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MMD > Archives > September 2014 > 2014.09.13 > 02Prev  Next


Player Piano at Thrift Store to Identify
By Jody Kravitz

One of my friends saw a "nice looking" player piano at the local Salvation
Army thrift shop (Santee CA) and insisted I go see "how nice it looked".
I'm not on the market for another piano but agreed that I would go have
a look.  Frankly, I'm puzzled by what I saw and would like to know what
it is.

This piano is a tall upright:
    http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/14/09/14/140914_112331_01%20IMAG1982.jpg 

The decal says Stroud:
   http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/14/09/14/140914_112331_02%20IMAG1959.jpg 

But inside the label by the tracker bar says Aeolian. Note there are two
rows of tracker bar holes:
   http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/14/09/14/140914_112331_03%20IMAG1964.jpg 

I took an additional view of tracker bar with two different paper tracking
systems visible:
    http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/14/09/14/140914_112331_04%20IMAG1960.jpg 

Here's a shot of the Aeolian patent placard:
    http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/14/09/14/140914_112555_05%20IMAG1961.jpg 

Here are shots of the tracking sensors on the right and left hand side
of the tracker bar:
    http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/14/09/14/140914_112555_06%20IMAG1967.jpg 
    http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/14/09/14/140914_112555_07%20IMAG1968.jpg 

The manufacturer's name on the casting clearly says Aeolian:
    http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/14/09/14/140914_112555_08%20IMAG1970.jpg 

But stamped on the casting is "Serial Number 81737 Style 600 P Duo Art Pianola".
Isn't that a contradiction ?
    http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/14/09/14/140914_113033_09%20IMAG1976.jpg 

I took a few shots of the inside from the top.  This one shows the
wind motor:
   http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/14/09/14/140914_113033_10%20IMAG1974.jpg 

This is the left hand side mechanism.  Note labels on hoses.  Was this a
rebuild or was this piano modified ?
    http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/14/09/14/140914_113033_11%20IMAG1975.jpg 

Finally, the pedal area. Note debris behind right pedal:
    http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/14/09/14/140914_113033_12%20IMAG1980.jpg 

A close-up of the debris It's a caster from the piano!
    http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/14/09/14/140914_113209_13%20IMAG1981.jpg 

There were no rolls with the piano so I didn't attempt to pump it.  I
played some scales on the piano.  The action is not in great shape.  It's
not horribly out of tune, though, which surprised me.

As I said, I'm not interested in this piano for myself, but I am curious
what I can learn about it.

If this piano is of interest to anyone here, please contact me directly and
I'll give you the contact information for the thrift shop.  The piano is
labelled at $499, but the manager said he'd be happy to get $200 for it.

Jody


(Message sent Sun 14 Sep 2014, 02:07:08 GMT, from time zone GMT-0700.)

Key Words in Subject:  Identify, Piano, Player, Store, Thrift

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