Hi folks,
  I'm going to bravely step up as the newbyest of the newbies reading this
digest, as I have nowhere near the expertise or experience of anyone who
has posted to this group thus far.  I was going to be willing to lurk 
forever, but have gotten carried away by the camaraderie I keep reading and
hope I will be forgiven by not having a lot to contribute except for annoying
questions from time to time.  B-)
  I am impressed with the helpful spirits pervading this group, thank you
Terry for including me in the list, and Jody for the hard work you are putting
into bringing it to everyone (I hope it doesn't burn you out).
  I don't actually have a working player piano, I have a 5' Apollo grand,
simple case, not an art case, built in 1915, which I didn't even know had
been a player until I looked at the bottom and noticed the pushrod holes.
I got it cheap because the right front leg assembly had broken off, and the
pedal lyre had no apparent way to be connected.  (I've envisioned a horrible
scenario where a bunch of people are all gathered around the piano singing
to the music being played from a piano roll, someone loses control, jumps
on the top of the instrument in a fit of 1929 depression era passion, the
piano leg buckles, then tears loose, and 700-800 pounds of piano squish the
player mechanism beyond all recognition.  Must have been quite a crash)
Really, it probably just fell over when someone tried to roll it across the
room on those little weenie wheels.  I rebuilt the leg and built a frame to
mount the lyre to, tuned it up and regulated the action somewhat, rubbed at
the gray finish until it became a beautiful mahogany veneer, and now it's
quite satisfying.
  I also have a 1913 Haynes upright I inherited with my house.  It was sitting
in the only 1/4" deep puddle of water available in an otherwise totally dry
basement.  It has been a basket case, but is destined to be complete and in
good playing condition by the end of the summer.  This piano was never a
player, but the waste of this instrument made me determined to restore it. 
If anyone wants the saga, email me and I will be happy to give it to you.
  Other than that, I do library data base system and application support,
sing in a chorus (the reason I tell my wife I need two pianos), and lurk in
rec.woodworking.

  Now my annoying question:  Terry Smythe tossed a couple of options toward
me for replacing the player mechanism, and recommended Piano-Disc, which I've
never seen and know nothing about.  Does anyone have a lead on who provides
this mechanism, what it costs, how difficult is it to install (can I do it
myself in other words)?  Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks and Regards to all,

Jim Cook¶
47 Washington Park¶
Newton, Ma 02160¶
617-630-9443¶
cook@clsib21.clsi.us.geac.COM (James Cook)