Hello everybody,  This is in response to Mr. Richard Vance in his
message on the same subject.

I obviously caused some confusion when in my Article of 6/19/98, on
the same subject, two errors were made.  I meant to raise a question
whether a player that was able to play both sizes had two tracker
bars when I wrote and placed between parentheses "two tracker bars".
I meant this to be a question and erroneously omitted a question mark
at the end.

Secondly, in the same article, I mentioned that when I converted to
an 88-note player, I added "thirteen pneumatics".  I, in fact added
seventeen pneumatics, etc.  This left three notes on treble and bass
un-playable.  I figured that in my effort to save some space this would
be okay, as those notes are seldom played on the older rolls, and QRS
rolls never play all 88.

What mechanism or method was used by the various manufacturers, I don't
know.  This I do know: The Melville Clark Piano company made one that
played 58, 65, 70, 82 and 88 notes.  How this was mechanically done,
I don't know.  In an advertisement of that period it is stated, "All
of the new instruments are provided with a telescopic arrangement
whereby 65-note music can be used".  It goes on to say, "This feature
makes the instrument the only one on the market playing all rolls, 58,
65, 70, 82 and 88 note music alike."  The same ad mentions their Apollo
brand.  How 'bout dem apples !

I don't have the foggiest idea what they mean with "telescopic".  They
surely were not gazing at the stars.  On second thought ... No, that
could not be !!!   Who can help us get the answer?

I have not been able to sleep since this subject came up again, and
before I go to the eternal hunting grounds, which cannot be too far
in the future, I got to know !  Sorry for the unintended confusion.
Promise to be more careful next time, but no guarantees.

Albert de Boer