[ Editor's note:
 [    Howard has just joined us.  I'm enclosing a snip of a conversation with
 [ him because it is interesting to me (and I hope to some of our readers)
 [ how he came to find out about us.
 [   Jody

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Hello,

        My name is Larry Toto. I recently joined your automatic music
forum.  Jody suggested that I introduce myself at some point, so
here it is.  I also just joined AMICA. 
        Back around 1984, I saw that a local auction house was going to
have three pianos up for sale.  One was an out of tune upright with
broken ivories; there was a baby grand, painted white, legs removed,
sitting on its side (it sold for $1.00 - that's one dollar);  and there
was a painted green upright with a player mechanism inside.  The piano
sounded a little out of tune, but all the notes played.  The foot pump
was simply tossed into the bottom, unattached by any bolts.  I received
a box of brittle and broken tubing and metal parts with it.  The auctioneer
started in the hundreds and dropped down to $5.00 after no bids were
offered.  Within a minute or so of that $5.00 low point, I owned a
piano for $20.00.  I paid $50.00 to a couple of kids who worked for the
auction to move the piano to my basement.  I removed the player mechanism
and foot pump, had the thing tuned, and played the piano for the next
8 or 9 years.  I stripped the paint off to reveal a burled walnut veneer.
I finished it with Deft lacquer.  Looks great.
        In 1993 or so, I decided to look into the player mechanism
on the chance I could make some sense of it.  I called Acme Piano Co.
(in Philadelphia) and I think it was they who told me of James
Chadwick (local automatic music guy and piano technician), who, as I
recall, informed me of the Player Piano Company.   Unbelievable,
a business catering solely to player pianos?  Who would'a thunk it?
        Long story, short:  I rebuilt the wind motor, the pnuematics
of which I had stuck my thumb through.  I am using all original
materials (suede, rubber motor cloth, hide glue, etc.).  Some new wood
needed to be cut for the pneumatices.   I stuck the
player into the piano and hooked my Kirby vacuum cleaner up to it.
Boy, did it play!  The bottommost note stuck on, four notes do not play.
Not too bad.  Now I'm really enthused.  I just (this week) tore open the
lower action.  I haven't yet completely figured out how the lower
action connects to the upper action.

        Robin Pratt (AMICA) was a great help with advice.  Thanks Robin.

Upper Action: Pratt_Read Model 32, six point wind motor.¶
Lower Action: Looks like the Gulbransen unit described in Reblitz's player piano rebuild book.

I am happy to exchange information with anyone on these units, either
through this forum or directly to my e-mail:  toto@mammo.pndr.upenn.edu

Other interests:
Family - I have a lovely wife and son.
Flying - I am a flight instructor at Northeast Philadelphia Airport.
Cigars - I have a passion for an occasional premium cigar.

Thanks for listening,¶
Larry Toto

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