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 > November 2005 > 2005.11.12 > 02Prev  Next


Seek Philipps DUCA Piano Rolls
By Tom Jansen

I just acquired a very interesting early Philipps DUCA reproducing
piano in a rare and beautiful keyless case.  Although my main interest
is more in the orchestrion field, I still have a strong interest in
reproducing pianos.  Being very familiar with the very common
reproducing systems like Duo-Art, Ampico, Hupfeld DEA, Welte red and
Welte green, the Philipps Duca was due to its rarity always somewhat
of a mystery to me.  Even in Germany, Duca instruments are very rare
and little is known about them.  During my first research, I was not
able to locate very much information over here.  But back to the
instrument --

Inside the case is a fantastic Feurich piano of high quality, very
powerful and expressive.  The former owner spend a lot of time in
restoring the instrument and, I have to admit, he did quite a good job!
But due to the lack of information he never found out how to adjust
the expression pneumatics properly.  So in the end he was somewhat
disappointed about the DUCA system and finally decided to sell it.

After spending several days (and nights) to work on the expression
units, the Duca started to perform extremely well.  I am amazed about
its musical abilities; most of the rolls sound amazingly well.  The
design of the expression units is very similar to the Welte expression
system, and the actual performance realized has turned out to be so
satisfying that I will try to find out more about the Duca.

It would be highly appreciated if anybody can come up with some
information about the Duca.  Although I got a good collection of rolls
with it, I am still looking for more DUCA rolls.

Within the next weeks, I will try to publish all the information I have
about the Duca (and pictures!) at my web site, www.maesto.com .  Any
owners of Duca instruments can be aware of the fact, that I will as
well offer new Duca rolls in the very near future.

Best regards,
Tom Jansen
Musikwerkstatt Monschau
http://www.maesto.com/ 


(Message sent Sun 13 Nov 2005, 01:19:03 GMT, from time zone GMT+0100.)

Key Words in Subject:  DUCA, Philipps, Piano, Rolls, Seek

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