Tom Gregory asked for input on the Universal Player Piano Company.
There are two players with the Universal name.  One was in business
from 1908 to 1918 which had an Amphion player unit.  The other company,
owned by Donald Barr, was in business from 1970 to 1984.  They used a
Kohler and Campbell piano which was retrofitted with a Universal
Player unit made in Los Angeles.  They also went under the names
Universal National, American Universal, Diamond Jim, Florabelle, Gay
Nineties and Roaring Twenties.

Assuming that the information that you seek is about the newer
Universals, I must concur with John Tuttle about the prophylactic
pouches.  Here in Southern California we blame their deterioration on
the smog, and it seems they have a life expectancy of about 20 years.
This life expectancy also applies to the pneumatic material.  Upon
close inspection much deterioration is found in the creases of the
striker pneumatics.

Other problems with the Universal Players involve the electrical
components, control knobs, spool drive motor, etc.  To make these
problems worse, replacement parts were not available.  Repairs involved
quite a bit of creative engineering.

As far as the piano is concerned I have found the Kohler & Campbell to
be a very poor instrument.  Within the last year I have found two with
separating pin blocks; one was beyond repair, and the other was caught
in time and a repair was able to be made.

Another problem with the piano was the lubricant that was used when the
plate screws were inserted.  In many cases this lubricant seeped into
the pin block and affected the tuning pins.  The only remedy was to
insert metal tuning pin bushings.  Complete removal of the spool box
assembly was necessary to accomplish this.

Another problem lies in the plate itself.  It is a sand cast product
and the upper plate bridge of the bass strings has not been filed down
and the rough surface that exists is the cause of string breakage.
This problem is inherent to many of the newer American made pianos as
well as the American made Yamahas.

Your opinionated technicians,
Wayne Johnston & Diane D'Tar
San Diego, CA