Hi folks. My name is Karl Ellison and I live in New Britain, Ct. (of Stanley
Tool fame). I'm 32, and work as a programmer at a small software house that
makes a software product called a Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP-II for
short) package that manufacturers use to make stuff with.

I own a 1917 Autopiano upright grand that I recently finished restoring.
Everything was done from the vaneer to the strings to the pins (had help with
this part), and from bellows to stack - it looks and plays like it came out
of the factory. Well, it did for a bit. It seems that a forever unnamed piano
supply company in Kansas touted a new material for use as facing on the
secondaries, and it's not quite right. Sadly but properly, it's being done
again, as if I've got the time. As life goes on, I'm finding out more and
more that I should have listened to 1) My mother, and 2) Art Reblitz. Stay
away from "space age" materials! Has the pipe organ industry hasn't recovered
from the "Perflex" scandal of the '70s? 

I've got about 250 rolls too; a mere spit to most of you I'm sure, but it's
growing. Someone local boasts of having all of the first 1000 roll numbers
put out by QRS, with the exception of about 12. I swapped one I had that he
didn't for another he had and I wanted. I'm trying to filter out the junk and
keep the good stuff, like any collecter would. "Good Stuff" is defined as
having historical value/significance, or, it just sounds great at a party,
even if your sober. 

Anyway, I read all sorts of stuff on the topic of players. I'll relate some
stories I've heard a local builder relate to me, and other neat stuff that
might be of general interest to a wide audience, all of whom probably are
AMICA members. I just joined this group, and are anxious to see what others
have to say on the topic of mechanical music. I have a lot to learn from you!

- Karl

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