In reply to Pete Docter's mail about the Mills Violano, the inventor
was Henry K. Sandell, a Swedish immigrant.  Contrary to rumor, Sandell
didn't go insane and lived on to a good old age in Chicago.  Much has
been written about the Violano in mechanical music books and Mike
Kitner and Art Reblitz "The Mills Violano-Virtuoso," contains lots
about Sandell.  I believe Reblitz has a few copies of this book
available.  Apparantly Sandell was quite a character who believed he
received messages "from the other side," but that's another story.
There are probably some 1000 Violanos remaining today, making it one of
the more common mechanical machines out there. I have had one for about
a year and it's a joy for the kids, and a consumer of thousands of
hours of tuning and "fiddling" time. Parts, recut rolls and literature
are fairly available.

On another note, I live here on Long Island by the ocean and the
humidity problems are terrible.  In the summer there's 100% and when
the heat is on, there's 10%.  Other than the
bucket-in-the-bottom-of-the-Violano route or the heat stick, does
anyone have suggestions?  I'm afraid raw humidity added in the winter
will rust strings, etc.

Regarding the LOUD Duo-Art, I have a foot powered one that is equipped
with a lock for the "loudness" controls.  When the thing is played in
Duo-Art mode, the levers must be latched in the SOFT position.  If not,
the stack gets full unregulated vacuum.  This probably doesn't relate
to the discussed problems, but it took several months before I figured
out that little problem. Maybe this note will save someone else the
trouble...

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 -- Ed Gloeggler