I recently bought a Rudolph Piano, a 88-note player.  I has three decks
of pneumatics and it appears similar to a Beckwith Piano.  Does anyone
know anything about this one and is there anything I should look out for
during restoration?

I am not associated with The Player Piano Company (PPC) in Kansas,
however I must put in a plug for them.  I believe that for the hobby of
player pianos to keep going, we need outfits like the PPC.  Although I
don't have a need to order much from them, I am very grateful that they
are around when I do need them.

Has anyone adapted an 88-note player for a Midi connection?  For example,
using a set of solenoids connected to tracker bar tubes (from a tee?).
The computer would output Midi files that would then power respective
solenoids that would open up the respective tubes (the tracker bar would
have to be covered during the Midi play mode).  The player would still be
able to play paper rolls.

If there's a mechanical music hall of fame, I'd like to nominate you guys
who put this digest out.

John Preble, Abita Springs, Louisiana

 [ Editor's note:
 [
 [ Thanks for the "fame" nomination, John.  Since we don't get paid
 [ I guess that we "work for the glory!"
 [
 [ Among our members who have added electric control to pneumatic pianos
 [ are Horst Mohr and Walter Tenten in Germany.  They synchronized two
 [ Ampico pianos together to perform a two-piano piece playing from a
 [ Midi file which Horst transcribed from the Ampico rolld. But they used
 [ light-weight electric valves of their own design, because a solenoid
 [ valve is too slow.
 [
 [ Robbie Rhodes