Hi! to everyone, I'm a bit new to this internet stuff so bear with me.

    I live in a town called Mildura in the very north west of the State
of VICTORIA.  So if you have a map of Australia handy you should be able
to spot where I am.  It's actually about 550k's from Melbourne (or 330
miles if you'd prefer).  It's a very dry climate here, about 10inches
rainfall a year.  Gets to 45o C in the summer so our air con's get a
good work out.  I'm actually a Earthmoving Contractor here in the local
area(far distance from automatic music-but there you go), Reproducing
Piano's is a very keen interest of mine as I have an upright Marshell &
Wendell with a modell A Ampico (1924) in it that I only finished
restoring last year, I restung the piano re-built the action the works.
It sounds very nice, although I'm not 100% happy with it yet, but I
guess no hobbiest ever is.  Also I have a 6'6" Knabe grand with a
Stoddard Ampico action in it (1919) Yet to be restored but the piano
sounds very nice, Ive actually got a Claviola 73 note pushup I can use
on it.  I do play myself but only self taught (nothing flash).  I've got
an 88 note claviola pushup I'm working on at the moment but who know's
how long it'll be before it gets finished, then I'll be onto the Knabe.
But with earthmoving as busy as it is I'd say it will be a while before
it gets done.  I have a few other items but nothing but nothing of
significance, plenty of ordinary players too.

    I'm married with a young family, my wife Carolyn who is very
tolerant at times, me being busy and all (and now on the internet) what
an idiot! I have three wounderful children  Clinton 7, Naomi 4, &
Joshua 2 and they are a real delight.Although they do have their
moments.

    Back to the automatic music interests, my long term aim is to have
either of my two pushup's up to an electronic keyboard so that I can
record them via MIDI - print out the sheet music and basically fiddle
around and have a bit of fun, I guess the list is endless.  Eventually
I'd like to build an Ampico Vorsetzer and use that as well, I've
actually seen two here in Australia (both in Sydney) Dennis Condon has
one up to a brand new 7'4" Yamaha Disklavier and boy does it sound good
(he also has a Duo-Art and welte Vorsetzer) and an amazing keyless
upright Steinway with a red Welte in it, a rare piece indeed.

    So if theirs anyone out there with the same interests as me I would
love to hear from them, in fact if anyone knows any particular tricks to
look out for in restoring the Stoddard Ampico I wouldn't mind hearing
from them either.

                    Regards

                          Michael Waters

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  Michael Waters
  mwaters@apollo.ruralnet.net.au