Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > October 2004 > 2004.10.22 > 01Prev  Next


Nickelodeon by Bill Kap Piano Co.
By Ray Fairfield

I read D. L. Bullock's note about Bill Kap with interest, as I used to
go through Cleveland often on business in the late 1980s.  I stumbled
onto Bill's piano shop quite by accident, and stopped in.  I met Bill
in person and he showed me his operation: new pianos, restored pianos,
rolls for sale, his antique collection, and, of course, his shop.
All was impressive.

His shop had its own paint booth, with temperature controls for not
only the air, but also the paint!  The booth vendor rep was there the
day I was and they were dialing in the process.  He had a bead blaster
for the actions.  He not only restored the actions and the cases, but
also the player mechanisms.  I had no idea he also built his own player
pianos.

He told me he had storage containers full of player mechanisms that
were likely to go to the dump someday for lack of a home.  His antique
musical instrument collection was quite impressive also.  I don't
remember details, but I do remember a Mills Violano.  I used to love
to browse through it.

All very impressive, but what struck me was the friendliness of the
man, and the willingness to share his operation with a fellow collector.
I got in the habit of stopping by whenever I was in town.

By the way, the address and phone number provided by Mr. Bullock are
the same that I have.  I have not been to the shop since probably 1989.

Ray Fairfield


(Message sent Fri 22 Oct 2004, 05:21:34 GMT, from time zone GMT-0700.)

Key Words in Subject:  Bill, Co, Kap, Nickelodeon, Piano

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page