The 88-note Telektra model I have came from a 100-year-old mansion in
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, which was the summer home of a Mr. Selfridge,
a partner of the Marshall Field Department Store fame.  The player
was chosen because of the proximity of the lake and excessive moisture
which would not affect the rolls.  It had a number of die-cast pot
metal gears which had to be recut in brass.  It is presently restored.

Last year I found another unit (with brass gears) and the roll drive
unit in a different case covering.  The one at Ron Schmuck's shop in
Canada, pictured on his web site, has yet another drive assembly case
variation.

There are apparently only a few 88-note Tel-Electric Co. units surviving 
and it's interesting that the cases were all different on the three.
(The cases were manufactured by the company as they encased the remote
player roll drive unit.)  I have found the original catalogue for the
88-note rolls, original advertising booklet, and the US Patent office
diagrams and descriptions original to 1908.

Of interesting note, the locally found unit was rescued when the church
received it as a donation in the 1950s and did not want the player
unit.  One of the parishioners removed it and all of the electromagnets
and connecting rods and installed it in the family Carpathian elm
veneer 1900 upright -- amazing for an amateur especially when there was
little interest in the "odd" things.

You can imagine my surprise when the 88-year-old gentleman who owned
it asked me if I wanted to hear it -- it still played after almost 100
years without any rebuilding!

Greg Filardo
St. Joseph, Missouri