another greatarray of fond memories.
Special mention to:
Hi Babit, an Honorary, for frequentlyentertaining us royally on many occasions in the hospitality suite. He is91 years young and has an extraordinaryrepertoire. His enthusiasm was infectious.
Tom Ahearn for bringing and displaying his powerful Knabe Ampico Bconcert grand in the hospitality suite.Fine example of blending the old (Ampico) with the new (Bob Hunt’s e-valve system).
Gene Korolev, Randy Cox and WayneStahnke for making available a stunninggrand piano fitted with Wayne’s LX LivePerformance solenoid system. It wasGene’s stunning “Tribute to HarleyDavidson”, a custom built grand piano.Equally stunning was its aural perfor-mance with Wayne’s LX solenoid system. It was real treat to hear it working quite well with my Duo-Artemulation midi files after conversion toDisklavier format. Its performance usingLX formated files with 1024 dynamiclevels was spectacular.
Richard Ingram for bringing his nicelyrestored very early rare A.B. Chase 88nfoot pumped grand. It was great to notehe managed to acquire Hi Babit’s auto-graph on its harp, nice touch!
Spencer Chase for displaying hisdemonstration e-valve system fitted to aDuo-Art grand. Yet another fine exampleof a marriage of the old with new technology.
Jerry Pell for bringing his nifty Wurlitzer band organ for our listeningpleasure in the hospitality suite.
Robbie Rhodes and the Titantic Jazz
Band for their Banquet fine entertain-ment.
Ralph and Gloria Schack for openingtheir home to view and hear their finecollection. It was a real treat for me tofinally see and hear the now restoredearly 1895(?) Welte Style 3 CottageOrchestrion I found in a genuine cattlebarn some ‘levety-7 years ago. And rightalongside it the 28” upright Kalliope diskmusic box that emerged as part of theoriginal transaction all those many yearsago. Brought tears to my tired old eyes.Both within a great display of beautifullyrestored instruments.
Mike and Marilyn Ames for openingtheir home to view and hear their out-standing collection. It was a real treat tosee a great marriage of the old with newmidi technology to dramatically expandavailable music for a variety of instruments, most notably the Violano.And a truly delightful suprise to meetJody Kravitz for the first time, so longafter he started MMD some 13 years ago.
Frank and Shirley Nix for openingtheir charming home to view and heartheir fine collection of a Duo-Art repro-ducing piano, large orchestrions, musicboxes and a great fairground organ. Theyare truly great hosts and clearly earned ahuge commendation for all they aredoing for AMICA and our delightful avocation.
Mike and Cathy Choate for openingtheir home to view and hear their finecollection. Regretably, this is one I didnot get to, but overheard many who weredelighted and impressed.
Dana Bashor for opening his gorgeoushome to view and hear his outstandingcollection of music boxes, automata,moving framed pictures, musical clocks,fine heavily carved furniture, and his bigWelte Style 3 Cottage Orchestrion. Afine, gracious host who enthusiasticallyshared his collection.
Fred and Deanne Roth for openingtheir home to view and hear their finevaried collection of juke boxes, nick-elodeons, a fairground organ and
stunning classic cars. What a treat!
A catered lunch in the shadow of thereal Boeing 707 Air Force One in theReagan Library was amazing! How didthey ever get that massive airplane up tothe top of the mountain and into thebuilding? WOW! The Reagan collectionof memorabilia brought back many historical memories of great political significance.
And for someone living out in the relative boonies, the Hollywood Bowland Independence Day fireworks weretruly memorable. What a great show forsome 17,000+ people in attendance.
Within our annual Pumper Contest,our inimitable Larry Norman can berelied upon to provide enjoyable levity toan otherwise serious event. Congratula-tions go to Roger Stumfoll for winningthe contest, and to Karl Ellison for hiscapable organizing and MC’ing theevent. As always, the contestant’s choiceof rolls brought some terrific performances. Quite amazing what canemerge from a humble player piano.
An evening of silent film with pianoaccompaniment, all wrapped around arestored 1906 hand cranked movie projector, featuring Laurel and Hardy,and Buster Keaton, made for a charmingtrue “nickelodeon”.
I was pleased to have attended DaveSaul’s workshop on Roll Scanning &Production, Don Barr’s workshop on theViolano, Stephen Goodman’s workshopon Automatic Musical Instrument´sMusical Partners, and Josh Rapier’sworkshop on Reproducing System differences. Unfortunately, not possibleto attend all of them.
As usual, the Mart was an enthusiasticevent, organized quite well with all thevendor tables arranged around theperimeter of the ballroom. Made for easymigration from one to another. By a splitsecond, I missed out on a Seeburg KTtable favor on one of the mart tables.Perhaps another year I may get lucky.
The 2008 AMICA Convention tablefavor is a beautifully crafted, wonderful
By Terry Smythe
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CONVENTION
JULY 1-6, 2008
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continued. . .
work of art. It is a replica of a 105 Wurlitzer band organ. The Southern California conceived of this 2 years agoand managed to keep it a secret throughto the unveiling at the banquet. RoyBeltz proposed the favor, Bill Blair didthe electronics, and Larry Crehore did thelaser etching.
Among those who worked on this project week after week were Jerry Pell,Bill Blair, Roy Beltz, Richard Ingram,Nan Allomong, Willard and SharonWills, and Jack Conway. Frank andShirley Nix took a trip to Yosemite forthe photos, and Bill Klinger arranged tohave the cymbals made. The music (California, Here I Come) was recorded
from a Wurlitzer 105 owned by KimPontius. There are well over 150 separatepieces to be cut, stained, and assembledfor each favor.
It was a great convention, made all thebetter by meeting so many old friends,albeit only once a year. And once again,many fond memories. Thoroughlyenjoyable throughout.Some useful internet links emerged:http://www.live-performance.com/index.htmWayne Stahnke’s LX Live Performancesitehttp://www.pianosxxi.com/Piano Solutions XXI (Gene Korolev’ssite)
http://www.millsnovelty.com/Mike Ames midi sitehttp://www.timtrager.com/Tim Trager’s sitehttp://bandorganmusic.com/Band Organ Music sitehttp://www.mechanicalmusicrestoration.-com/index.htmlStephen Goodman’s sitehttp://www.reproducingpianos.com/Josh Rapier’s site
[email protected] Saul’s email address
It all started with a planning meetingwhere Roy Beltz presented a band organkit that he thought would make a niceAMICA 2008 table favor. The groupagreed and Frank Nix started gatheringinformation for designing the case. I furnished photos of the drum shelves on
my 105 and a photo from the Wurlitzer1928 Catalog printed in “The AmericanCarousel Organ” by Ron Bopp. “WurlitzerBuilding Plans For Model 104/105” by R. M. Stanoszek was consulted for measurements. At this point the lumberwas obtained and the work sessions beganat the home of Frank and Shirley Nix.
They have a well-equippedshop and large work area. Theorder of the steps is not exactas many activities overlapped.
A group of twenty plusAMICA So. Cal. members,friends and neighbors attendedsome or all of the work sessions that started February25, 2006. Those who attendedmost if not all work sessionswere Nan Allomong, Roy
Beltz, Bill Blair, Jack Conway,Richard Ingram, Jerry Pell, and
Willard and Sharon Wills. I kind of chuckled at starting so early but we needed the time to complete this compli-cated project. The work sessions usuallylasted from about 9 am to 4 or 5 pm with abreak for a fabulous lunch prepared byShirley Nix. We met 2 or 3 times a monthfrom the Fall of 2006 through the Springof 200., These large group sessions were
THE ANATOMY OF A WURLITZER 105 TABLE FAVORBy: Jack M. Conway, Photos by: Shirley Nix
Frank Nix and Bill Klinger who furnished thecymbals.
Foreman Frank Nix, right, keeping the workers, left, BillBlair, Jack Conway, and Bob Lloyd on task.
Richard Ingram trimming top boards to fin-ished size.
Finished cases with drum shelf glue spotscraped clean.
Jack Conway sanding assembled case sides.
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only the tip of the iceberg with SharonWills, Bill Blair, and Frank and ShirleyNix working on other parts of the projectbetween the work parties. Frank designedjigs and fixtures to produce the neededparts.
Richard Ingram brought his surfaceplaner and belt and disk sander. Frank setup a cut off saw and two table saws. Partswere planed, cut to size, and rabbeted.During many of the early sessions we produced boxes and pails full of partsprompting me to ask Frank one day if wewere ever going to assemble any of theparts.
While this was going Bill Blair andhis neighbor designed and had the circuitboards made in strips. Frank then cut themapart. Bill searched the Internet to find achip that could record for one minute andthe recording device. He also searched forand obtained the speakers, switches, battery holders, batteries and componentsfor the circuit board. Bill also arranged forhis cousin Larry Crehore to laser cut andengrave the façade pieces, top facade withcymbal cut out, drum shelves, and casebacks.
As work progressed several itemswere looked at, including buttons, to usefor the cymbals. None really seemed towork well. Bill Klinger devised a punch
and die set to cut out, dish, and punch themounting hole from brass sheet. When itwas time for final assembly the protectiveplastic film was peeled off.
Well I asked for it, assembly began.The main body front and sides were gluedwith spacer blocks inside to hold the casesquare. The parts were clamped with largerubber bands. When dry the cases were
cut to final size and the top and bottomblocks glued in. The cases were then sanded smooth and square.
The backs were then fitted to thecases and the backs and cases numbered tomatch them up after finishing. With thebacks in place the holes for the mountingscrews drilled in the backs and cases. Theholes in the backs were then countersunk.
Frank devised a layout for multiplebases and selected a cutter to create thedesign on the milling machine. Boardsthat would fit in the mill were laid out andFrank ran them through the millingmachine. When the milling was completewood chips were piled high around the mill. After milling, the bases werecarefully cut apart. They were sanded andsent for the laser engraving.
The case tops were cut to size and theedges were rounded on the belt sander.The cymbal mounting dowel hole wasdrilled.
Dowels the correct size for the bassdrum and snare drum were located. Thelengths of dowel were stained and fin-ished. The individual drums were then cutoff and drilled for the mounting dowel.
The real fun then began. I think thateveryone remembers this step. Silver braidwas cut to length to wrap around the front
and back edge of each drum to representthe nickel drumhead tension rings. Theywere glued a little proud of the drum edgeso the drumhead would fit flush. Glue wasapplied to the drum edge and the braidwrapped around with a slight overlap.
Sometimes a kink in the braid made thisdifficult. The drum was then set aside.When the next one was done the first onehad popped loose and had to be gluedagain and sometimes again and again.Shirley then printed the snare drum wireson parchment paper stock. Using another
Nan Allomong and Sharon Wills assemblingdrum shelves using a Nix fixture. Each shelfhas 4 pieces to be glued together, a front,back, top, and support block.
Drum shelves ready for spraying with stain.Dowels are taped to keep the gluing surfaceclean.
Stained drum shelves.
Jack Conway gluing silver braid to drumedges. Everyone’s favorite job, NOT!
Top facades with cymbal mount and quarterround dowels assembled.
Jerry Pell drilling dowel holes in drums usinga Nix fixture.
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of Frank’s jigs the drumheads werepunched out. They were then glued to thefront and back of the drums making surethat the snare wires were lined up correct-ly with the mounting hole.
Frank made a fixture to make surethat the cymbal would be centered in thetop façade. The fixture held many piecesat once and had built in hold-downs tokeep pieces aligned while the glue dried.The cymbals were removed until the partswere stained and finished.
Frank made fixtures to assemble thedrum shelves. Each held many shelves.Each shelf was made from an engravedfront, a back, a mounting block and a top.
The set up clamped and held the fourpieces in position until the glue dried.Two dowel holes had been drilled in themounting block to assure the drums wouldmount straight on the case sides. The topalso had a dowel hole drilled in it tomount the drums.
Before staining and finishing, dowelsand areas to be glued were masked. Theareas that could not be masked werescraped using a jig before gluing. All ofthe case parts were stained and wipeddown. When dry they were set out on longtables, sometimes on tape to keep themfrom blowing away when sprayed with thefinish.
When all parts were stained and finished, the final case assembly started.The bases and tops were glued to the maincase. The top façade with remounted cymbals were glued to the top. Two
quarter round dowel pieces were added toadd support to the top façade. The bassand snare drum shelves were glued to thecase sides.
While the assembly was continuingShirley was looking for California themedphotos to use for the art panels on thefaçade. None seemed to fit the formatwell. To solve this problem Frank and
Shirley drove to Yosemite and took manypictures until they found ones that fit well.They printed out the photos and handtrimmed them to size. They were thencarefully glued to the backs of the façadeframes. The frames were then glued to themain case. We were all amazed at howthey made the organ pop. Wow!
Three pieces of wood were cut to sizeand glued up to make a bridge over thespeaker and form a mount for the circuitboard and battery holder.
As the casework continued all theparts for the circuit board arrived and westarted to assemble them. We inserted intoeach board a chip socket, two electrolyticcapacitors, and a potentiometer. The battery holder, switch, and speaker wireswere cut to length and stripped. They werealso inserted into the circuit board. Witheverything in place the boards were soldered. As the electronic packages werecompleted they were tested and speedadjusted. Any with problems went homewith Bill for troubleshooting.
The master chip was recorded livefrom a Wurlitzer 105 owned by Kim Pontius. The recording is of Wurlitzer
Bill Blair punching out snare drum frontheads.
Frank Nix preparing to cut bases apart. Morebases stacked to the left.
Willard and Sharon Wills, Ed Cooley, DianeLloyd, and Roy Beltz, are gluing drum heads todrums.
Milling machine with wood chips piled highafter bases were machined.
With speakers mounted to case backs, components are being attached to bridge overspeakers by technician Willard Wills.
Electronics ready to be mounted on speakerbridge.
Roy Beltz gluing drum braid. More peoplecomplained about this job than any other.
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Style 125 Roll Number 3100, tune numberthree, “California Here I Come.” Eachchip was recorded one at a time in realtime by Bill and then labeled with labelsprinted by Shirley. The chips were theninstalled in the chip socket.
Speaker cloth was glued to the speak-er rims. The switches were glued into theirmounting holes. The speakers were gluedto the backs. The bridges were then fittedover the speakers and glued in place. Thecircuit board and battery holder were thenattached to the bridge. The organ was nowcomplete except for the batteries and fourscrews to mount the back.
We waited until late April of 2008 to install the batteries and do finaltesting. The backs were thenscrewed to the cases and testedagain. As a result of all this testing, only one favor wasreturned at the banquet.
As the finished organs werelined up on the tables, afterassembly, we discovered how sensitive the switches are. Stackthe organs too close together andtwo or three start playing. Move abox full and get a concert. At thelast work session before they were
boxed up, a cardboard square with a holepunched in the middle was carefully tapedover the switch to try to avoid an incidentwith TSA. The shipping boxes were provided by AGE Industries, Texas.
If you missed the convention andwould like one of these fabulous littleorgans some are still available for $50.00including shipping and handling. ContactShirley at [email protected] for details.
Additional tunes may be available, bychanging chips, from Bill Blair.
Frank Nix, Nan Allomong, Sharon Wills, and WillardWills presenting the table favors at the banquet.
Completed back with speaker, switch, electron-ics, chip, and batteries installed.
Completed Wurlitzer 105 with base, drumshelves, top façade, and art panels.
A MICA OFFICER, COMMITTEE &
CHAPTER REPORTS
Sent in by Marlene Beckman
Board Meeting MinutesJuly 1, 2008
Submitted by Nadine Motto-Ros and Marlene Beckman
1. Roll Call and Introductions:
The meeting was called to order on Tuesday, July 1, 2008, by President JohnMotto-Ros.
Board members present: President – JohnMotto-Ros, Vice President – Tim Baxter,Past President – Mike Walter, Member-ship Secretary – Bill Chapman, Conven-tion Coordinator – Frank Nix/part time,Honorary Membership – Mike Walter,Past Memorial Fund Chairman – Halie
Dodrill, Website Manager – Karl Ellison,Founding Rep – Richard Reutlinger, Heartof America Rep – Gary Craig, Lady Liberty Rep – Vincent & Maryam Mor-gan, Midwest Rep – Liz Barnhart, Northern Lights Rep – Alan Turner, Pacific Can-Am – Carl Dodrill, RockyMountain Rep – Larry Emmons, Sierra-Nevada Rep – Chip Lusby, Southern California Rep – Frank Nix/part time,SOWNY Rep – Holly Walter, Texas Rep –Suzanne and John McCall, Guests – RichClayton and Julian Dyer. Acting Secretary: Nadine Motto-Ros
Board members absent: Secretary – Mar-lene Beckman, Treasurer – Robbie Tubbs,Publisher – Mike Kukral, Archives – Tom
Hutchinson, Audio Visual and Technical –Harold Malakinian, Boston Rep – BobHunt, Chicago Rep – Joe Pekaarek.
2. Approval of Minutes from 2006Board Meeting: Motion to approve the minutes as published in the November/December2006 AMICA Bulletin was made, seconded and passed. As a matter ofrecord, a Board Meeting was not held during the 2007 AMICA Convention inGermany/Holland.
3. Reports: Since all reports are includedin the agenda and will be published in TheBulletin, they were not individually read.Additional comments not covered in theagenda reports are listed below:
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PRESIDENT’S REPORT
I hope most of you have had anopportunity to see the new membershipbrochures. They have an updated lookand include a new back page forAMICA’S EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS.Educating the public about automaticmusical instruments is an important partof AMICA’s future.
One of our concerns this year hasbeen the increased postage for our over-seas members. The U. S. Postal Servicehas discontinued the bulk mail overseasrate which increases the cost of mailingThe Bulletin. A dues increase will be discussed at this year’s Board Meeting.
As reported last year, AMICA in nowon YouTube, and I am happy to report thatwe have expanded our coverage. Pleaselook at www.amica.org and check out thethree pages of YouTube representing automatic musical instruments rangingfrom player pianos to orchestrions.
Terry Smythe is this year’s recipientof the AMICA President’s Award for scanning the Billings Rollography and theAMICA Technicalities—an extraordinaryand time-consuming effort. Terry is currently scanning all AMICA Bulletinssince inception in 1963 to present. Theywill be posted on www.amica.org for allmembers to access—more to come.
Website Manager, Karl Ellison, hasbrought AMICA up to date allowing newmembers to sign up on the website andthey can use PayPal. By 2009, memberswill be able to pay their dues on-line witha credit card or with PayPal.
I am pleased to report that our PastPresident, Mike Walter, has agreed to takeon the additional duties Honoraries/HonorRoll contact. He has previously held thisposition and brings some much-neededexperience to get this up to date.
The 2007 convention in Germany and Holland was a huge success. Ourconvention committee did a great job setting up everything. We were busy fromdawn to dusk visiting many museums and collections—everything from reproducingpianos to large dance organs—a big thankyou to the committee.
Since I am staying on as president foranother term, one of my goals is to meetmembers I do not know.
Respectfully submitted,JOHN A. MOTTOROS Sutter Creek, CA
President, AMICA INTERNATIONAL
VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT2007-2008
Dear Members,
It has been a privilege to serve asyour Vice President for 2007-2008. Theoffice of the Vice President has two principal duties: (1) Acting as a chapterliaison, and (2) Chairing the awards com-mittee for the AMICA International Awardand the Leo Ornstein Literary Award.
Chapter LiaisonThis area has definitely improved
since last year. Most Chapters now sendme invitations and notices about Chapteractivities, whether by e-mail or snail mail.I would ask again that each Chapter placeme on its mailing and/or e-mail list forChapter functions. My addresses:Tim Baxter939 Briarcliff Rd., NEAtlanta, GA 30306-4664e-mail: [email protected]
AwardsAn awards committee consisting of
Dave Saul, Richard Tonnesen and I con-sidered nominations for the AMICA Inter-national Award and the Leo Ornstein Lit-erary Award. The committee’s recommen-dations are as follows:
International AwardThe AMICA International Award will
be awarded to Kenneth K. Caswell ofAustin, Texas. Ken recently retired after17 years as manager of the Austin Symphony, is widely known and respectedfor his knowledge of the Welte reproducing systems and piano rolls.
Ken had a long-time dream to accurately record and preserve the rarecomposer-played music embodied onreproducing piano rolls. After 40 years ofstudy and research, Ken produced sevenhistoric classical piano CDs recorded onthe Pierian label. The Pierian RecordingSociety is a tax-exempt organizationwhose purpose is the preservation of historic performances and obscure repertoire.
These classical CDs (which include afew 78 rpm recordings) are:Volume 1 Claude Debussy -The Composeras Pianist (All his known Welte record-ings)Volume 2 Enrique Granados – HisRecordings for Welte & Soehne Paris,1913Volume 3 Fannie Bloomfield Zeisler –For many years considered the greatestAmerican pianistVolume 4 Maurice Ravel - The Compos-
er as Pianist and Conductor - Welte &Duo-ArtVolume 5 Alexander Scriabin - TheComposer as Pianist - Recordings forWelte & Soehne 1910Volume 6 Teresa Carreno - Her recordingsfor M. Welte & Soehne April 1905Volume 7 Alfredo Casella & OttorinoRespighi - The Composer as Pianist
AMICA is pleased to honor KenCaswell for his work in raising awarenessof the historical importance of reproduc-ing pianos to the general public asdescribed above.
Ornstein Literary Award
The Leo Ornstein Literary Award willbe awarded to Vincent Morgan of theLady Liberty Chapter. In addition to histireless and world-wide promotion ofmechanical music, Mr. Morgan has beenan important contributor to the Bulletin inrecent years. His fine efforts in this regardhave not gone unnoticed, either by the Awards Committee or the generalmembership.
AMICA is thus pleased to presentVincent Morgan with the 2007-2008 LeoOrnstein Literary Award.
In closing, let me say what a pleasureit has been to work with my fellow officers and the chapter representatives,and most especially, with our enthusiasticPresident, John Motto-Ros.Respectfully submitted,Timothy A. Baxter Atlanta, GAVice President, AMICA International
SECRETARY’S REPORTDuring the past year I have monitored
the Yahoo Group messages and respondedas necessary. Since the 2007 conventionwas in Germany, no board meeting washeld. I collected officer, committee, andchapter reports and formatted them forinclusion in the October/November issueof The Bulletin. I am currently preparingfor the 2008 convention. I have contactedofficers, committee chairs, and board representatives requesting current reports.These will be formatted and bound inpreparation for the California convention.
Respectfully submitted,
Marlene Beckman Berryton, KS
PAST PRESIDENT’S REPORTSummer 2008
As it is with all good presidents, thePast President usually has a very lonelytenure. I did respond to a few e-mails thatwere sent my way from President Motto-
continued. . .
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Ros, but other than that, all seemed quieton the Western Front. One other duty ofthe Past President is to find replacementsfor any officers leaving their position. Fortunately, President Motto-Ros has adedicated Executive Committee that willbe staying for another term.Respectfully submitted,Mike Walter Lancaster, NY
COMMITTEE REPORTS:L. Memorial Fund - Raymond Dietz isthe new chairman.M. Test Roll Project – Mike Walter notedeverything is going well. He has ordersfor about another 25 rolls. Rolls are forsale at the Mart. Mike will get togetherwith Julian Dyer to see about makingDuo-Art test rolls available.N. Website Manager – Video is up; it hasbeen successful, and he will move forwardwith that as time allows.
MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY’S REPORTReport Period April 1, 2007 to May 30,2008Membership Statistics:July 31 1999 - 1551 membersJune 1, 2000 - 1494 membersJune 1, 2001 - 1459 membersJune 1, 2002 - 1375 members
July 15, 2003 - 1354 membersJune 1, 2004 - 1341 membersJune 1, 2005 - 1315 membersJune 1, 2006 - 1233 membersJune 1, 2007 - 1279 members*May 1, 2008 - 1176 members*(paid memberships = 1104)
* This total includes – Affiliates, Found-ing Members, Honorary, Utility , and DualHouseholds which contain one payingand one non-paying member.
New Members 2007 = 76
2008 = 41, projected 15 more by December 2008.
Gaining members is quite importantto the future of AMICA. However, it wasnoted when the losses occurred AMICAfared much better than the sister organiza-tion on a proportionate basis. It appearsthat attractive conventions have spurredapplications. When popular cities hostconventions and announce their programs,new applications are received.
Dropouts (non renewals) 154 drop-out members for 2007 included manymembers who joined as early as 1987.Less than a dozen were recent joiners.This may have some significance forboard members who wish to plan for the
future. Older members are dropping off,new members are younger. Net loss ofpaid memberships is 96.
Sources of Memberships. Renewalnotices were sent to the previous year’sdropouts (2006). This resulted in 16renewals from people who dropped out forone year.
Postal Rate Increase caused a numberof members to drop out - 11 members didnot renew. Overseas members indicatedthat the Bulletin and Directory simplywere not worth the increase. However, 20 overseas (Surface Mail) membersweathered the increase.
Number of renewals who prefer Surface Mail = 31
Number of 2007 members who usedSurface Mail and did not renew as of February 29 = 11
Number of renewals for 2008 usingSurface Mail = 20
Advertising: The new brochure isshowing up in new membership applications. Its bright colors and clearexplanations have received compliments.No new ads in magazines or newsletterswere created. Plans for the Membership
continued. . .
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Secretary are to continue to seek radio andphonograph collectors’ newsletters forplacement of AMICA ads. Unansweredemails and phone calls have been themajor problem with small organizations.
Submitted by Bill Chapman LaQuinta,CA
ARCHIVES REPORTVery little has happened with the
archivist position this year. I received alarge shipment of AMICA BULLETINSgoing back into the early 1990’s fromJohn Motto-Ros. These are presenting asignificant storage problem and in anattempt to eliminate some of these backissues, attendees at the upcoming Heart ofAmerica Amica summer event will begiven the opportunity to take what theywant. Several requests for back issueshave been filled. I encourage membersneeding back issues of THE AMICABULLETIN to contact me.
Submitted by Tom Hutchinson Sturgeon,MO
SPECIAL PROJECTAMICA BULLETIN ARCHIVES
While in attendance at annualAMICA conventions, I often speak withnew members. A topic that emerges frequently is an inability to reviewAMICA’s history. Who were the keyplayers in those early years? What were
the significant events? What were some ofthe important milestones? And so itgoes..It has become clear to me that dis-semination to our members of our AMICAhistory (archives) needs to be addressed.
Following completion of archivingthe whole of the AMICA Technicalities,the whole of The Billings Rollography, thewhole of the Howe Collection catalog,and my own web site of original literature,it dawned on me that archiving the wholeof AMICA’s Bulletins is not too muchmore than what I’ve already done forAMICA.
I have a near complete set of allAMICA Bulletins. President John Motto-Ros has kindly made available to me original issues of the 3 issues I’m missing,all emerging from bound copies preparedby Bob and Ginny Billings who giftedthem to AMICA.
A beginning has been made. As attime of writing this report (Feb. 2008), allAMICA Bulletins 1964 through to 1977have been archived. My objective is tohave it all done and committed to a DVDas a gift to AMICA at its 2008 Boardmeeting in July. Time will tell if this tar-get date is feasible. It’s too early to tell.
The project is emerging in 3 elements:
• All Bulletins committed to a self-
starting DVD in high resolution PDF format.
• All Bulletins uploaded into ourAMICA web site in low resolution PDFformat.
• A comprehensive complete index ofall articles available on-line and on theDVD.
I am working with a conventional flatbed scanner, and reviewing every singlepage of every Bulletin to set the exposure,brightness, contrast, etc., for best qualityof every page. The older Bulletins are notas good quality for reproduction as thoseof today. The newer Bulletins got progressively better as printing technologyimproved over the years. Unavoidably,every page requires different optimum settings to achieve a reasonable balance ofquality based on variables such as overlydark original photos, occasional washedout printing, show-through with thinnerpaper, etc.
As I archive each Bulletin into high-resolution PDF format, I simultaneouslyoptimize it into a low resolution PDF document for display on our AMICA website. This is because the high resolutionPDF files I create are very large, ordinarily considered too large for webdisplay purposes, particularly for thosemembers who have slow dial-up access tothe internet.
As I archive each year of AMICABulletins, I also go through every PDFissue page by page and extract articletitles, authors and contributors. Theobjective is to copy this data into a masterBulletin Index in a spreadsheet format.As this master Bulletin Index is periodically updated, I upload a copy toKarl Ellison, our Webmaster. He in turnconverts the updated spreadsheet intoHTML format, then uploads both into ourweb site. His objective is to make theindex available in 2 formats to facilitatesearching and sorting. Karl’s skills inspreadsheets and web maintenance farexceed what little I can do.
Initially, this master Bulletin Indexwill contain basic data. Each entry willhave a companion indicator as to a specific Bulletin Vol #, Issue #, and date.By the very nature of what I’m doing, theindex may emerge containing entries thatmay one day be considered superfluous.At this time, I have chosen to err on theside of completeness.
This master Bulletin Index is simply astarting point. Its format will make it possible for other far more clever peoplethan me to pick it up and introduce
AMICA PUBLISHER’S EXPENSE REPORT FOR 2007
Qty Bulletin Pgs Print Env Mail Label Postage
1400 Jan-Feb 48 3325. 170. 248. 97. 1001.561300 Mar-Apr 56 3349. 166. 235. 93. 933.681400 May-June 60 3302. 168. 235. 100. 1440.751400 July-Aug 68 3487. 170. 235. 93. 1272.071400 Sept-Oct 72 4513. 172. 235. 91. 1512.291400 Dec-Jan 72 4307. 161. 255. 93. 2010.03
22,283. 1007. 1443. 567. 8170.38
Qty Print Insert Frt.
500 250 each LH & #10 Reg-no name 140.00 12.601 Email bulletin cover & TOC pgs to Karl 10.001240 Richfield Music Show Flyer 64.00 60.002500 Membership Brochures 694.00 46.041400 2-Krakauer Bros Books-1400 each 1.35 each 370013 Comb Bind – 2007 Issues 40.00 29.35250 LH-Bill Chapman 75.00 9.87
1023.00 60.00 97.86TOTAL EXPENSES $38, 471.24
Respectfully submitted by Mike Kukral, Publisher Terre Haute, IN
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enhancements. The most obviousenhancement will be hypertext linkswhereby a viewer can simply click on anentry and instantly view the target article.This enhancement is beyond my abilities,but I believe it to be critically important toprovide a flexible starting point uponwhich others can build.
Our commercial printer, Engler Printing, in Fremont, Ohio, has been printing our AMICA Bulletins since midsummer 1999. Jay Engler has kindlymade available to us his production PDFfiles of all issues since then. As a consequence, I do not need to archive ourAMICA Bulletins beyond this point, butI will be adding their content to our
master Bulletin Index.
It should be noted the PDF filesemerging from Engler Printing are ofextremely high quality, with relativelysmall file size. This is because he isworking with original documents and articles provided to him by our membersthrough our 2 AMICA Publishers in thistime period, using high-end professionalquality software, way beyond AMICA’s ormy budget.
The unavoidable process I am usingrequires every page of every Bulletin in abitmapped-image, not a mix of text andpictures. As a consequence, mybitmapped PDF files are larger thanEngler’s PDF files, and not quite as goodvisual quality, which is why I’m scanningevery page at high-resolution. The finalDVD I gift to AMICA will have all issuesin high resolution.
In the future, as each issue of theAMICA Bulletin is published, a PDF copyof it will be provided by our Publisher tobe added to our web site and to the DVD.I understand that the most current 18months of Bulletins will be withheld fromour web site to protect their intrinsic valueas a printed document.
The Master DVD needs to be constantly updated and security copiesreplicated. This is an opportunity for theAMICA Archives Committee to have on itthe technical skills needed to update theMaster Archives DVD.
As all members will have free accessto all AMICA Bulletins on-line within theMembers-Only area of our AMICA website (less most current 18 months), theBoard may wish to consider makingcopies of the DVD available only ondemand for a reasonable fee to be deter-mined. As the Master Archive DVD willbe constantly updated as a living archive,it may not be prudent to manufacture large
quantities for sale, at least not until thefirst DVD overflows its 8.5 gigabyte limit.It would be very prudent to produce several security copies each time it isupdated and have them located in differentoff-site locations.
There is no question that paper documents last longer than digital docu-ments. No different than paper musicrolls will last longer than digital midi filesof same content, by contemporary technical standards Therefore digitalpreservation becomes an issue that theBoard and all members should be concerned about. At this time, the dominant digital data preservation strategyis “Many copies, like leaves in the wind.”
Realistically, digital data preservationwill evolve and the technical componentof our AMICA Archives committee mustbe responsible for maintaining currency indata preservation technology. Within thenext 10-15 year time frame, there willemerge a need to copy the Master ArchiveDVD into a new format of whatever is theleading edge storage technology of theday, and so on into perpetuity.
The dominant objective of this projectis to make our AMICA history available toall members. While I may have one ofvery few complete paper archives of ourAMICA Bulletins, it serves little purposeif I’m the only one able to view it.Hopefully, my gift of this DVD will beseen as beneficial to our members, old andnew, and facilitate broad dissemination.Regards,Terry SmytheWinnipeg Manitoba, CanadaMember since 1971
CONVENTION CHAIRMAN’SREPORT – 2008
The following conventions are scheduled:
2008 – Southern California Chapter,Woodland Hills, California
2009 – Midwest Chapter, Cincinnati, Ohio
2010 – Sowny Chapter, Buffalo, NewYork
That’s all we have lined up, and if theother chapters won’t host a Conventionthere is the possibility we will have to doaway with Conventions altogether andjust have Board meetings, with voting bymail. If you can get your chapter to host,please let me know….EVERY Chapter isobligated to host a Convention. A fewchapters can’t be expected to host if othersare not willing to do so.Frank Nix Woodland Hills, CA818-884-6849 - [email protected]
HONORARY MEMBERSHIPREPORT
A number of months ago, PresidentMotto-Ros asked me to chair (once again)the Honorary Membership Committee. I accepted this position. Since I have beenaway from the committee for a number ofyears, it has undergone a transformationthat will require a bit of study to determine the actual path that this committee needs to follow. I am lookingforward to chairing this committee and amlooking forward to working with anyoneelse who also has an interest in artists whohave made significant contributions to ourhobby.Sincerely,Mike Walter Lancaster, NY
MEMORIAL FUND REPORT
June 1, 2007-May 15, 2008
It has been a pleasure to serve asChairperson of the AMICA InternationalMemorial Fund this past year. During theperiod of time listed above, we havereceived a total of $1,169 designated for the Memorial Fund. This amountincluded 28 individuals or families whosent contributions when they renewedtheir membership for 2008 ($744) and 6contributions in memory of individualswho were honored by our chapters ($425).
I have requested to be replaced asMemorial Fund Chairperson beginningwith June, 2008. I have enjoyed verymuch serving in this role and appreciatethe opportunity I have had to do so.
Respectfully submitted,Halie Dodrill Mercer Island, WAMemorial Fund Chairperson
TEST ROLL PROJECTTwo years ago I offered to operate a
Test Roll Project, making available toAMICA members a variety of test rolls for their player pianos at cost. Since itsinception, I have had 40 requests for testrolls. Most of these requests were multipleroll orders. Thanks to the perforatingexpertise of Bob Billings, this project hasbeen a success.
At the present time there are fiveAmpico, one Recordo and one Welte testroll titles in the “catalog”. If a Duo-Artperforator with “snake bites” were available in the U.S., we would probablyhave a Duo-Art test roll as well. A limitednumber of the rolls in stock will be at theMart for purchase.
Respectfully submitted,Mike Walter Lancaster, NY
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WEBSITE MANAGER’S REPORT2007-2008 was spent updating the
website with many small but crucialimprovements that set the framework forbigger things to come in the future, toincrease our visibility to the searchengines, and to give it better face-appealto first-time visitors. Traffic to the site hasincreased a few percent, I believe mostlydue to the audio and video on our front-page.
A moderate functional addition to thesite has been the introduction of acceptingcredit-card payments on the “Join UsToday” page. New members no longerneed to mail in a check; a membership toAMICA can be set up right on-line. Thisfeature will mature and spread into theDonations pages; and, ultimately, allowexisting members to renew their annualmemberships on-line (coming).
A planned enhancement - the “Mem-bers Only” page, has been completed andis a continual work in progress. Thesepages will be reserved to contain privatedata (reports, meeting minutes that are notpublic) and features that are not for thecasual public visitor to the site. The pass-word to this page is published in everyBulletin on Page “1” and will be changedannually or when abuse is detected. Newcontent will be added over the next fewquarters to bring the page to-date.
The “Members Only” pages will contain all AMICA Bulletins in viewableform on-line. This is well under way andmany early years are now available. Thisis scheduled to be completed sometime in2009, however Bulletins will be held-back
for 18-20 months after their publicationdate to protect the value of presentAMICA Subscriptions. From 1964-1999the original Bulletins had to be locatedand physically scanned in; a monumentalfeat. This time and effort - along with thatspent with the on-line Rollography andTechnicalities, has been generously donat-ed by member Terry Smythe of Winnipeg,Canada. Please appreciate what Terryhas/is doing - long, tedious and sometimesthankless work at the computer to locateand archive our printed material for thefuture and making it available on-line!
I backup my computer weekly, andkeep monthly backup disks at my work-place, insuring our recovery should disaster strike in any form. I also make abackup of all website files and mail a diskto the President who lives at the other endof the continent, for safe keeping. TheYAHOO folks also have built-in backupsthat I utilize. And their backups are geographically distributed. I mention allthis because I have what amounts to ourentire collective past in my hands, withTechnicalities, Rollography, Bulletins, andother documents soon to be absolutelycomplete and on-line. It would be a catastrophe if the files were somehowerased and gone forever. I won’t be hereforever and neither will you. But by constantly backing-up the data in differentforms and to different places, we caninsure its continued existence forever,with no threat of someone accidentallydeleting any one-of-a-kind file with noalternate recovery mechanism..
Another high-note: Our hosting company YAHOO has “done it again” by
offering an upgrade plan that allows us*unlimited* space and *unlimited* down-load capabilities for the same low pricewe’ve been paying. This will enable me tohost more media and other space/time-hungry features in the future. With thecraze for video, audio, and the demand foron-line account maintenance, it’s comingand we’re ready!
I have a request to anyone who canhelp in the following matter. I feel the on-line technical and instrument sections ofthe site haven’t grown much in the lastfew years. The materials in these sectionswere great for a start, but have notmatured into the professional presentationthat it could be. I’m asking if someonewould take a critical look at the “Instru-ments” and “FAQ” sections of our websiteand provide direction and materials tomake these pages worthy of an AMICApresentation to the world. Please contactme if you can help with guidance andmaterials. I’m in the Directory.
Karl Ellison Salem, MAAMICA Website Manager 2007-2008
CHAPTER REPORTS:MIDWEST CHAPTER – Although included in her report, Liz Barnhart wanted to emphasize next year’s conven-tion in Cincinnati, July 22-26, 2009.
PACIFIC CAN-AM CHAPTER - VicePresident is Bill Mote, and he will becomePresident effective Jan 1, 2009.
TEXAS CHAPTER – Janet Tonnesen isassuming the duties of Secretary inaddition to those of Treasurer.
Upon conclusion of the ChapterReport review, VP Tim Baxter thankedthose chapters for e-mail and snail noticesof chapter meetings. President JohnMotto-Ros also expressed his thanks forthe notices he received. Website ManagerKarl Ellison would also like to receivemeeting notices to post on thewww.amica.org events page.
Action: Chapters are requested to sendmeeting notices to the Vice President,President, and Website Manager; e-mail ispreferred.
BOSTON AREA CHAPTERPresident: Bob Hunt, Kennebunk, ME Vice President: John VanOpdorp,
Winchester, MASecretary-Treasurer: Dorothy Bromage,
Billerica, MAReporter: Don Brown, Bedford, MABoard Representative: Bob Hunt,
Kennebunk, ME
Test Roll Project
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Our chapter has experienced a realization of what many organizations arefacing today. The chapter consists mainlyof long time members who are not able tobe as active as they once were, andyounger members whose family and jobdemands leave little time for AMICA. It isa sad fact that today’s lifestyle does notleave the kind of time available that support of an organization like ours needs.In spite of this, the turnout at chaptermeetings has been rewarding.
In the past year the chapter has met at the home of Dick and Eileen DeVito in Weston, Massachusetts. They are relatively new members and were delight-ed to meet other people who would rathertalk about a Duo-Art than golf!
The chapter had the privilege of having Honorary Member Hi Babit asguest at a meeting hosted for David Levinat the Hebrew Rehab Center in Roslindale, MA. We should all have theenthusiasm for life, energy, and vitalitythat Hi Babit has (at 90?)! He sharedmany of his experiences in roll arranging.
A large turnout showed up for a chapter meeting at the home, restorationshop, and piano museum of Charlie Jackson. Charlie’s collection of unusualand definitive pianos (including a Masonand Hamlin model A with a HickmanAction) will eventually be housed in amagnificent post and beam barn, nowunder construction. The collectionincludes 130 instruments from the mid1800s to the present.
The ongoing chapter project of restoring an Aeolian foot pumper for theCharles River Museum of Industry inWaltham, MA is coming together. If allgoes according to plan, this will be readyto present to the Museum this Fall.
Several of the chapter members arenoted restorers who spend endless hoursrestoring instruments to the condition theywere in when they left the factory. Theseare unsung heroes because they haverolled back the clock, time and time againwith only token reward beyond the satisfaction of the end result.
The Chapter treasury stands at$1779.19 with 23 households representedso far this year.
CHICAGO AREA CHAPTERPresident: Jerry Biasella,
Chicago Heights, ILVice President: Richard VanMetre,
Park Ridge, ILSecretary: Carol Veome, Chicago, ILTreasurer: Joe Pekarek, East Dundee, IL
In 2007 it took a little time to recoverfrom the Chicago winter weather. We didnot have our first meeting until May.Hosts Doug and Pam McGee welcomed37 attendees in their new home in Sturgeon Bay, WI. They have a remark-able 7’ Mason and Hamlin Ampico “A”piano, several more pianos including aWashburn upright foot pumper piano, anda memorably neat workshop in the basement. A high point of the meetingwas the presence of Edith Ornstein, thedaughter of Ampico recording artist LeoOrnstein. Several of her father’s rollswere played. Mel Septon stepped down asChapter President and Richard Van Metrewas elected as the new Chapter Vice President. As many were stayingovernight for some Door County adven-tures on Sunday, Paul Woelbing hosted aSunday open house in the Milwaukeearea. He has an architecturally interestinghome, several Ampico and Duo-Artpianos, an amazing roll collection, a MillsViolino Virtuoso, and several antiquemotorcycles.
In September about 25 people attend-ed the meeting hosted by Margaret Bisberg and her husband Richard Van-Metre in Park Ridge, IL. They have amedium size collection of disk and cylinder musical boxes, a Steinway DuoArt piano, and a Victor Credenza phono-graph. At the conclusion of the businessportion of the meeting, per Richard’s suggestion, members shared a little information about themselves and howthey got involved with collecting musicalmemorabilia and instruments. It was adelightful afternoon.
We decided to again head out ofChicago and our November meeting washeld in Coloma, MI at the home of brothers Bennett and Barry Leedy andtheir mother. About 34 people attended.They have three grand pianos (Ampico,Duo-Art, Welte), a pumper piano, VictorIV phonograph, and a selection of toytrains, irons, lanterns and various otherfun items. In all of the rooms you are surrounded by lovely Depression glass,hand painted and decorative plates andvases and, of course, tons of piano rolls. Itwas noted also that their high fidelity system includes high end Carver speakers.Jerry Biasella accepted the nomination forthe position of President. Richard VanMetre, Joe Pekarek and Carol Veomeagreed to continue in their respective posi-tions as Vice President, Treasurer, andSecretary. Mel Septon advised that westill have for sale some favors from the2006 national convention. The Nipper
dog table favors sell for $20 and the“Windy City” piano rolls sell for $10.
In December about 70 people attended the holiday party/meeting hostedby Sherrie and Jim Krughoff in DownersGrove. Their son Dan Krughoff, also anAMICA member, took care of us at thebar and kept the driveways plowed soguests would not get stuck in the snowwhich continued falling all evening. TheKrughoffs have one of the premier collections of automatic musical instruments. Among the European pianoorchestrions are the Hupfeld Pan & HeliosII 25, Weber Maesto, and Popper Felix.There are also two Welte CottageOrchestrions, and Hupfeld Phonoliszt Violinas. Fair organs include fine instru-ments by Steenput, Ruth and Bruder aswell as a dance organ by Arburo and arobot dance organ by Decap. On theAmerican side are a Seeburg H, bow frontMills Violano, Wurlitzer Model B Harp,Encore Banjo, Ramey Banjo Orchestra,and two spectacular Mason & Hamlin art-case AMPICO reproducers. Also in thecollection are a number of fine musicboxes, a pair of Franz Oehrlein automataand a Monopol Gnome. All agreed thatthis was a spectacular evening. As a partyfavor the Krughoffs provided each mem-ber with a CD of an instrument in theircollection.
In our chapter we have 68 paid memberships which include 125 people.We average 30 to 35 people in attendance,but more people usually come to the holiday meetings. In addition to musicalantiques, our members collect all kinds ofinteresting items, i.e. stamps, clocks, bicycles and antique cars.
Respectfully submitted,Carol Veome - Chapter Secretary
FOUNDING CHAPTERPresident: John Ulrich, El Sobrante, CAVice President: Karen Simons,
San Francisco, CASecretary: Bob and Bonnie Gonzalez,
Corte Madera, CATreasurer: Richard Reutlinger,
San Francisco, CAReporter/Newsletter: Jack and Dianne
Edwards, San Jose, CABoard Representative: Richard Reutlinger
San Francisco, CA
We currently have 36 paid membersin the Founding Chapter. We have had agood year of meetings in several member’s homes. During last summer,Richard Reutlinger as instigator for theAdopt-a-Piano project, attended the
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dedication of the model WDX nickelodeon in the Music Hall at NevadaCity, Montana. He gave a short speechabout AMICA, its aims, and why it hadfunded the restoration of the machine.The dedication was also attended by JereDeBacker, Larry Emmons, Clara Wingfield, and Louise Lucerno of theRocky Mountain Chapter. Larry hadtransported the finished piano from ArtReblitz’s shop to the Nevada City MusicHall. Art Reblitz had done a masterfulrestoration of the instrument and itdelighted the crowd of people there tohear it. AMICA’S interest in this collec-tion has helped the Montana HeritageCommission to receive about $125,000towards total restoration of the collection.
Our total treasury is $4,366 at present.Respectfully submitted,Richard D. Reutlinger, Board Rep
HEART OF AMERICA CHAPTERPresident: Robbie Tubbs Raytown, MOVice President: Charles Tyler,
Kansas City, MOSecretary: Rick McDowell Liberty, MOTreasurer: Mike Schoeppner,
Kansas City, MOReporter: H. C. and Marlene Beckman,
Berryton, KSBoard Representative: Gary Craig,
St. Louis, MO
The Heart of America Chapter metthree times in 2007. Our winter meetingin December was postponed because ofsnow. We have 87 members at last count.We lost two members who died and fourformer members who became disgruntledwith the group and quit. The year waseventful in that our chapter and the Gateway chapter merged. There was nonet gain in members because the Gatewaymembers were also members of Heart ofAmerica.
We had three organ rallies in 2007.One was held in Grove, Oklahoma wherewe had 42 members and 20 organs, one atthe zoo in Kansas City where we had 23participants and 13 organs, and the third atthe Octoberfest in St. Charles, Missouriwhere we had 55 people and 22 organsand two accordions.
We have plans for at least four meetings in 2008. The first was held atBlaine Thomas’s museum in Manhattan,Kansas in March. This was our postponedChristmas meeting for 2007. The secondwas held in Eureka Springs, Arkansas inApril, and the third at Tom Hutchinson’shouse in Columbia, Missouri in June.
Our treasury balance as of December
31, 2007 was $6878. Submitted by Gary Craig, Board Repre-sentative
LADY LIBERTY CHAPTERPresident: Vincent Morgan,
Queens Village, NYVice President: Bill Maguire,
Greenlawn, NYSecretary: Richard Karlsson,
Staten Island, NYTreasurer: Maryam C. Morgan,
Queens Village, NYReporter: Buzz Rosa, Brentwood, NYBoard Representatives: Marvin and
Dianne Polan, Melville, NY
The Lady Liberty Chapter has 50 paidup families (75 members). One coupledecided not to renew only because theycan’t get around very well any longer. Asof this writing we are still waiting for sixpeople who usually pay late. During theyear we lost Norma Malek, the wife oflong-time (since 1974) member, IraMalek.
During 2007 the chapter sponsoredthe organ rally at the opening of ConeyIsland on April 1. We also held work-shops on several Saturdays in the shop ofthe then president, Bill Maguire wherepeople could bring their instruments andget help repairing them. The wife of alocal pastor was overjoyed to be able torestore her reed pump organ that was rescued from a dumpster.
Our meetings were:
August 25 at the home of Ray andJean Scheffy, who have a marvelous collection and working museum.
November 17 was a double header.We first went to the Morris Museumwhere we had a wonderful tour of theMurtogh Guiness collection. Then wewent to John Dousmanis’ home wherepeople pumped a Duo Art piano, an Aeolian Orchestrelle, model V, listened toa Kimball player organ and a juke box thatplays 45 rpm records.
Oh, yes, we had a wonderful dinner.Several new members were added at thismeeting.
Our end of the year meeting was inthe wonderful home of Paul Ciancia andDennis Westervelt in New Jersey, wherewe saw several very unusual instruments,one of which was a phonograph that useda violin as the speaker. We listened to theMills Violano, Hupfeld Violina and manyother instruments too numerous to mention here.
Even though our meetings were fewer
than normal, they were well attended. OnJanuray 5, 2008 we elected our currentofficers.
Respectfully submitted,Marvin and Dianne Polan, Board Representatives
MIDWEST CHAPTERPresident: Don Johnson,
Rochester Hills, MIVice President: Liz Barnhart,
Dayton, OHSecretary: Hilda Merchant,
Farmington Hills, MITreasurer: Alvin Wulfekuhl,
Cincinnati, OHReporter: Christy Counterman,
Tallmadge, OHBoard Rep: Liz Barnhart Dayton, OH
The Midwest Chapter has 67 members. Fourteen of our chapter mem-bers attended the AMICA Convention inGermany and Holland. Our summer ‘07meeting was held in Dayton- The WrightPlace To Be. We met at Liz and MikeBarnhart’s to hear their Weber Otero,Double Mills, Chickering Ampico, WeberDuo-Art, Pell Monkey Organ and ofcourse, “Treveris”, Mike’s band organ.We also enjoyed the Garden Railroad running in and out of the house. We thencarpooled to the National Museum of theAir Force where we had reserved seats onthe bus to tour the Presidential AircraftCollection. These planes were used byRoosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower andKennedy (Johnson was sworn in on thisone). After the tour we left to eat at theDayton German Fest and then on to anopen house at Bob Gasper’s. Bob is anew member and we enjoyed seeing hishome and piano. Sunday at the Businessmeeting we discussed our upcoming convention in Cincinnati on July 22-26,2009. Bob Andersen is Chairman of theConvention. Some went afterwards tovisit the Packard Museum in downtownDayton.
In November we met at BennetLeedy’s in Coloma, Michigan. We got tovisit too with brother Barry, a chaptermember who now works at YellowstoneNational Park. We listened to Bennet’sMason and Hamlin Ampico A, WeberDuo-Art, Kurtzman Welte Licensee, andHampton, an upright pumper. We alsoviewed Bennet’s restoration projects.This was a joint meeting with the ChicagoChapter so we saw lots of old friends.We all had dinner together at the FriendlyTavern. The Business meeting mainlyconcerned our Cincinnati Convention in2009.
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Our Spring Meeting will be heldMay 17-18 in the Cleveland area.
Submitted by Liz Barnhart, Board Representative
NORTHERN LIGHTS CHAPTERPresident: Paul R. Watkins,
Champlin, MNVice President: Ronald S. Olsen,
Robbinsdale, MNSecretary: Michael LuBrant,
Hastings, MNTreasurer: Barb Watkins, Champlin, MNBoard Representative: Alan Turner,
Winnipeg, ManitobaReporter: Jerrilynn Boehland,
Blaine, MN
At the beginning of each year wemail a yearly chapter schedule to allmembers and potential members for atotal of 50 households. We currentlyhave a paid membership of 25 which represents 25 households (or 40 people)From household dues of $15 and fromhosting the 2005 National Convention wehave maintained a $4000 plus treasurybalance. Each year we have four to fivemeetings or events planned for 1:00 pmon Sunday afternoons at the hostinghome or event site with a typical attendance of 12 to 25 members.
Our 2008 schedule started with aFebruary meeting at the EpiscopalChurch Home in St. Paul, MN where ourmember, Donald Bemis Jones, recentlytook residence. The occasion was to celebrate his gift to the home of a fine1917 Cable Euphona Inner Player 88note upright pumper piano and roll collection.
One Saturday in March our member-ship joined member Don Barton at theBarton Player Piano Co. to participate ina piano roll flea market and later in theafternoon an old time movie and organpresentation. The overall event wasestablished 8 years ago to raise moneyfor the restoration of the 1200 pipe 1925Wurlitzer Theater Organ installed byATOS members at the Historic HeightsTheater in Columbia Heights, MN.
In June we will visit the DumasApple Orchard Farm to enjoy their homeand the installation of a 12 Rank BartonTheater O-Roll Player pipe organ andtheir varied collection of mechanicalinstruments. Bob and Kathryn also havemany hobbies that range from carvingcarousel horses to restoring street cars tomaking stained glass art objects.
September brings our chapter to thebanks of White Bear Lake and the
residence of Tom Kuehn in Mahtomedi,MN. He has recently completed a twostory addition to accommodate some fifteen instruments. He collects American and European coin pianos,orchestrions and fair organs. For manyof us this will be a first look at his collection.
The year 2008 wraps up with atheme oriented December Christmasparty at the Michael LuBrant/Jeff Charlton household in Hastings, MN.This is an opportunity to revisit their1920’s Kimball residential organ that isfaithfully restored.
This is the first year in many that wewere successful in selecting meetingdates and establishing our chapter eventsin advance. It has been particularly beneficial regarding “meeting dates”because we have two other active musicgroups in our area. (Music Box Society& American Theater Organ Society)
We have adopted a notification system where we mail our yearly chapterevents to all current, past and potentialmembers and then follow up throughoutthe year via emails and phone calls. Wethink the advanced planning is going tobe an important aspect towards increasing attendance and providingpotential new members with a descriptiveagenda to help them evaluate our chapter’s activities and the type of eventswe participate in throughout the year.
For 2009, in addition to what wehave put into place in 2008, we are planning one or more early board meet-ings to discuss and format 2009’s activities. Submitted by Paul Watkins, Chapter Representative
PACIFIC CAN-AM CHAPTERPresident: Carl and Halie Dodrill,
Mercer Island, WAVice President: Carl and Halie Dodrill,
Mercer Island, WASecretary: VacantTreasurer: Mark Smithberg, Seattle, WAReporter: Peg Kehret, Wilkeson, WABoard Representative: Carl Dodrill,
Mercer Island, WAMembership
As of March 29, 2008, the PacificCan-Am Chapter membership consistedof 33 individuals who come from 25households. Although these figures varyfrom one year to the next, the number ofmembers who are actually involved inthe chapter has remained relatively
constant. Treasury
On March 29, 2008, we had$1,244.76 in our checking account,$2,195.30 in a certificate of deposit, anda savings account with a balance of$2,738.73, for a total of $6,178.79. Thechapter is sound fiscally, with relativelyfew expenditures and a small but steadyincome.
Chapter Activities
Each year we have four meetingswith 20 to 40 people typically in attendance. Our meetings occur on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Thisyear we are going to four new venues forthese quarterly meetings, none of whichhave ever been meeting sites previously.Members and visitors come to the hosting home at around 2 PM and there isapproximately two hours of visiting withother members while the instruments inthe home are viewed and played. Thisconsiderable period of time for interaction with other AMICAns hasproved to be one of the most valuablefeatures of our meetings, and peoplebecome well acquainted with others during this time. At approximately 4PM, we have our Business Meeting and ashow and tell time. At roughly 5 PM, weshare our potluck meal together. Thisschedule works very well for us. Peoplecome from considerable distances to themeetings, including from British Columbia.
Our chapter is involved in outreachefforts on several levels. Kurt Morrisoncontinues to ably represent AMICA at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle by playing the Knabe Ampico for manyevents each year, including for schoolchildren touring the theatre. Kurt alsohelps to keep the piano going in the large Wurlitzer pipe organ. Ron Babb, MarkSmithberg, and Kurt Morrison are all working on rebuilding a player piano for the Radio Museum in Belling-ham, Washington. Finally, Bill Mote is heading up a band organ rally which will occur August 15-17, 2008, in Leavenworth, Washington. ThisBavarian town is an excellent place forsuch an event, and we have good supportfrom the town itself for this activity. Thisrally is a major effort of our chapter atthe present time, and it is being organizedjointly with COAA and MBSI.
Exactly as was previously indicated,the greatest problem our chapter hasfaced is filling the officer positions.Some members are in declining health
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and do not feel that they can take onthese responsibilities. Others seem reluctant to respond generally, as is truein similar organizations. Nevertheless,we do have some new people coming toour meetings, and we do see officerpotential in several of these. We willattempt to groom these people towardspositions of responsibility with the objective of keeping our chapter a viableresource for the advancement and dissemination of automatic music.
Submitted by Carl Dodrill, Board Representative
ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHAPTERPresident: Jere DeBacker Denver, COVice President: Ken Hodge Parker, COSecretary: Louise Lucero Aurora, COTreasurer: Fred Wilson Golden, COReporter: Larry Emmons,
Ten Sleep, WYBoard Representative: Larry Emmons
Ten Sleep, WY
The Rocky Mountain Chapter had avery active year with a number of chaptermeetings and events. Two events were ofspecial interest to the chapter andrequired major commitments by theattendees. The first of these was in lateJune, 2007 and revolved around theAMICA ‘Adopt A Piano’ dedication in Virginia-Nevada City Montana. Members traveled from the Denver areafor the 450 mile trip to Ten Sleep,Wyoming for a chapter meeting, dinner,and evening of mechanical music at thehome of Larry and Judy Emmons. Thefollowing day, several car loads continued on through YellowstoneNational Park for the next 350 mile leg toVirginia City, MT. The dedication of theWurlitzer DX was part of the MontanaHeritage Commission’s ‘Old Fashioned4th of July Weekend and Celebration ofMechanical Music in Alder Gulch’. TheAMICA members in attendance weretreated royally by the Bovey Collectionstaff and local residents.
Many of the RM Chapter memberstook part in the “Adopt a Piano” projectby way of management, restoration,transportation, etc. The chapter donatedcash to the project as well. ReblitzRestorations and associates provided firstclass services at a discounted rate andtransportation of the restored DX to Montana was donated by members.The Wurlitzer DX sounds terrific! As a direct result of AMICA International’sefforts and Richard Rutinger’s persever-ance, additional major funds have beenmade available to restore more of
the Bovey Collection.
The second great ‘event’ was theChapter’s inaugural Band Organ Rallyheld on September 8, 2007 in Englewood, Colorado. We didn’t have alarge number of instruments to displaybut we did have a lot of enthusiasm onthe part of the participants! John andColleen Haass drove fromCasper,Wyoming with their Wurlitzer105 and Tom Zook’s built up Orchestrion. Ken Hodge brought twoStreet Organs and Jere DeBacker spentthe day performing a ‘one man pumpercontest’ for whoever happened to be listening. Ken Hodge did a great job oforganizing the rally. We all had such agreat time that it was decided on the spotto do it again in 2008. Not necessarily atthe same location, but do it for suresomewhere in the metro Denver region.We hope that more instruments can befeatured in 2008. It would be great tohave participation from non-chapterAMICA members as well.
Members braved a spring snowstormon March 24, 2007 to attend our chaptermeeting hosted by Louise Lucero and hermom, Clara Wingfield, in Aurora, CO.Our hosts provided a nice meal and thena business meeting was held. The currentagenda was discussed, our revised chapter bylaws were voted on andapproved, discussion on a possible futureorgan rally and other future happeningstook place. Following the business meet-ing Ken Hodge presented two videos:Bob Taylor’s “A Brief History of theAeolian Pipe Organ” and Huell Howser’sprogram on KCET about the 2002AMICA organ rally at Descanso Gardensnear Los Angeles. Later we relaxed withmusic from the 1911 Melville ClarkApollo 88 note player piano and the 1914Ellington by Baldwin. Dick Kroeckel’shand played ragtime rounded out themeeting.
Chapter VP Ken Hodge hosted ourNovember 3rd meeting at his home in Parker, CO. After lunch and the business meeting we were entertained byKen’s Verbeeck Street Organ, 1926Knabe Ampico A, and other instrumentsin his collection. Ken’s collection ofantique radios and 60 years of aerospacememorabilia added to the enjoyment ofthe afternoon.
The Chapter’s December 15 , 2007meeting and Christmas party was againhosted by Rosanne and Bill Harris at thefacility containing their large collectionof instruments. The American and
European Orchestrions got a good work-out as did the 80 and 102 key Mortiers.Judging by the numerous other largeinstruments lurking in the shadows we can expect more magnificent perfor-mances in the near future. President JereDeBacker conducted a short businessmeeting where all 2007 officers werenominated and agreed to serve for another year.
The RM Chapter is somewhat handi-capped by the huge area that it covers.Many members drive great distances andcommit several days to attend meetings.1000 mile round trips are not uncommon.Although we have 41 member house-holds, at a typical meeting averageattendance is somewhere around 15. In2007 we added 2 new members. TheRocky Mountain Chapter currently has$801.66 in its treasury.
Submitted by:Larry EmmonsChapter Reporter and Board Rep for2008
SIERRA NEVADA CHAPTERPresident: John Motto-Ro,
Sutter Creek, CAVice President: Doug and Vicki Mahr,
Orangevale, CASecretary: Sonja Lemon,
Sacramento, CATreasurer: Doug and Vicki Mahr,
Orangevale, CAReporter: Nadine Motto-Ros,
Sutter Creek, CABoard Representative: Chip Lusby,
Sutter Creek, CA
Our first (joint) meeting (with theFounding Chapter) of the year took placeat the home of Lyle Merithew and SandySwirsky on April 22nd. Along with theusual food, merriment, and instruments,we enjoyed their new acquisitions: a Celstina and Regina music box w/clockand changer.
Our second meeting, June 16th, wevisited the Musee Mecanique at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Fransisco andthe Founding Chapter was also invited.We were treated to one of the largest privately owned collections of orch-estrions, music boxes, arcade games andslot machines.
For our third meeting of the year,August 18th, we met at the home of Doug and Vickie Mahr. After a greattime eating and socializing, Dougdemonstrated the differences between theSeeburg models B and C.
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continued. . .
Our October 20th meeting was hosted by Rick and Tricia Simms. Fol-lowing a delicious baked ham dinner,attention turned to their 1909 Aeolianorgan with 1300 pipes, installed in a newaddition to their home.
The Christmas December 8th meeting at John and Nadine Motto-Ros’lovely home in Sutter Creek featured live music from Tom Brier and TheRaspberry Jam Band, which put us all inthe holiday spirit, including a visit fromSouthern California Chapter Vice President Leslie Hoffman. We collectedgifts for the County Sheriff’s toy drive,had an 88 note roll sale, and capped theevening with Tom Brier hand playingragtime on the Seeburg G; wotta treat!!Tom was joined by Julia Riley on flutefor some final favorites.
Financially solvent and maintaininggood membership, we look forward tomany terrific meetings in 2008.
Respectfully submitted,Arlo (Chip) Lusby II, Sierra NevadaBoard Representative
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAPTERPresident: Leslie Hoffman,
Mission Hills, CAVice President: Richard Ingram,
Monrovia, CASecretary: Shirley Nix,
Woodland Hills, CATreasurer: Lloyd Osmundson,
Santa Ana, CAReporter: Shirley Nix,
Woodland Hills, CABoard Representative: Frank Nix,
Woodland Hills, CA
Since last year’s report the SouthernCalifornia chapter has had a busy year,with five meetings and preparing for the2008 Convention here in July.
We have had meetings at the homesof Dana Bashor, Mike and Kathy Choate,Ken and Jenice Rosen, Sandy and SumiLechtick, and at the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round.
Many of us spent many hours at theNix home for “Work Parties” having todo with making table favors for theupcoming Convention. These partiesalways include lunch and many happyhours being creative.
We sponsored organ rallies at theSouth Coast Botanical Garden, Riley’sLos Rios, Sutter Creek and Sierra Madre.They are always a lot of fun, and havegained us new members in the past.
Our Chapter is alive and well, with
107 paid members, and our treasury issolvent.Submitted by Frank Nix, Board Representative
S.O.W.N.Y. CHAPTERPresident:Vice President: Mike Walter,
Lancaster, NYSecretary: Garry Lemon,
Niagara Falls Ontario, CanadaTreasurer: Holly Walter,Lancaster, NYReporter: Garry and Anne Lemon,
Niagara Falls Ontario, CanadaBoard Representative: Audrey Canniz-
zarro, Orchard Park, NYPhotographer: Nancy Group,
Fairview, PA and Anne Lemon
The S.O.W.N.Y. Chapter ofA.M.I.C.A. continues to be a vibrantchapter, even though membership hasdropped somewhat. We currently have 20members and have planned 5 meetingsfor the year 2008, with the possibility ofan out of town speaker coming in for aspecial AMICA awareness/membershipdrive program.
Financially, the S.O.W.N.Y. Chapteris in the black with a Certificate ofDeposit in the amount of $3,794.95 as of3/21/08 and a checking account balanceof $852.78.
Our main activity for the future is the 2010 AMICA Convention in Buffalo, NY. The program is comingtogether nicely and all members of theConvention Committee are excited aboutthe convention coming to town. We aresure that all attendees will have an exciting time that will be remembered foryears to come.Submitted by Mike Walter, Vice President
TEXAS CHAPTERPresident: Rich Clayton McKinney, TXVice President: Bill Boruff Dallas, TXSecretary: Maureen Barisonek,
Arlington, TXTreasurer: Janet Tonnesen,
Richardson, TXReporter: Maureen Barisonek,
Arlington, TXBoard Representatives: Suzanne and
John McCall Dallas, TX
The Texas Chapter has 59 paidhousehold memberships, representing 91individuals. Since last year’s report, wehave added 5 new household member-ships. We have $2,186.31 in a savings +checking account. This represents an
increase of $142.17 from last year. Fourtreasured members of this chapter diedthis year. They are: Dwayne Steck,Emma Gibson, Dale Gunnar, and ArtEltzroth.
The chapter had 4 meetings. InApril, our chapter and the Sunbelt MBSIconvened at the 200 acre estate of the lateArt Eltzroth and his widow, Dee, in Cleburne, Texas. This meeting was atribute to Art who had passed away a fewweeks prior. Dee encouraged her gueststo enjoy the beautiful grounds, thefamous pet monkey and a delicious Mexican buffet. A live band plus numer-ous machines played during the evening.The following day (Saturday), the annualCleburne Springfest celebration tookplace around the court house square.Larry Kern, El Paso, brought his StinsonCarousel Band Organ. Leonard and BillyRailsback brought their Stinson Dutchtype street organ from Kansas. Tom andKay Bode of Kansas City, MO. weregrinding their monkey organs. Walter,Jessie, and Charlie Moore from Dallas,took turns playing their Grand RollerOrgan.
In September, we met at the home ofour new chapter president, Rich Clayton.He invited members of the local chapterof the North Texas American TheatreOrgan Society to join us. Rick Matthewspresented a slide show on their chapter’srecent restoration of a Wurlitzer TheaterOrgan. At the close of the meeting, several of their members joined ourgroup and several of our members joinedtheirs.
In October, a number of our members joined the aforementionedgroup in McKinney to view a silentmovie, Phantom of the Opera, withaccompaniment by Rick Matthews at theWurlitzer Organ, which he helped torestore. The mutual interests of ourgroup with the American Theatre Societyappear to be an excellent vehicle forincreasing membership.
In November, our chapter joinedwith the Texas MBSI chapter and trekedto Eureka Springs, AR. The grouplodged at the historic Crescent Hotelowned and restored by Amica Members,Marty and Elise Roenigk. They hostedseveral meetings including an evening intheir unique penthouse atop the hotel.We also attended the Ozark MountainHoedown. Enroute home on Sunday,members were invited to view the extensive restored collection of musicboxes at the home of Kenneth and NancyPowers in Rogers, AR.
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In December, our Christmas Partywas held in the home of Bill Flynt.Members enjoyed a fine barbeque dinnerand a Chinese gift exchange. The musical program featured soloist JeannieClark Fisher, a member of the acclaimedDallas Opera Chorus. She was accompa-nied by Bill Flynt on the 1931 9 footKnabe concert grand from MetropolitanOpera House NYC with an Ampico APlayer installed by him in 1980. He alsoplayed his 1923 Tangley Circus Calliopewhich he plays in parades, (6 this year).
The Texas Chapter had a fine yearand look forward to great times ahead.Submitted by Suzanne and John McCall,Board Representatives
4. Old Business:A. Membership Concerns: See New
BusinessB. Test Roll Project-Mike Walter:
Most of this was covered in item 3.Mabove. We have a new Welte test roll, anAmpico B note compensation test roll,and a Recordo test roll. Price is $10 perroll, plus shipping. Bob Billings in Renois punching these rolls. This is a profit-making project for AMICA. If anyonehas other test rolls, we would like tomake those available. John Motto-Rosmentioned that he has both a “G” and an“A” nickelodeon test roll which could bemade available if there is an interest.There has also been mention of AMICAbecoming a test roll repository.
5. New Business:A. Membership Concerns, Dues
Increase for 2009 and Budget Review:President John Motto-Ros opened
this item with a note from our Inter-national Treasurer indicating that we willbe in the red next year based on our current membership income versus current expenses. Dues are not support-ing the bills.
On the positive side, in 2007 we provided members with two CD’s: TheBillings Rollography and AMICATechnicalities. We also have literatureavailable on line. New members cannow join AMICA on line and pay withPayPal. Current members can also paydues via PayPal.
After an extensive review of possiblecost cuts, Membership Secretary BillChapman made a motion to increaseannual dues to $55 effective Jan 1, 2009,with advance notices in The Bulletininforming members of the dues increase.This was seconded by VP Tim Baxterand approved by the Board.
B. New Membership Directory: Anew Membership Directory will beissued in the summer of 2009. This ispart of the reason for a dues increase. Inorder to save costs, it was proposed thatthe Membership Directory be substitutedfor one issue of The Bulletin (probablyJul/Aug issue). The subsequent Bulletinwould then cover a four-month period(Jul/Aug and Sep/Oct) and be dated assuch.
C. Provide Internet Service forAMICA Website Manager (not to exceed$600 per year): VP Tim Baxter made amotion to accept, Mike Walter seconded,and the Board approved.
D. Create New Position of Advert-ising Manager to Obtain Advertising forThe Bulletin and Membership Directory.It was agreed that we would put an ad inThe Bulletin for this position and offerthe option of negotiating with the Boardfor a commission (a set percentage) forad space sold.Action: John Motto-Ros
E. Mechanical Music Jeopardy-KarlEllison: As a warm-up prior to futurePumper Contests, Karl came up with aninteresting, educational, and fun AMICAJeopardy game with teams. The Boardrecommended this be considered as anoption for future conventions.
F. Nominations for Honor Roll:Dave Ramey: I would like to nominateDave Ramey, Sr. for the AMICA HonorRoll. Dave was a pioneer in the repair ofautomatic musical instruments goingback 50+ years. He had the skills andacquired knowledge early on to repairand restore automatic coin-op pianos andorchestrions, both American and foreignmade. If not for Dave, many instrumentswould be silent. He was not selfish withhis knowledge; many worked with Daveand went on to become successful intheir own business. A couple of thosenames are Art Reblitz, Jerry Biasella, andJohn Hovancak. Anyone could call Dave,and he would take time to explain how torepair that valve or cover that pump.Without a doubt, Dave Ramey, Sr. will beremembered as many collectors haveinstruments that look and play better nowthan when they were new. Dave passedaway in 2006.
John Motto-RosSierra-Nevada Chapter
Ray Siou: The Founding Chapter ofAMICA would like to nominate Ray Sioufor the AMICA Honor Roll at the comingBoard Meeting in Los Angeles. In the1960’s when paper roll pianos and nick-
elodeons were attracting attention, Ray’sinterest was Nickelodeons and more.Music was scarce for these machines aswell as for the Duo Art system Ray borrowed rolls from many collectors andhad copies made via “Play Rite” for thevarious “A” to “G” formats as well as animpressive amount of Duo Art rolls. Hewas providing music for the machines as needed. Ray retired from the roll business about 20+ years ago but to thisday, you can visit collections all aroundthe world and find his box labels, “Siou’sMusic”. He definitely deserves a place inhistory for his music roll service. If notfor Ray’s early efforts we would not havethe extensive choice of music he provided. Thank you for the inclusion ofthis item in the agenda for the Board.
Richard Reutlinger, Board RepresentativeThe Founding Chapter
William E. Flynt: The Texas Chapter ofAMICA nominates Dr. William E. Flyntof Dallas, Texas to the AMICA HonorRoll for his contributions to mechanicalmusic by arranging and coding Ampicoand Duo Art expression on numerouspiano rolls. Attached is a list of morethan 50 rolls that Bill either coded orarranged (a few were “hand played”).These rolls were produced by variouspiano roll manufacturers - AMR, QRS,Larry Givens, Klavier and Play-Rite inthe 1970s.
Among the rolls that Bill is most proud of are Warsaw Concerto(Addinsell) and Rhapsody on a Theme ofPaganini (Rachmaninoff), Variations on a Theme of Chopsticks (Robert Armbruster) and African Echoes “JungleEchoes” (Ferrante & Teicher).
Robert Armbruster had composedand arranged Variations on a Theme ofChopsticks a concerto-like compositionwith orchestral accompaniment, organized in “theme-and-variations”fashion around 1950 for a radio broad-cast. Robert Armbruster approached Billat the 1979 AMICA convention, lookingfor a pianist to play the reduced orches-tral score on a second piano – to be performed at the 1980 convention inPasadena. In preparation for this event,Armbruster sent a copy of the score toBill, who at the time was very muchinvolved in arranging Ampico pianorolls. Bill decided it would be fun toarrange a roll and have it produced andavailable for sale at the convention. Afterthe Armbruster/Flynt performance on twonested 9-foot grands at the banquet, our
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AMICA audience exploded with enthusi-astic appreciation and the rolls werequickly sold out.
The African Echoes “JungleEchoes” roll was debuted in 1973 at theAMICA convention in Fort Worth. It is aspecially arranged roll that is played on apiano that has had some of the stringsmuted – then while the roll plays some-one plucks the various strings at theappropriate times to simulate the soundof African drums.
One of the first rolls Bill created wasa tune called That’s All, a long-timefavorite of his. Warsaw Concerto wasdone at the request of Harold Powell whowas producing rolls at that time. JohnMalone cut the roll and that’s how Billgot acquainted with John and Play-Rite,for whom he developed their electronicsystem to drive their perforators.
Some rolls were drafting board cre-ations, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini(Rachmaninoff), Slaughter on 10thAvenue (Rodgers), That’s All, and GoAway Little Girl for instance. And, someof the rolls started out as QRS hand-played rolls, such as the Liberace tunes,but most were hand-cut arrangementsdone by Bill.
A few rolls were actually hand-played by Bill on a recording apparatusthat he developed in 1973 and demonstrated at the AMICA conventionin Fort Worth. The Entertainer was hand-played by Bill about 1974. Later, FrankAdams produced many of Bill’s codedrolls.
Bill was one of the members whoformed the Texas Chapter of AMICA, thefirst chapter of AMICA outside of thestate of California, on April 18, 1971.Bill has contributed technical articles tothe BULLETIN and was involved withAMICA for many years. He has helpedmany AMICA members and non-members find reproducing pianos andother mechanical musical instruments.He still watches for and provides information about automatic musicalinstruments and piano rolls for sale in thearea so the information can be sent out toChapter members so they find a goodhome.
Since retiring, Bill is very busy, happily arranging music for local community bands, arranging music forand performing with his “Blue DiamondTrio” and three vocalists that sing in the“Andrew Sisters” style, playing the pipeorgan that he built and installed at his
church and participating in local paradesand festivals by playing his Tangly calliope mounted on a trailer.
The rolls Bill created in the 70’s continue to be favorites of all who havethem and his rolls are vigorously soughtby roll collectors. The Texas Chaptermembers believe Dr. William E. Flyntmost definitely deserves to be among themembers of the AMICA Hall of Fame,and we ask the Board to give serious consideration to this nomination.
Respectfully submitted,John & Suzanne McCallTexas Chapter Board Representatives
The Board approved these three nom-inations.Action: Mike Walter, Honorary Mem-bers Chair, to have certificates made andmailed to recipients.
6. Ampico Catalog: In 1977 Elaine Obenchain put
together “The Complete Catalog of Ampico Reproducing Piano Rolls”.She has about 15 more copies in her possession. Thaddeus Kochanny hasbeen in touch with her and she has givenAMICA permission to reprint this information in digital format—withenlarged type. Terry Smythe has agreedto scan with the assistance of ThaddeusKochanny and Brian Benson. Nothingshall be relapsed until Elaine has soldher 15 remaining copies. Mike Walterpointed out that there are some itemsmissing from the catalog. Anyone awareof these should send them to TerrySmythe and they could be included as anaddendum.
7. Howe Collection Information Item:The Howe collection Task Force,
chaired by Terry Smythe, will work withthe University of Maryland to securepublic access to the collection. Work willcontinue on this project. Terry will beassisted by Mike Walter, Mike Kukral,Tim Baxter, Karl Ellison, Joe Orens,Thaddeus Kochanny, and Dick Howe.
Access to this information is currently available at the University ofMaryland, but copies are $5 per sheet.Our goal is to eventually scan this material to make it available to thoseinterested. It was also suggested that wego for a grant to help get some of thismaterial scanned. In addition, there maybe some material that Dick Howe distributed to individuals, which wouldbe worthwhile to have scanned.
8 Heart of America/Gateway ChapterMerger Information ItemMerger completed. This went smoothlyas many members were members of bothchapters.
9. Other New Business:A. It was proposed the six Bulletins
per year revert to the previous method ofdating each issue: Jan/Feb, Mar/Apr,May/Jun, Jul/Aug, Sep/Oct, Nov/Dec. Amotion was made to accept, secondedand passed.
Action: Mike Kukral for Bulletin datesstarting Jan/Feb 2009.
B. There is a conflict in the AMICABy-Laws regarding the Executive Committee.
A portion of ARTICLE IV, OFFICERS AND THE BOARD OFDIRECTORS, Section 2, states: TheBoard may elect from its membership anExecutive Committee composed of thePresident, Vice-President, and three othermembers. This Committee may beauthorized to act for the Board in specificmatters, but all actions of the committeemust be reported promptly to the fullBoard and entered into their official minutes.
Article V, COMMITTEES, Section2, states: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.The Executive Committee of the BoardDirectors shall include the President,Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer andthe immediate Past President. This committee shall have the power to act onbehalf of the Board of Directors when soauthorized by them, or in cases whereimmediate action is required and it wouldbe impossible or impractical to call a fullmeeting of the Board. All such actionsshall be promptly reported to the Boardand a full record of them included in theminutes of Board actions. AMICAstationery will be provided to all Executive Committee members.
The Board recommends deletion ofthe portion of ARTICLE IV, Section 2,pertaining to the Executive Committeeand recommends retaining ARTICLE V,Section 2.
This By-Law change will be voted on atthe 2009 Annual Membership Meeting.
C. Membership Revisited: BillChapman again mentioned membershiploss and requested all members make aneffort to get those membership applications to various locations—it doesnot have to be a store with a piano.REMEMBER: Each chapter is a
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recruiting station! Be sure to send KarlEllison musical clips for U-Tube. KarlEllison agreed to work up a brief AMICA“boiler plate” article with initial distribution to high schools in his area. Itwas also suggested to get membershipapplications out to piano technicians andto invite piano teachers, perhaps with students, to meetings.
D. For future conventions, when anofficer or key board member is not inattendance, advance arrangements shouldbe made for a conference call or call in ata designated time at the Board Meeting.
10. Adjournment:There being no further business, themeeting was adjourned.
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGJuly 6, 2008
Submitted by Nadine Motto-Ros
The meeting was opened by President John Motto-Ros with a welcome to all members and a thank youto the Southern California Chapter forhosting the convention.
Officer, Committee and ChapterReports were not read as they will bepublished in The Bulletin.
New Business:
The Board approved a dues increaseto $55, effective Jan 1, 2009. This isrequired as we need to publish a newMembership Directory in 2009, maintainthe quality of The Bulletin, and increasedpostage.
The Board approved three newmembers to the AMICA Honor Roll: BillFlynt-nominated by the Texas Chapter,Ray Siou-nominated by the FoundingChapter, and Dave Ramey, Sr.-nominated
by the Sierra-Nevada Chapter. The complete recommendations for thesethree individuals are included in theBoard Meeting Minutes.
The Board recommends a By-Lawchange regarding composition of theExecutive Committee, as there is a conflict between ARTICLE IV, Section 2,and ARTICLE V, Section 2, of the By-Laws. The Board recommends removalof the ARTICLE IV, Section 2, portionrelating to the Executive Committee andthe utilization of ARTICLE V, Section 2.This will be posted in The Bulletin andvoted on by the membership at nextyear’s Annual Meeting.
There was a presentation for nextyear ’s convention July 22-26 in Cincinnati, Ohio. It looks like a greatevent, and we hope everyone will attend.The AMICA Banner was passed from theSouthern California Chapter to the Midwest Chapter.
continued. . .
CONVENTION PHOTOS
Diane Lloyd at Registration Table
Display of AMICA Table Favors by Roy Beltz The Bulletin Board
Registration
288
Tim Trager, Richard Reutlinger, John Motto-Ros & Paul Watkins
The Harley Davidson Piano
Honorary Hi Babit, age 91
Halie Dodrill at the Harley, Carl Dodrill & Mark Smithburg looking on
Andrew Barrettplaying ragtime on
the “Big” piano
Barbara &Ron
Hartwellwith theAMICA
membershipapplications
George Fleming &Terry Smythe
hospitality room
289
Julian Dyer &Dave Saul
Roger Stumfoll& Ron Kilfoil
Randy Cox with the Harley Davidson Piano
Jim Krughoff &Dave Reidy
George Wilder, Jo Crawford, Bob Gonzalez
Holly & MikeWalter
Richard Ingram examines the piano
hospitality room
290
The lovely ladies in period clothes
George Coade, Tim Trager, John Motto-Ros Terry Smythe, Marty Persky and Joe Orens
Edward and Nancy Group
Dianne Reidy& Betty Toth,the “BusGeneral”
hospitality room
291
Ron Hartwell,last year’s
winner
Julian Dyer
Mary Hayden
Joyce Brite
Dave Reidy introducing the Pumper Contest
Andrew BarrettMaarten Van Der Vlugt
The Pumper Contest
292
Our winner, Roger Stumfoll
Terry Smythe prepares for his role in theLarry Norman Extravaganza
Karl Ellison announces the winner of “Footsie”
Larry Norman
Roger Stumfoll
Basketball will never be the same. Joe Orens and Terry Smythe play, Shirley Nix referees (?) and Miriam
Hanscom and Jody Trittipo are the cheerleaders. (Larry Norman at the piano)
Larry Norman
The Pumper Contest
293
Silent Film Obedient Operator
Movie Titleand Movie
Joe’sassistantgettingthingsready
Joe Rinaudo andassistant at thesilent movie show
Joe Rinaudo who presented silentmovies run on an original,
hand-cranked projector
Lots of interest in the projector at break time
Joe Rinaudo’s Silent Movie Night
294
One of the many Banister pianos
Banister’s MusicRoom
The BanisterOrgan
Orchestrelle
Bill Blair with his prototype electronics for the final table favor inhis other hand
The Banister Roll Room
Collection Tours & Open Houses
BBiillll BBllaaiirr OOppeenn HHoouussee
TTeerrrryy && RReeeessee BBaanniisstteerr OOppeenn HHoouussee
295
Ralph SchackexplainingWelte Style 3cottageOrchestrion
Shirley Nix
Early WelteStyle 3 Cot-
tageorchestrion
barrel to rollconversion
Robin Biggins & friend greeting guests at the Schack residence
RRaallpphh && GGlloorriiaa SScchhaacckk OOppeenn HHoouussee
FFrraannkk && SShhiirrlleeyy NNiixx OOppeenn HHoouussee
Schack Familypicture
Lloyd Osmundson with the Nix’s Limonaire Organ
296
KT with clown band on top
Ruth Organ
Frank Nix
Mike Argain, John Pohlpeter, and Frank Nix
FFrraannkk && SShhiirrlleeyy NNiixx OOppeenn HHoouussee
The Official Greeters at the Nix Residence or the“Educated Monkeys” Frank said helped with the
Table Favors
Hi Babit and sister Rosalyn Breines with newAMICA “Friends”
Hi Babit gives an impromptu concert on the Nix Steinway
297
Lloyd Osmundson Mike Argain demonstrating the Nix Styria,which he once owned
Alan Turner checking out the Nix orange tree
FFrraannkk && SShhiirrlleeyy NNiixx OOppeenn HHoouussee
Mike Argain’s car – note the license plate
Michael Woolf enjoys the Steinway
JJaacckk CCoonnwwaayy OOppeenn HHoouussee DDaannaa BBaasshhoorr OOppeenn HHoouussee
Dana Bashor’s Home
298
Another of Dana’s Automata
Many musicalAutomata
clocks
Lunch at Dana Bashor’s
Ron Kilfoil, Dana Bashor at Dana’s home
DDaannaa BBaasshhoorr OOppeenn HHoouussee
An Automaton
Dana demonstrates a rare Automaton
299
The Reidy’s Wurlitzer
W.C.Fields at
the Reidy’s– you neverknow whowill showup at anAMICA
Convention
Hollywood Hallway
Dave & Dianne Reidy’s Music Room
DDaavvee && DDiiaannee RReeiiddyy OOppeenn HHoouussee
Dave & Dianne Reidy
(L-R) Guest, Guest, Roger Stumfoll, Alan Turner, Darla Hood,Calvin Soest, David Reidy
(L-R) David Reidy, Dianne Reidy, Roger Stumfoll, (Madame HendrenPhonograph doll), “Mr. Packard” 1930’s wooden mannequin, guest, guest,
Alan Turner, Sam the Mechanical Man at the Coinola CO
300
Frank Nix taken by surprise in frontof the Doring’s Imhop-“Tribute”
Ursula Metter-Switzerland,
showing contentwith Bruder EliteApollo CarvuriehOrgan in back-
ground
(L-R) Karl Klaus, Alois Wieschwaylen, Virginia Doring,Maarten VanDerVlugt – background 64-Key Van Der
KeKen Fairground Organ, intent listening
Jerry & his clown band
JJeerrrryy && VViirrggiinniiaa DDoorriinngg OOppeenn HHoouussee
Alois Wieschwaylen-Netherlands, MaartenVan Der Vlugt at the Doring’s
Philipps Violine playing; Renee Vanassee at the piano, Doring daughter, Jerry Doring
Left-Kurt & Ursula Metter- Switzerland, right- Alois Wieschwaylen-Netherlands
301
Maarten Van Der Vlugt-Nether-lands, Music roll arranger &
roll maker
The Ames DeCap Dance Organ
Ames Tour
Karl Klaus-Switzerland, enjoying themusic machine at the Doring’s
JJeerrrryy && VViirrggiinniiaa DDoorriinngg OOppeenn HHoouussee
Mike Ames
Fredy Kunzle- Switzerland - showing off the Hupfeld Helios and Weber Otero at the Doring’s
Mike Ames and Alois Schwagten with Mike’s 84-key Mortier
MMiikkee && MMaarriillyynn AAmmeess OOppeenn HHoouussee
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Fred & Deanna Roth show Mike Walter one of theirjukeboxes
Fred Roth
Fred Roth and his Berni Fairground Organ
DDeeaannnnaa && FFrreedd RRootthh OOppeenn HHoouussee
A very small part of the Roth American Sports Car Collection
A very rarephonograph
Deanna Roth
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Nethercutt Museum
The Nethercutt pipe room
Doll Collection-San Sylmar
The Nethercutt Car Museum A view of the cars from the balcony
One of the magnificent Nethercutt cars
304
Ronald Reagan Library
Air Force OneAir Force One with lunch area beneath
Entrance Entrance to Ronald Reagan Library
John McCall & George Fleming in the dining area of the Ronald Reagan Library
The Los Angeles Police Band playing in the Reagan Library courtyard
305
Joe Orens
Ronald Reagan Library
Hollywood Bowl
The walk into the Hollywood Bowl – a favorite picnic site
The Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra Concert
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Hollywood Bowl
Vincent and Maryam Morgan
Fireworks
Some of our group at the Bowl
Fireworks
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Workshops
Josh Rapier at his workshop
Bill Klinger
(L-R) Don Barr, Carl Dodrill, Bill Blair, Michael Woolf, Jack Conway
Don Barr at his workshop
David Saul at his workshop
Stephen Kent Goodman at his workshop
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The Mart
Richard Ingram
Tim Trager’s Mart Area
Ron Hartwell & Hi Babit
Joyce Brite & Bobbie Rhodes
Bill Blair
Alan Turner buying from Andrew Barrett
Diane & Bob Lloyd
Josh & Tawnya Rapier &customer Jack Conway
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The Mart
Don Barr keeps John Motto-Ros company at John’s Mart Table
Ann Saul
Shirley Nix with last year’s table favors for sale
Frank Nix has an accordion for saleMaarten Van Der Vlugt and Alois Schwagten
Mike and Holly Walter
An X-rated purchase
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Miscellaneous Shots
Kathy & Ray Fairfield all decked out for the 4th of July
Holly & Mike Walter & Lydia Ann, Carl, & Halie Dodrill
Larry Norman – what the well-dressedAMICAN will wear
On the bus and ready to go!
Carl Miller, Bob Tempest, Karl Ellison, Richard Reutlinger
Richard Ingram, Jerry Pell, Denis McMenamyChuck Cones
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Banquet
(L-R) Bob Gonzalez, Julian Dyer, Karl Ellison, Hi Babit, Roger Stumfoll, Joyce Brite, Bonnie Gonzalez, Alan Rustad
(L-R) Richard Ingram, Larry Norman, Alan Rustad, Rosalyn Breines, Hi Babit, Julian Dyer
(L-R) Hi Babit at the AB Chase Artistano piano, Rosalyn Breines,Roger Stumfoll, Michael Woolf, Rich Clayton
The Titanic Jazz Band
(L-R) Christy Counterman, Dee or Gail Clarke, ??, Dee or GailClarke, Ardis Prescott, Barbara & John Washburn, Robin Biggins,
Liz Barnhart, Charlene Torer
(L-R) Nadine & John Motto-Ros, Bonnie & Bob Gonzalez, Bruce Grimes, Tockhwock Kaiser, Bill Chapman, Ron Kilfoil,
Alan Lightcap, Paul Ciancia
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Banquet
(L-R) Diane & Bob Lloyd, Marty Persky, Dana Bashor, Jim & Sherrie Krughoff, Steve Oliphant, Rochelle & Herb Mercer
(L-R) George Fleming, Tim Wheat, Jerrilynn Boehland, Paul &Barb Watkins, Ruth Fell, Christe & Mark Kraabel
(L-R) Willard & Sharon Wills, Nan Allomong, Shirley & Frank Nix,David & Dianne Reidy, Elaine Pease, John Ulrich (President San
Francisco Chapter)
(L-R) Mike Constantini, ??, Terry Smythe, Joe Oren, ??, John Pohlpeter, Mary Hayden, Jim Katz, ??
Kathy & Ray Fairfield(L-R) Alois Schwagten, Maarten Van Der Vlugt, George & SusieCoade, Hi Babit, Rosalyn Breines, Vincent & Maryam Morgan, ??
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Banquet
Charlene Torer & Rochelle Mercer Liz Barnhart & Charlene Torer
Ardis Prescott, Barbara & John Washburn Nan Allomong, Lowell Boehland & Shirley Nix
Bill Klinger & Jim KrughoffAline & John Kadlec
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Banquet
Suzanne & John McCall This was supposed to be those in period clothes, but a few modern-day-types snuck in.
Frank Nix, Nan Allomong, Sharon & William Wills demonstrating the Wurlitzer 105 table favor.
The table favor-a Wurlitzer 105 playing “CaliforniaHere I Come,” recorded from an actual 105.
John Motto-Ros presenting award to Frank NixVincent Morgan receives his award from John Motto-Ros
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Banquet
John Motto-Ros presenting Terry Smythe the Literary Award Bill & Nora Klinger
John Pohlpeter, Mary Hayden Mike Walter, Edward Group, Michael Woolf, Nancy Group
Anne and David Saul, David & Dianne Reidy, Alvin Wulfekuhl & Dr. Shirley Ekvall
Tamar & William Earnest
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Banquet
Dan Comin’s “Titanic Jazz Band” withRobbie Rhodes as pianist & Editor ofMechanical Music Digest. Dancing to
the music are Dee Gail Clarke &Roger Stumfoll, Anne & David Saul,
David & Dianne Reidy, Dee Clarke & Larry Norman
Betty Toth Christie Counterman
Bill & Dee KavourasHerb Mercer
Geroge Karpel
Robbie Rhodes
Dressed in their 1920’s style outfits, Liz Barnhart & MiriamHanscom arrive at the banquet.
317
Passing of the Banner
The Banner is passed-out with the old, in with the new
The Convention Committee for next year in Cincinnati See you there in 2009!
The Cincinnati Presentation
SAVE THE DATE!
AMICA CONVENTION 2009
Cincinnati, Ohio
July 22 - July 26
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Liz Barnhart’s WorkshopThe annual Ladies Crossstitch
Workshop was held at the same time asthe other workshops. Our crossstitch thisyear was my replica of the conventionlogo which had been designed by ShirleyNix. Anyone who wished to, could buythe kit for $1. The kit contained the fabric,floss, needle and pattern. As usual, thewomen (and occasionally men) couldcome and go during our time if they wanted to attend another workshop or theycould just sit and talk with us withoutdoing the crossstitch. The main purpose ofthis Amica workshop, which was startedin 1985, has always been to get thewomen acquainted with each other so theywill want to come back to the next convention.
Building A Small MonkeyOrganWorkshop Presentation by Bill Klinger
There are five basic components thatmake up a small organ. First is the musiccomponent. Small organs are being madeto play music rolls, music memory
cartridges and MIDI files. In a roll playingorgan, the music transport moves the roll,provides a way to rewind the roll and is anextension of the hand crank which supplies motion to the air supply.
The second major component is theair supply. In most of the small organs, thehand crank operates one or more feederbellows that pressurize air for the organ.In addition to the bellows, there is an airreservoir with springs and a relief valve tokeep the pressure steady.
Third, in many organs, there is a chest with valves that react to the musiccomponent to let air into the pipes. Thevalves are either pushed open externallyor pulled open by an internal pneumatic.There are two smaller organ designs thathave no chest or actions. The roll is underpressure and when the holes open, thepressurized air flows directly to the pipes.Many of the MIDI or memory cartridgeorgans utilize a small battery and directelectric solenoids to open a valve lettingthe pipe play.
The fourth components are the soundproducing components. Mainly thought ofas organ pipes, there are organs that usebrass reeds. The pipes fall into three maincategories. The most common of these arewood flutes which can be open or stopped
pipes. The other voices are strings andreeds. The string tone is developed bysmaller scale pipes being held to pitchwith a brass or wood frein. Reed pipes aremost commonly Trumpets or Clarinets.Reed pipes produce their sound with avibrating brass reed inside the pipe. Inaddition to pipes and reeds, many organscontain some percussion. Drums, cymbals, triangles, wood blocks and castanets are considered traps. Tuned bellsand xylophone bars provide an additionalmusic line.
Fifth, is the case. The function of thecase is to provide support to all the components in addition to having some-thing nice to look at. The case helps todirect the sound from the music producingparts to the listener. Cases are available insimply painted wood on up to very fancyveneered and finished wood.
A Power Point presentation with photos of the various components was followed with photos and discussion ofmaking wooden pipes and other parts ofthe organ. The parts were displayed in thefront of the room for the attendees toexamine. In addition to all the parts,examples of various pipes were availableto view. Time did not allow the assemblyof the completed organ.
C ONVENTION WORKSHOPS
VISIT THE
AMICA WEB PAGE
at
wwwwww..aammiiccaa..oorrgg
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By Stephen Kent Goodman
N EW ROLL COMPANY
FORMED
To those ofyou whoknow meas a restor-er, I musttell youthat whatgot meinvolved inthese won-derful self-p l a y i n g
instrumentsis the music
they make- particularly, the music of theearly 20th century.
I had penned quite a number of original marches by the time I was 15; thepress on both coasts hailed me as “theteenaged John Philip Sousa”; “World’sYoungest Composer/Conductor of Marches” and “Teenaged Rebel AgainstRock Music”, et al.
I grew disenchanted with human per-formers; the young ones didn’t respect aconductor their own age, and the olderprofessionals seemed to resent me. Only ahandful of musicians (such as the veryfew still alive who actually played withthe Sousa Band or with Henry Fillmoreand Karl L. King) appreciated my presence on the podium and the music Iwas composing. So when I heard my first
orchestrion (automaticorchestra) perform at age17, a life-long love affairwith automatic musicbegan. From the veryfirst coin dropped into itsslot, I wanted to get myown compositions andarrangements onto paperrolls which performedthis mechanical assem-blage of real, acousticinstruments. The soundwas real- not a reproduction recreated byelectronic speakers. I was hooked.
This was the impetus to form Gnaw-Vol-ty Music Rolls- “arrangementsuntouched by human hands”, as I do notplay the piano (well, I joke that I doindeed play the piano one of three ways; acoin dropped in its slot, the flip of aswitch, or by my feet when I pump an 88-note player). My arrangements arecreated by mouse (hence the name); thecomputer mouse and a notation program.None of the rolls are available in anyquantity; so if you would like to add theselimited-edition collectibles to your library,a word to the wise is “don’t put off ordering them”. I have too many titles,both original and arrangements of periodworks, to keep any one “in stock”.
Speaking of “period” works, I plan on
doing orchestrion and coin-piano rollswhich feature rare selections that are seldom or never found on perforatedpaper! And they sound as though theywere arranged by the original arrangersfrom the 1910-1920 period.
Be sure to visit my web sitehttp://Gnaw-Vol-ty.com for all the currentlistings; or e-mail me at: [email protected]. I’ve started with my own numbers arranged for the 88-note player;but should also sound terrific on any 88-note roll photoplayer or piano/pipeorgan combination.
Oh, one last thing; to my restorationclients, yes indeed, my “day job” continues to be turning out quality restora-tion to serve your needs as collectors andmuseums all over the world!
Stephen Kent Goodman
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Rob Deland: Blues Tone Rollswww.bluesrolls.com
[email protected]: (847) 548-6416
Bob & Ginny Billings: Rock Soup14010 Rim Rock Drive, Reno, NV 89521
[email protected]: (775) 853-4659
Leedy Brothers Music Rolls4660 Hagar Shore Road, Coloma, MI 49038
www.leedyrolls.comPhone: (269) 468-5986
Fax: (269) 468-0019
Larry Norman: Rollertuneswww.home.earthlink.net/~rollertunes
[email protected]: (540) 721-7188
Don Teach: Shreveport Music Co.1815 E. 70th Street, Shreveport, LA 71105
[email protected]: (318) 798-6000
Fax: (318) 797-4572
Robin Pratt: Artist’s Choice Music [email protected]
Phone: (419) 626-1903516 Pierce Street, Sandusky, OH 44870-4725
Steve Bentley: Playrite Music Rolls1536 N. Palm St., Turlock, CA 95380 U.S.A.
Phone/Voice: (209) 632-5784Fax: (209) 667-8241
QRS Music Technologies, Inc.1026 Niagara Street, Buffalo, NY 14213
Phone: 1-800-247-6557Fax: 1-716-885-7510www.qrsmusic.com
Magic Melodies360 Lawless Road, Jamestown, KY 42629
Phone: (270) 343-2061
David Saul: Precision Music Rolls1043 Eastside Road, El Cajon, CA 92020-1414
Joyce Brite: Player Piano & Musical Music Exchangehttp://mmd.foxtail.com/Exchange/
http://mmd.foxtail.com/Exchange/rollpage.htm
Tim Baxter: Meliora Music Rollswww.members.aol.com/meliorarol/index.htm
David Caldwell400 Lincoln Lake Ave., N.E., Lowell, MI 49331
Phone: (616) 897-5609DavidWFrom [email protected]
Dick Hack: Hack Mechanical Music2051 Chesapeake Road, Annapolis, MD 21409
[email protected](410) 279-5859 Cell Days
(410) 757-2164 Home Evenings
Frank L. Himpsl: Valley Forge Music Roll Company604 Linnet Road, Audubon, PA 19403
(484)-250-7046 roll shop(610)-291-1841 my cell
http://www.valleyforgemusicroll.com
Kukral Collection: Welte-Mignon and 88-Note Rolls216 Madison Blvd., Terre Haute, IN 47803
Phone: (812) [email protected]
Julian Dyer5 Richmond Rise, Wokingham RG41 3XH, United Kingdom
John Motto-Ros“Nickelodeon Rolls”
“A” “G” “O” Rolls & Boxes110 Allen Ranch Road, Sutter Creek, CA 95685
209-267-9252www.johnnysmusicrolls.com
e-mail: [email protected]
Keystone Music RollsP.O. Box 650, Bethlehem, PA 18016
PLEASE VISIT THESE SUPPLIERS OF RECUT ROLLS
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Lady LibertyS.O.W.N.Y.Heart of AmericaRocky MountainTexasSouthern CaliforniaSierra NevadaPacific Can-AmNorthern LightsMidwestBostonFoundingChicago
LOCATION OF CHAPTERS KEY
Currently the rest of thestates do not have an
AMICA Chapter
MAP of the AMICA Chapters
322
Mike and Kathy have a lovely home, with a beautifulback yard, and Kathy always outdoes herself on the refresh-ments, which we enjoyed either inside or out on the patio.
It was a nice day, and a super meeting. We introducedRichard Ingram as our new President, and Mike Choate asVice-President. Lloyd Osmundson announced that he wasstepping down as Treasurer. No one came forth at the meeting, but Dianne Reidy later agreed to take the position. Itlooks like we have a good slate of officers for the next year.
We are looking forward to another good year, and we’realready talking about Cincinnati next year. Several of ourmembers will be going to Sutter Creek for the organ rallythere. It’s a good one, with lots of thing to do and see, andanyone able to go should do so.
As a footnote: There are still a few table favors left fromthe convention. It is a really super one, and if you don’t haveone you should order one right away. It is a model of a Wurlitzer 105, playing “California Here I Come”, recordedfrom an actual 105. You won’t find a better collectible, andthey have been going fast.
NewsFrom
The Chapters
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAPTERReporter: Shirley Nix
President: Richard Ingram
The Southern California Chapter hosted the 2008 Convention in Woodland Hills, and it was a big undertaking,but after two years of planning and building table favors, itturned out to the big party we had hoped for.
We kept everyone busy, with tours of collections andlocal attractions, the magic of Joe Rinaudo’s silent movienight, the pumper contest, the mart, and many fine work-shops. The banquet was fun, with the titanic Jazz Band providing music to dance to, and the giving out of the tablefavors.
The banner was passed to the Convention Chair for nextyear in Cincinnati and we all breathed a sigh of relief.
One of the collections on the South Tour was that ofMike and Kathy Choate in Dana Point, and after all thatwhen we called to see if they would consider hosting a chapter meeting the ever gracious Choate’s said yes.
The Choate collection grows and grows, and Mike istalking of adding on. Their latest additions were a WurlitzerHarp and a Link nickelodeon, both lovely machines, and funto listen to. Add to that a Stinson fairground organ and yousee that more room is a definite possibility. They haveamassed a really nice collection in a short time.
Their jukebox collection is remarkable, too, and encompasses a huge array of styles and types, from early tonot so early. We were unable to enjoy their Scopotone thistime, since it was ready for shipping to Australia to a newhome. (They have a new orchestrion coming in, so nowmaybe there’s room?)
Kathy and Mike Choate and the Wurlitzer Harp.
Lloyd Osmundson checks out the Stinson organ and Robin Bigginsemerges from behind.
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SIERRA-NEVADA CHAPTERReporter: Nadine Motto-Ros
President: John Motto-Ros - (209) 267-9252
Frank Nix, new president, Richard Ingram and Betty Toth.
The Beautiful Link
Jack Conway and Mike Choate.
On Saturday, August 16, the Sierra-Nevada Chapter metat the home of Bruce Grimes and Tockhwock, AKA Geof-frey Kaiser. Their beautiful home in Santa Rosa nestles in awooded area with views of the surrounding oak-studded hills.It was a nice ride to Santa Rosa from Sacramento and forthose who came from the South Bay. For those chapter members who could not attend, all I can say is you missedthree fabulous Duo-Art pianos, wonderful hospitality, and ahome with spectacular views. Of course, there was the music.
Their Steinway pianos have graced the pages in pastissues of The Bulletin. The beautiful Marionette Duo-Art wasfeatured on the cover of the September/October 2005 AMICABulletin. The scenes and the artwork on the case are superb!It really must be seen in person, as photos cannot do it justice.Yes, it also sounds as good as it looks (see photos).
The 1910 seven-foot Steinway was made into a Duo-Art30+ years ago. I could not tell, and I am impressed withmany interesting things about this piano. It is a pedal/electric,and the mechanical part I like is it has an electric roll drive(see photos). The overall performance of this piano gets a 10for fit, finish, expression and tonal quality. This is absolutelythe piano to own!
Last, but not least, is the large 9-1/2-foot 192 ConcertSteinway Duo-Art. Some time in its life it was shortened—someone cut the keys shorter and eliminated the spool box—Tockhwock to the rescue! He added the missing pieces, andthis piano also has the electric roll drive. The case is inlayedwith avodire wood; and, of course, it reproduces as fine as itlooks. Tockhwock played Ravel’s Pavanne, and it was veryimpressive. This particular roll was arranged and coded byTockhwock. He has a Leabarjan single-punch perforator withmulti-spool paper rack that can punch six copies, one punch ata time. His love is coding and working with Duo-Art music.All three pianos are equipped with the Duo-Art fan system.
Back to basics, we enjoyed the foot-pumped Aeolian.This is a 65/88-note to which Tockhwock has added a Duo-Art system. It played superbly.
Our thanks to Bruce and Tockwock for hosting a meetingwith such beautiful pianos.
Tockhwock playing the 65/88-note Aeolian.
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The electric roll drive on the 1910 Steinway Duo-Art.
The 9-1/2 foot 1923 Concert Steinway Duo-Art.
BOSTON AREA CHAPTERReporter: Don BrownPresident: Bob Hunt
Lyle Merithew at the 1910 seven-foot Steinway Duo-Art.
LyleMerithew
and SandySwirsky
checking out the
MarionetteDuo-Art.
Tockhwock holding the fan system.
Tockhwockwith the
Leabarjanperforator.
Bruce Grimes with the Marionette Duo-Art.
The Boston Area Chapter met once again at the home ofJoe & Pat Lavacchia. This is always a successful visit asmany instruments are working and the attendees are the mem-bers that are most interested in them. Fifteen members cametoday, including some from New Hampshire, Maine andRhode Island. The Boston Chapter Convention sponsorship in 1989 and 1999 featured a tour of the Lavacchia collection including a live performance of the
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Mills Double Violano
Bruder band organ.
Fotoplayer with a movie. The Fotoplayer was demonstratedagain today by Joe, as was his Bruder Band Organ and Wurlitzer carousel organ. Nearby was a Tel-Electric player.Upstairs a Mills Double Violano played near a Lampographphonograph and Joe’s reproducing grand piano.
President Bob Hunt and Dorothy Bromage conductedour meeting and we heard from Bob Bowerman first. Thereis to be a special interest performance of Bob’s Welte bigheavy upright reproducing piano before and after five of theconcerts at the Newport Music Festival in Newport, RI.Dorothy passed around schedules for the festival.
Dorothy brings a canvas tote that contains bits of interestand the first was one of several AMICA 1999 Conventionteapots and stands. These were left over and they were forsale today. Another was a small collection of paper goods leftat the February meeting, and these were identified as leftthere by Phyllis Konop. Dorothy next made an appeal forsomeone to become our new secretary.
Our Museum piano project is moving slowly. The pneumatic stack is scheduled to be installed today inDorothy’s barn after the meeting. The completed pumperplayer piano is hopefully to be installed at the Charles RiverMuseum of Industry in Waltham this fall.
Tel-Electric player
Dorothy Bromage & Bob Hunt
Phil Konop, Pete Haskell, Chris Christiansen, Bill Koenigsberg,Tom Ahern
Dorothy plugssurplus teapots
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PACIFIC CAN-AM CHAPTERReporter: Peg Kehret
Co-Presidents: Carl Dodrill
Pacific Can-Am chapter members and guests were warmly welcomed on June 22 to the home of David Goodwinand Larry Sanchez in Federal Way, Washington. We enjoyedlistening to a 1919 Weber Duo-Art upright, a 1930 Marshalland Wendell Ampico A upright, a 1924 Hobart Cable playerand a 1936 Chickering Ampico B grand. All of Dave andLarry’s instruments are fully restored and have a full, richsound. Their home is filled with interesting collections,including Wizard of Oz and Lucille Ball memorabilia in thehome theater. David’s player piano workshop presently contains a piano that he is restoring for his parents.
Our meeting included a report by Kurt Morrison of theregular demonstrations of the Ampico piano at the ParamountTheater in Seattle. The piano is played for the public an average of ten times each month. Mark Smithberg and RonBabb brought us up to date on the status of the piano ourchapter is restoring for the Radio Museum in Bellingham. Wehope to complete that project this summer. Plans for ourMechanical Music Festival in Leavenworth WA on Aug. 15-17 include moving a player piano to the site so that people canpump it there. Band organs and small organs will be playedboth Saturday and Sunday. We congratulated Carl Dodrill forhis Pipe Organ Foundation’s installation of a pipe organ in aNew Orleans church.
Our host, David Goodwin, accompanied by HalieDodrill, entertained us with two beautiful violin solos. Thereis a lot of talent in this group! There are also a lot of goodcooks, as evidenced by the delicious potluck meal that concluded our day.
Our host,LarrySanchez,introducesSugar andBella toJackieSlosson.
Ron Babb welcomed our guest, Stu Swanberg.
Our host, Joe Lavacchia, describes his collection
Wurlitzer Carousel organ and Ken Volk
Joe performs his Fotoplayer
The Fotoplayer
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We all admiredthe currentrestoration inDavid’s wonderful workshop. Fromleft: Brian Tate,Mark Smithberg,David Goodwin,and Ron Babb.
Mark Smithberg and Rob Wilson select rolls at the mart.
Fran and Maury Willyard chat with Halie Dodrill during the socialhour.
David Goodwin,accompaniedby HalieDodrill, entertained us with twobeautiful violin solos.
MIDWEST CHAPTERReporter: Christy Counterman
President: Don Johnson - (248) 650-1840
After meeting in nearby Solon, Ohio at our base hotel,the May meeting of the Midwest Chapter carpooled to down-town Cleveland’s Playhouse Square, home of five theaters allbuilt in the early 1920s. The Ohio and State Theaters weredesigned by architect Thomas Lamb in the RenaissanceRevival style, and each has been restored to its 1920s glory.They share a huge 320-foot long lobby area, which features aseries of murals by artist James Daugherty. Celebrities includ-ing Fred Astaire, Judy Garland and Abbott and Costelloappeared at the State in its early days. The nearby Allen andPalace Theatres were part of the onstage and backstage toursfor the group, the Allen’s rotunda is said to be a replica of theVilla Madonna near Rome. Across Euclid Avenue, the Pom-peian-influenced Hanna Theater is part of the district, thoughwas not on our tour.
Not far from the heart of Cleveland is a hidden gem, theHoltkamp Organ Company. Founded by G. F. Vottler in 1855,it continues today under the fourth generation leadership of F.Christian Holtkamp. We were treated to a tour of the designand building of new organs and of the restoration process,from the actual forging of metal to the assembly and voicingof piper—which sometimes reached far into the raised ceiling.This building was constructed in 1922, and evidence of theoriginal carved paneled oak walls in the office recall thecraftsmanship of the early twenties. Christian’s experience asan organist with a Master of Music in performance, alongwith his technical abilities, help make this factory one of thebest in the nation for organ manufacturing.
Another part of Cleveland history is Sterle’s SlovenianCountry House, a fixture east of downtown for over 42 years,featuring Slovenian and German cuisine. Our group dinedfamily-style in the banquet room where friendly waitresseskept our tables filled with plates heaped with food. Just whenwe thought we couldn’t eat any more, we were treated to ourchoice of desserts!
But more desserts awaited us at the Chagrin Falls homeof Karl and Carol Theil, some made by Karl’s mother whoalways attends our meetings. We played selections from theirvariety of great rolls on their Knabe Ampico A and Ampico B,Stroud Duo-Art and even a Wilcox and White roll-playingreed organ. It retailed for $425 in 1897.
Special guest Larry Kass, who hosts the Might WurlitzerRadio Hour on Cleveland classical station WCLV, treated usto a performance on one of the Knabe grands. His wife Sarahexplained the program, which features live performances withvocalists, there Steinway Duo-Art piano and the Wurlitzeroriginally installed in the Plaza Theater in Kansas City, Missouri. The organ was restored by chapter member RonWehmeier from Cincinnati, whose collection we will visit atthe 2009 Convention.
The next morning we reconvened at the Thiels for break-fast, plus our business and convention planning meetings.
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Don Johnsonpunches in atHoltkampon,the originaltime clock.
Charlene Torer,Marj McGeeand Sherri Nefftour the foundryarea ofHoltkamp.
Sylvia Chappell and Wes Neff admire the restoration work atthe Holtkamp Organ Factory.
Mike Barnhart enjoys another mechanical means of entertainment-Time Machine pinball.
The State Theatre opened in 1921, seating 3400. It began as amovie and Vaudeville Venue, and became a Cinerama in 1967.
Our tour guide for the Allen Theater
Rotunda explains thatthis is one of the
few remaining“Daylight
Atmospheric”theaters in the U.S.
A sign of thetimes: Bob
Andersen takes acall at Playhouse
Squares “CellPhone Booth.”
Bob Andersen presented the draft of our Power Point presen-tation for the Los Angeles Convention, and we voted on logocolors and shirts to wear at the convention. Hal and DonnaEstry have a local supplier in Michigan to silkscreen theshirts. After the meeting, Karl then demonstrated the unusualFarley Pearson portable organ, made in Massachusetts in thelate 1800s.
We had a great weekend packed with many great activities and thank the Thiels for being our planners andhosts. Our next meeting (after the one in Los Angeles) will bethe Oktoberfest in Michigan.
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Larry Kass performs a live medley of tunes in the style of the player piano.
Wes Neff (L) and host Karl Theil watch as Vince Ricca plays aroll on the Ampico.
The original wood-paneled office in the Holtkamp OrganCompany features elaborate carving on the paneled wallsand ceiling.
Bob Andersen, Jody Trittipo, Sherri Neff and Liz Barnhart at theTheil’s 1927 Bush & Lane Welte.
Midwest Chapter members model their new t-shirts for next year’sCincinnati convention.
Eleven members of the Midwest Chapter pause for a photo duringthe Saturday night banquet.
TEXAS CHAPTERReporter: Maureen Barisonek
President: Rich Clayton- (972) 369-0470
Fall in Arkansas and a Christmas gathering of music, goodfood and friends are wonderful ways to spend time together
and to celebrate the end of another year.
In November 2007, the Texas chapter traveled to TheCrescent Hotel, the home of Elise and Marty Roenigk inEureka Springs, for a joint meeting with the Sunbelt Chapterof MBSI. The fall colors were a perfect backdrop for the 26members who spent the weekend with the Roenigks. Ourhosts made the entire town and all of its treasures available tothe group. The historic Crescent, (one of two hotels ownedby the Roenigks in Eureka Springs) is filled with music andcharm at every turn. Guests are welcomed by the 1912 WeltePhilharmonic Salon Model 4 standing in the lobby. The private apartments of the Roenigks hold wonder immeasur-able in sight, sound and beauty.
Elise and Marty were drawn to Eureka Springs by Mike’sMusic Museum and the prospect of retirement. When themuseum went to auction in 1998-99, The Roenigks bought 4or 5 pieces and retirement took on a whole new direction. Thehotels were purchased, leading to years of renovation andrestoration. Approximately 140 rooms and a peak staff of 172keeps retirement busy. And then Marty bought a chapel just
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Dr. Ray Dickey in the dining room of The Crescent Hotel welcomingthe group and giving them their instructions.
around the corner from The Crescent. The 1901 stone churchis now called The Gavioli Chapel for the 1912 Gavioli organnestled inside. The chapel with its organ and additional musical instruments such as a Violano Virtuoso, beautifulstained glass windows and relaxed Arkansas requirements--$10 ministers!--have turned the chapel into Eureka Springsnewest wedding chapel. Billed as “a marriage of music andmatrimony” a full time chapel coordinator is available to planyour special event.
A visit to the Roenigks warehouse left no doubt that theyare about the business of mechanical musical instruments.Walking through the town of Eureka Springs allowed every-one to relax, shop and visit in a place that is truly very special.There was a mart before the banquet in the hotel. Theevening ended with a tour of the Roenigks penthouse apartment at the very top of The Crescent. The comfortablerooms are filled with beautiful displays and collections oflocal art, as well as mechanical musical instruments most rare.
The weekend ended with a tour of the collection of KenPowers. He and his lovely wife, Rita, opened their home tous and provided the perfect ending to the weekend. The pridethat Ken has in his collection, and his love of the music wereevident throughout his presentation. Restoring many of thepieces himself, Ken has designed custom cabinetry to alloweasy access to boxes that are not always on open display. Thecollection ranges from an amazing cylinder box that a friendpicked up in the trash 40 years ago, stating, “[I] have some-thing that you want” to casket boxes, several cobb organs,every size of a Regina disc box and a beautiful Regina Symphonion Eroica. The 1891 Aeolian Grand (the modelbefore the Orchestrelle) was purchased from a neighbor downthe street. Once painted black, Ken’s hard work and a littlealcohol compound revealed an unusual, and striking, veneer.Ken has always been partial to the disc boxes and partial toJohn Philip Sousa as well. He told us that his music teacherthrough college had been a member of Sousa’s band. Ritasent us on our journey home filled with her delicious lunch, afew recipes and a lovely memory .
Our thanks to Elise and Marty Roenigk and to Rita andKen Powers for their hospitality and kindness. Fall is comingaround again. Arkansas is beautiful. Eureka Springs is full ofart, shops and antiques. The Crescent is filled with history—and maybe a ghost or two. Maybe it is time to get married,again! Beautiful music fills the air. Enjoy.
(WARNING—your GPS will stop working as youapproach Eureka Springs. Rely on daylight, a good map anda sense of humor to guide your way.)
December MeetingWhen the Texas chapter recovered from their journey to
Arkansas, they ended the year with the traditional Christmasparty. This year it was held at the Dallas home of Bill Flynt.Seventeen members gathered to hold the last meeting of theyear, to elect officers and to make plans for the new year.And then the real fun began. Texas bar-b-que with all thetrimmings, desserts, laughter and presents filled the afternoon.Three former chapter presidents were in attendance, KenLong, Sal Mele and Jerry Bacon. There was fifteen years ofserving the Texas AMICA group among them.
After lunch, Jeannie Clark Fisher, a friend and Bill’smusical partner, performed several songs accompanied byBill on the piano. Her beautiful voice filled the room, lendingitself to such selections as The Christmas Waltz by J. Steinand By Strauss composed by George Gershwin. Jeannie’scomposition, “The Culinary Tarantella,” about eating yourway through Italy, was inspired by her own travels. She finished with music from Naughty Marietta (The ItalianStreet Song) and a song by Mortimer Browning called “MyLittle Lindy Lu.” This is a difficult piece, musically, withmany tempo variations. It is sung in a negro dialect of almostone hundred years ago. The music was provided by anAMPICO roll where the pianist (Bill) follows the tempo ofthe singer.
A Christmas meeting is not complete without the “giftexchange.” Imagination and $10 can make grown-upslaugh—a lot! It is always at this meeting that we realize thegift of each other and our love of music and the mechanicalinstruments that make it. We look forward to the adventuresawaiting us next year.
Dr. Dickey in the Gavioli Chapel with the Violano Virtuoso
331
Elise and Marty Roenigk in the lobby of The Crescent with their1912 Welte Philharmonic.
The Gavioli organ.
Sharron Boruff and Barbara Uhrer in the Roenigk’s warehouse
Just keepingtime in the
corner ofElise and
Marty’spenthouse
Trash to Treasure. Cylinder box in Ken Powers’ collection.
Rita and KenPowers infront of theirbeautiful Regina SymphonionEroica
332
HEART OF AMERICA CHAPTERReporter: Sandy Schoeppner
President: Rich Clayton- (972) 369-0470
On April 26th and 27th, Marty and Elise Roenigk hosteda rally and chapter meeting at the Historic 1886 CrescentHotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Forty-eight membersattended, bringing with them sixteen instruments, includingfour trailered band organs, ten monkey organs and three midiaccordions.
Members gathered beginning on Friday afternoon at theCrescent Hotel. After dinner, most members gathered in theNorman Baker Lounge for socializing. The rally began Saturday morning with the large organs in the parking lot ofthe Crescent. A few monkey organs and the accordions werenear the Hotel entrance, and the remainder were scatteredthroughout historic downtown Eureka Springs.
The music was enjoyed by hundreds of visitors fromacross the country as they rode the extensive tram system allaround town and to the Crescent. Heart of America memberswere able to enjoy visits throughout the day to the GavioliChapel which houses a very large Gavioli fairground organ, aMills Violano and assorted music boxes.
Saturday evening we enjoyed a delicious buffet served bythe Crescent staff. After dinner, members gathered again inthe Norman Baker Lounge for relaxing and socializing.
The Sunday morning brunch and chapter business meeting were held in the conservatory at the hotel. Followingthe meeting, Marty gave a history of the Crescent Hotel andalso of he and Elise’s history in Eureka Springs. We all thengathered in their penthouse apartment at the hotel and enjoyedmore of their collections. The last stop of this busy weekendwas a trip to Marty’s shop to see the assortment of instruments he has for sale and 1800 Vienna clocks.
Two of our members stayed over an extra day to enjoymore sights and to take the famous Crescent Hotel GhostTour. While no ‘see through’ ghosts were encountered, a mysterious cat appeared at their door one night, and in theirroom the following day.
Elise, Marty, & Aine at the Richter
All the goodies at Marty’s shop
Lots of clocks & phonos
The Historic 1886 Crescent Hotel
333
The group enjoying the Gavioli
Marty demonstrating a music box
Group sing-a-long at the reproducing piano
New members Don Tabor & Brian Graham
Mystery cat
334
ADVERTISING GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT
ALL ADVERTISING IN THE AMICA BULLETINAll advertising should be directed to:
Mike Kukral216 Madison Blvd.Terre Haute, Indiana 47803Phone: 812-238-9656e-mail: [email protected]
Ad copy must contain text directly related to the product/servicebeing offered. Extraneous text will be deleted at the Publisher’sdiscretion. All advertising must be accompanied by payment inU.S. funds. No telephone ads or written ads without payment willbe accepted. This policy was established by a unanimous vote ofthe AMICA Board at the 1991 Board Meeting and reaffirmed atthe 1992 meeting. AMICA reserves the right to edit or toreject any ad deemed inappropriate or not in keeping withAMICA’s objectives.
The BULLETIN accepts advertising without endorsement,implied or otherwise, of the products or services being offered.Publication of business advertising in no way implies AMICA’sendorsement of any commercial operation.
AMICA PUBLICATIONS RESERVES THE RIGHT TOACCEPT, REJECT, OR EDIT ANY AND ALL SUBMITTED ARTICLES AND ADVERTISING.
All items for publication must be submitted directly to thePublisher for consideration.
CLASSIFIED AD RATES FOR AMICA MEMBERS:1-50 Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10.0051-100 Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $20.00101-150 Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $30.00
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DISPLAY ADVERTISINGFull Page — 71/2 " x 10" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $150.00Half Page — 71/2 " x 43/4" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 80.00Quarter Page —35/8 " x 43/4" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 45.00Business Card — 31/2 " x 2" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 30.00
Special 6 for 5 Ad Offer - Place any ad, with no changes, for afull year (6 issues), and pay for only 5 issues. Payable in advance.Photographs or halftones $15.00 eachLoose Sheet or Insert Advertising: InquireWe recommend that display advertisers supply camera-readycopy. Copy that is oversized or undersized will be changed tocorrect size at your cost. We can prepare advertisements fromyour suggested layout at cost.PAYMENT: U.S. funds must accompany ad order. Make checkpayable to AMICA INTERNATIONAL. Typesetting and layout size alterations charges will be billed.DEADLINES: Submissions must be received no later than thefirst of the odd months (January, March, May, July, September,November). The Bulletin will be mailed the second week of theeven months.
(Rev. 5-05)
FOR SALEWEBER DUO-ART UPRIGHT 1920, rebuilt & refinished new hammers & dampers, new bass strings, new key tops, pump rebuilt, new rods made by Robert Streicher, all new bearings, Expression verygood. Asking $3500, will sell for $2500. Carl De Nunzio, 789 Lake Rd.,Conneaut, OH 44030, phone 440-593-2155 (1-09)
CECILIAN PIANO PLAYER FOR SALE-Best offer. Farrand paperlabel shows #10129 and inspection signature for cabinet. Inquire forphotos and further information at [email protected] (5-08)
HUGE MECHANICAL MUSIC ARCHIVE for sale! The lifetimecollection of restorer Mr. Werner Baus contains over 300 books, 120folders, extensive advertising, videos, interviews with Messrs. Imhof,Voight, Popper, and others, 400 original postcards, etc. Includes material on band, street, and monkey organs, orchestrions, coin-op,reproducing and player pianos, etc. For information please [email protected] or www.pianola.de or Werner Baus, Helsaer Berg 3,Helsa 34298, Germany. Phone from USA: 011-49-0-5602-918833.(5-08)
1913 STEINWAY UPRIGHT pump player with added Duo Art mechanism. The motor and pump are installed in a new and matchingbeautiful roll cabinet. The piano, cabinet, and player mechanism werecompletely rebuilt in 1989 by Harry Garrison and associates in Cincinnati. Approximately 2000 new and old 88 note and Duo Art rolls.Two other old roll cabinets and shelves are included. It is a fun and sensitive pumper, but sad to say, we are moving to a smaller home.$20,000. Bob Howard, Apt 109, 2 Fenwick Rd., Hampton VA, 23651757-637-7168, [email protected] (2-09)
SEEBURG “E” with xylophone - Walnut case, Heller “A” roll pianowith art glass scene; WURLITZER 1015 Jukebox; CYLINDERMUSIC BOX 20 TUNE, 2 tunes per turn, cylinder 7 1/2 inches long,lid with tune sheet $2,500.00. All items professionally restored andrefinished. J. Uhler, Box 126, Ingomar, PA 15127; 724-940-4331. (6-08)
NEW PIANO ROLL BOXES - Duo-Art Audiographic series -Exactly like the originals! Maroon with Gold Printing, all 3 sizes available! (small & medium are “Top Hat” style) $7.00 ea. Quantitiesare limited, so get them before they are all gone! AMPICO “Top Hat”boxes- Black Leather with Gold Printing and False Bottom, Exactly likethe originals, $5.00 ea. 88 note roll boxes in two sizes- Large (fits 2 3⁄4flange) covered with Black Alligator paper (Top), Black Leather (Bottom). or Brown Leather Paper (Top & Bottom) $3.00 ea. Small (fits 2” flange) Covered with Black or Tan Leather Paper (Top), WhiteLitho (Bottom) $1.80 ea. Other repair supplies available- ParchmentLeaders, Tabs, Tubes, Flanges, Repair Tissue. Quantity Discounts available. Rich Ingram [email protected] (760) 244-0251 (3-09)
5000+ PLAYER PIANO ROLLS. All in boxes and in playable condition. $1.25 each plus shipping. Rich Ingram,[email protected](760) 244-ROLL (7655) (3-09)
THE GOLDEN AGE of AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.Art Reblitz’ award-winning reference that brings history, musical andtechnical information to life with hundreds of spectacular color photos.448 oversize pages. Get your copy today! $120 plus $5 S/H (single copyUSA ground shipment). MECHANICAL MUSIC PRESS-A WildAmmonoosuc Rd., Woodsville, NH 03785. 603-747-2636.www.mechanicalmusicpress.com (2-10)
WANTEDRED WELTE MIGNON piano rolls (T-100). Paying top dollar. Mike Kukral 812-238-9656 or [email protected] (3-09)
Need one NORTH TONAWANDA PIANOLIN in any condition orparts for same. Need twenty-four rose wood (or equal) xylo phone bars. Scale #A to A to be used on “O” roll arrangement. Call Mike Krumenacker @ 610-489-7394 or e-mail at [email protected] (6-08)
WANTED BY COLLECTOR: Movie Posters, Lobby Cards, Movie Photos, Concert Posters, Jazz and Blues 78 RPM Records, and Entertainment Memorabilia. Buying all sizes; any condition. FreeAppraisals. Will give your stuff a good home! 800-392-4050 RalphDeLuca 157 Park Ave Madison NJ 07940 [email protected] (5-08)
“The victrola and a player piano gave usmost of our evening entertainment in
Kansas in those days.”- Dwight D. Eisenhower
335
WELTE-MIGNON AND DELUXE REPRODUCING piano rolls. Mike Kukral 812-238-9656, E-mail [email protected] (1-09)
BOOK: WELTE-MIGNON — ITS MUSIC AND MUSICIANS byCharles Davis Smith printed for AMICA by Vestal Press. Do you have a copy you are not using that is sitting on the shelf or in a box? Let me know. Mike Kukral 503-741-0960, E-mail [email protected] (5-08)
Offering high top quality reissues ofWWeellttee--MMiiggnnoonn aanndd
8888 NNoottee PPllaayyeerr PPiiaannoo rroollllss..
Featuring rare, important, and fun music rolls recut
from the legendary Welte-Mignon library of recordings
and great music of the teens and twentieson 88-note player piano rolls.
PPLLEEAASSEE CCOONNTTAACCTTMike Kukral
216 Madison Blvd.Terre Haute, IN 47803
812-238-9656Email: [email protected]
THE
Kukral Collection
(6-08)(3-09)
BLACKSTONE VALLEY PIANO
Michael A. MorvanCOVERING PIANO AND ORGAN KEYBOARDS
Our services include:• RESTORATION OF ORIGINAL IVORY, BONE AND EBONY • RECOVERING KEYBOARDS IN NEW IVORY, BONE AND
EBONY• RECOVERING KEYBOARDS IN ACRYLIC AND MINERAL
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FRONTS TO CORRECT FOR WEAR, EROSION AND NOVICE REPAIRS
• KEYBOARD RESTORATION SUPPLIES
DEDICATED TO ADVANCING THE ART OF KEYBOARD RESTORATION
Michael A. MorvanUxbridge, Massachusetts • (508) 278-9762
E-MAIL: [email protected]
WWW.PIANOANDORGANKEYS.COM
Call or E-MAIL for our latest Price and Services Sheet
VISIT THE
AMICA WEB PAGE
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Preserving a unique art form.Concerts, education, silent film, preservation, fellowship and more. www.atos.org
Jim Merry, Executive SecretaryP.O. Box 5327, Fullerton, CA [email protected]
American Theatre Organ Society
(6-08)
336
WANTED TO BUYMUSIC BOXES
MUSICAL CLOCKSMECHANICAL ORGANS
Always in the market for better quality disc and cylindermusic boxes, musical clocks, singing birds, band organs, player organs, monkey organs, Wurlitzer 78 rpm jukeboxes,slot machines. Any condition.
MARTIN ROENIGK75 Prospect Avenue
Eureka Springs, AR 72632
(800) 671-6333 • (479) 253-0405
www.mechantiques.com • [email protected]
(1-09)
www.ptg.org
Anywhere you go, a Registered Piano Technician (RPT) is ready to help you give customers the
extra service and assurance they expect.
Join us in Rochester, NY, June 21-25, 2006For information on the 15,000 sq. ft. exhibit hall and being
part of 250+ hours of educational opportunities visit
4444 Forest Ave.Kansas City, KS 913-432-9975 (1-09)
Anywhere you go, a Registered Piano Technician(RPT) is ready to help you give customers the extra
service and assurance they expect.
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