Hi,

I've been lurking here for a month or so now, so I figure it's time for an
introduction. I'm an electrical/computer engineer, 50-ish, and have been
interested in pianola restoration for the past 15 years or so. I'm a member
of the Mechanical Music Society of Australia - an enthusiastic group of
collectors and restorers of all kinds of mechanical music. My collection
includes a Haines Bros Ampico A grand, a Duo-Art (or 2), and some "ordinary"
pianolas, reed organs and organettes, and a couple of music boxes. Also have
a modest collection of vintage radios and mechanical calculators, and like
tinkering and restoring any sort of engineering antiques. Starting to fiddle
with MIDI, but it's a big leap from recorder playing - I find I'm much
better at the "mechanical" part than the "music" part.

I haven't read all of the previous digests, but I would be interested to
know if there are any current sources for organette music. Two types -
original or recut rolls for the Celestina, and 14-note 7-3/4" rolls or
sheets. For the latter, I would be especially interested if anyone had a
source of suitable 14-note arrangements in staff or midi format that could
be transcribed and hand-cut (eg, as a history/science/music project for
working with school children), or any references or suggestions on the art
of arranging real music in only 14 notes. I'm afraid it's beyond my talents
at the moment :-)

Thanks,¶
John Wolff