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Hi all,  Here's a copy of some traffic I've handled and have reached
the end of my knowledge on.  If any of you could supply more detail,
they'd appreciate it.

Best wishes to all.

Larry Fisher RPT

 - - -

Hello,

I have bought a piano and would like to know what I have.  I bought it
primarily for decor but would eventually like to look into being able
to use it.  I was told it was a regular piano, switched to a player
piano, switched back to a regular piano.  I believe that it was
originally a player piano.  there is a plate on the inside of the
backing that reads Cecilian piano.  There looks like there is a serial
number of 1511.  There is another label on a piece that runs across the
front of the hammers that reads Highest award Strauch Bros. Colombian
Exposition 1893.  Can you please advise me on what to look for or how
to tell what I have.

Thank-you
Chance Shelton
schance@ambi.com

 - - -

I believe you have a piano that was indeed converted over to a Cecilian
brand player.  The only one I've seen and worked on was indeed "retro-
fitted" to an existing piano.  I rebuilt it and "re-outfitted" it with
a conventional tracker bar.  Cecilian had their own ideas about hole
spacing I guess.

It was common in the 50's and 60's to remove player actions that didn't
work from pianos.  The player units usually ended up as unknown misc.
discard as they became separated further and further from their pianos.

Inside the piano, usually on the upper right there is a brand name cast
into the gold painted cast iron.  That name along with the serial number
usually located slightly left of center in the same area in an elongated
oval hole in the plate stamped into the wood, will usually lead me to
the correct year of manufacture, if you're interested.

Lar

 - - -

Thanks for responding.  Yes I am interested.  Just as you said, the name
on that plate (Tuning pin plate) is Cecilian piano.  The number in the
oval hole to the left of it is 1511.  Let me know what you find.

Thanks, Chance

 - - -

Then that being so, I'll have to dig a little deeper.  Most players were
made in the twenties, however, judging by the engineering of the player
I worked on, the circa date was about 10 years older.  I'll post a query
on a player list and we'll see what happens.  They'll respond to you
directly.

Larry Fisher RPT
larryf@pacifier.com