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MMD > Archives > January 2003 > 2003.01.22 > 15Prev  Next


Melville Clark Piano Plays Five Roll Formats
By Jim Welty

In the 030121 MMD Jim Cook asks some questions concerning the Melville
Clark pianos that I had mentioned in the 030110 MMD.  Due to my senility
and the fact that it has been more than 30 years since I saw the pianos,
I purposely omitted the types of rolls played, but it is my best
recollection that they could be 88-, 82-, 70-, 65- and 58-note.
(I never located a 70-note roll to try.)

The pianos sometimes had minds of their own, adjusting themselves for
84-3/4, 60-2/3, etc, etc.!  Unfortunately no humans ever recognized the
need for their requested roll types and no such rolls were ever cut.
This apparently sent the pianos into some sort of depression because
after a particularly cold, dry winter they both participated in a work
stoppage and were sold into slavery to a music box man.

On a more serious note, I did receive non-MMD e-mails from two
different gentlemen who had Melville Clarks.  Both have nice web pages
with good pictures,  good information, and both are MMD readers (and
both want to sell their pianos).  I feel it best to let them decide if
they wish to reveal themselves on MMD, rather than me give out their
addresses,   They are much more capable of giving correct information
on the pianos than I am at this point in time.

Sincerely, Jim Welty


(Message sent Wed 22 Jan 2003, 13:48:40 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  Clark, Five, Formats, Melville, Piano, Plays, Roll

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