Hi all -- member 390 here.  Even though I joined this great group sometime
ago, I have yet to introduce myself, so here goes.  I am Ron Rainville,
otherwise known as recordo@aol.com OR recordo@ix.netcom.com, the latter
being necessary because of "problems" with AOL.  (Does that sound
familiar???)  My interests, with regard to mechanical music, are Recordo
pianos and their expression mechanisms.  I also collect Recordo rolls --
not a large collection, but I've managed to gather together about 400 or
so and am always looking for more.

And now, for a little history.  I began rebuilding players about 1960, all
of them being the 88-note variety.  I subsequently happened upon a Fischer
Ampico Grand, which I rebuilt (very, very, slowly), with wonderful
results.  Concurrent with this new acquisition, I began collecting Ampico
rolls, eventually amassing about 800.  I might say at this point, that all
of my reproducing piano rebuilding experience has been either Ampico or
Recordo, no Duo-Arts or Welte-Mignons.  Ampico seems to be the most
prevelant in the Springfield, Massachusetts area.

Several years later, I sold the piano and rolls and decided that after
being a pianist since the age of about 7, (I am now 56) I would venture
into the world of the Hammond Organ, which I did, and eventually taught
organ for about 10 years. I still have the Hammond (RT-3) with two Leslie
and two Hammond tone cabinets, often playing along with rolls played on
my Haines Bros. Recordo B piano.

As interesting as this foray was into the Hammond world, I found myself
eventually returning to 88-note and reproducing piano rebuilding.
However, this time I decided to concentrate on Recordo, which incidentally
was the first expression system I had ever come across, and the rest,
as they say, is history.

Jody says that there is a lot happening in our group with regard to
expression pianos.  I would like to hear from everyone, whose interest are
allied with mine and who think that perhaps Recordo deserves a better
place in the history of the "reproducing" piano.  This is particularly
true of the Recordo C expression mechanism, very few of which were
actually built (darn!!).

I think sometimes that I actually prefer "building" to "rebuilding".
Woodworking is a hobby, and I've used that to construct a number of Ampico
stacks, a mountain of valve blocks and several Recordo-type expression
mechanisms.  At present, however, I am in a recovery mode, recuperating
from major surgery, and so have little opportunity to do any woodworking
at the present time.

So there it is -- a brief synopsis or me and my mechanical music.
It's certainly a pleasure to associated with such a wonderful group of
enthusiastic people, especially when you have, for example, Craig Brougher
contributing regularly to the Digest.  And if you don't already have a
copy of his Orchestrion book, get one.  There is always something more to
learn.

Ron Rainville

 [ Welcome to the Digest, Ron.  With your experiences at both building
 [ and rebuilding perhaps you could tell us if it would be possible to
 [ add Recordo mechanisms to an ordinary pumper to play Recordo rolls.
 [ Long ago a Recordo fan asked me this question, and I'd forgotten it
 [ 'till now!  I must admit, a good Recordo is a _very_ pleasant
 [ instrument.  -- Robbie