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MMD > Archives > April 1997 > 1997.04.07 > 02Prev  Next


1950 Aeolian Pianola Key-Top Piano Player
By Dave Kerr

In my introduction I mentioned that my next project is
a 1950 Aeolian Pianola key-top piano player which arrived
two weeks ago.

My ad in MMD garnered no responses but I would like to open the subject
again. For those who have not seen one - this is not a plastic
Dynavoice. Aeolian's post-war key-top player utilizes within it's
curvaceous plywood shell clever things such as bass and treble Hickman
curtain valves, 6" flywheel tangent takeoff roll drive a la Seeburg and
pneumatic disc clutches for play/reroll. It apparently did not sell
well, if at all; I have located 4, 3 of which are in Rochester, NY
having come from the estate of a former Aeolian Corporation employee.

Please, any one out there who has reminiscences of, experience with,
development knowledge of or an unwanted example of this intriguing
engineering effort pictured in the Roehl Treasury - pg 40, 2nd edition
pg 50 - I invite you to e-mail me at length. I have the Post ad, the
brochure, the dealer sheets and now the machine itself which I intend
to bring screw-polished restored to Sandusky.  Was this Aeolian's last
gasp before plastic valve blocks?  MMDigest comments, anyone?

Dave Kerr
sprocket@orc.ca


(Message sent Tue 8 Apr 1997, 04:53:34 GMT, from time zone GMT-0400.)

Key Words in Subject:  1950, Aeolian, Key-Top, Piano, Pianola, Player

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