Dick Twichell in Rochester, New York writes in 040813 MMDigest:


>> Tony Greer's nostalgic post evoked some nostalgic memories of my own.
>> In the 1970s I bought several items from a firm in Lubbock, Texas, no
>> doubt the one he worked for, for a build-up "O" roll machine I built
>> here in Rochester, New York.  All of the items were beautifully done,
>> especially the roll frame, which never missed a beat or mistracked
>> playing the many "O" rolls I bought from Ray Siou (for 10 dollars
>> apiece!)
>>


Hi Dick, All,  I'm sure you purchased your items from Mechanical
Systems, Inc., or Musical Antiques, as it was sometimes called.  Noble
went into business around 1965 and built his last player sometime in
the early 'eighties.  We did indeed make all of the parts you purchased.


>> I also bought a multi-channel lock and cancel device, several drums,
>> a set of xylophone bars, and 25 reiterating pneumatics for the
>> xylophone.  Only these last, and the lock and cancel device, failed
>> with time.  I never cracked one open to see, but I suspect they may
>> have been built with Perflex pouches.  So the machine gradually fell
>> into disuse but I still have it and intend to rework it when health
>> permits now that I have retired.


I'll bet you're right about the Perflex pouches.  When I started
working there early in 1978, they were using Perflex and PVC glue.
The Perflex seemed to do okay, but it would not stay bonded to the
wood.  Trouble started cropping up shortly after my arrival, and I
remember having to replace the pouches in almost everything outfitted
with Perflex.  MSI took care of any failures on anything they made,
with much embarrassment, many apologies and no questions asked.
A return to leather and hide glue solved the problem.  Just another
case of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."


>> Tony's post also brought back memories of visiting Ray Siou's
>> marvelous home and shop in Oakland during a San Francisco AMICA
>> convention.  What a legendary character he was!  Thanks for the
>> memories, Tony!


Glad I could stir up some musical memories for you, Dick.  I had the
great fortune in being chosen to help Noble drive the band organ from
Texas to Oakland, and I'll never forget the visit to Ray's emporium.
The downstairs was just stuffed with every kind of musical antique one
could imagine, and the upstairs was like being transported to a beautiful
traditional Chinese home of the 1940s.  What vastly different worlds,
only a floor apart.

My Best to All,

Tony Greer
Lubbock, Texas