Just got a call from a lady here in Winnipeg who owns an upright Farrand
Cecilian player piano, the type with a metal valve and stack beneath the
keybed, valves as illustrated on page 139 of the old heavily illustrated
Player Piano Co. catalog.  The piano is very large, pretty, with a huge,
gorgeous rich tone, well worth doing something with.  She would appreciate
knowing options.

The spoolbox takes only non-standard rolls unique to itself, and very hard
to find, even more difficult to find than Artrio-Angelus rolls.  It's
valves are extremely difficult if not impossible to restore.

Has anyone successfully restored a Farrand Cecilian with this player
action?  If so, how are the valves opened without damage, then closed
again without damage, such that they can be re-opened again in 50-60 years
by some other rebuilder?

Assuming restoration is possible, what kind of professional restoration
fee is she looking at to rebuild this player action, including conversion
to conventional 88-note rolls?

Assuming player restoration is not possible, is there merit in total
removal of the player action, and substitution of some contemporary
electronic conversion kit?  If this is a viable option, what kinds of kits
are available, their sources, costs, and installation costs, etc.?

Is she better off to simply bite the bullet, dispose of the piano, as a
conventional piano, and find some other player piano better suited to
total restoration?  I should point out there is some sentimental value in
this instrument, which she inherited from her grandmother, and she is
inclined to keep rather than dispose.

The thoughts, ideas, and suggestions from others will be very much
appreciated.

Regards, Terry

•Terry Smythe                    (204) 832-3982 (voice/fax)
55 Rowand Avenue                smythe@mts.net
Winnipeg, MB, Canada   R3J 2n6  smythe@freenet.mb.ca
Home page: http://www.mts.net/~smythe
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