Greetings to all, and many thanks Jody for your very much
appreciated initiative in making this list server possible.
Let's hope and encourage all users of this list to tell
others about it, and let's build up its membership to
something really encouraging.

This list server is not aimed at members of AMICA, MBSI, ATOS
or any of the many other organizations out there that represent
a slice of this unique musical heritage.    It's open to anyone
sharing an interest in any form of musical instrument that
plays by itself in some way, be it reproducing and player pianos,
nickelodeons, orchestrions, band organs, player pipe organs,
monkey organs, cylinder music boxes, disk music boxes, horn
phonographs, self-playing musical toys, etc., etc., et al, be they
new or old.

By way of introduction, I got started in this wonderful avocation
back in 1968 with the acquisition of a huge New Scale Williams
player piano, soon followed by a 1930 Mason & Risch 6'1" Duo-Art
reproducing grand, a Violano, and a Seeburg KT orchestrion.   I've
been collecting these instruments for over 25 years, and currently
have a rather firm grip of Manitoba, soon to be relieved as I make
many of my collection available to the 'needy', rather than the
'greedy' like me.

My prize pieces are my 1898 28" Kalliope upright coin-op disk
music box, a 1908 Cremona style 3 nickelodeon, a 24" unknown
sublime harmonie 12 tune cylinder music box, and a 1912 Mason
& Risch 6' Louis XV foot pumped grand in process of conversion to
Ampico A.

About 10 years ago, job pressures forced me to set aside restoration
activities, although I continued to be active in AMICA and MBSI.
My current AMICA activities include assembly and publication of
*Technicalities* for AMICA members, now up to Volume VI.

About a year ago, I slipped into early retirement from my previous
position as GM of the Manitoba Taxicab Board, and am now Executive
Director of the International Association of Transportation
Regulators, another volunteer position, representing taxicab
regulatory authorities worldwide.

First thing I did on retirement was to build a proper workshop
in the back half of my double-long garage, and then an addition
onto our home.    Eleanor plans to continue working for a couple
more years as an EKG Specialist at Winnipeg's major Health Sciences
Centre.   The weather should be warming up soon, and I should once
again be able to get back to my avocation and shrink back my
collection to a more manageable level.

Over the past 26+ years, I've accumulated 12 reproducing grands,
all art cases; 2 reproducing uprights, an upright 65/88 Steinway
pumper, a player reed organ, 2 nickelodeons, a disk music box, a
cylinder music box, and 2 horn phonographs.    Time has come for
tough decisions.  :-)

I was first introduced to the InterNet in December 93, and never
cease to be amazed at what's out there, and that I never seem to be
able to get off the front end of the learning curve.   Always
something new.

For the InterNet, I'm writing an FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
about our special interest, including such information as related
associations, sources of books and supplies, sources of instruments
and music rolls, disks, etc., InterNet resources such as this list
server, etc.

I welcome contributions from others in this discussion group, and as
this FAQ nears completion, I plan to post it here first for final
corrections and editing, before posting it to rec.antiques,
misc.music.makers.piano, misc.music.ragtime  etc.   Let me know of
neat web sites found, new sources of supplies, etc.

Let's hear from others in this new discussion group, and get to know
one another.   As a special request, it would be very much appreciated
if everyone would include within their "signature", their correct
email address (sample below), as the InterNet sometimes clips a few
characters off the end of some people's imbeded email address.  As
a consequence, it then becomes impossible to reply to a specific person
by email if that person's email address is not also somewhere else
within the message.

Sincere regards to all.

Terry

•Terry Smythe               *Sounds of Yesteryear*
55 Rowand Avenue           Restoration and enjoyment of vintage
Winnipeg, Manitoba         automatic musical instruments.
Canada   R3J 2N6          
204) 832-3982              email:   smythe@mbnet.mb.ca

___
* UniQWK #5002* Don't let yesterday consume today.