It was a great shock to learn of Dan's passing.  Over the years our
paths crossed several times.  The last occasion on which we met was
when he offered to put his 88-note pushup player at my disposal to
record a CD of my rolls for the Avid company.  He arrived at the studio
towing a beaten-up little trailer housing the pushup.  When it was
unloaded I noticed that most of the veneer was curling and peeling off.
He explained that the instrument had been in his leaking shed for a few
months!  Despite the dilapidated condition of the case the mechanism
functioned perfectly.

As Paddy mentioned, Dan loved piano jazz.  He stayed for most of the
first day of recording gently patting his foot to the music, then
during the intervals recounting tales of strange happenings he had
experienced during his life.  He claimed to be able to diagnose
anything which was wrong with a horse simply by examining its back
legs.

Dan was one-of-a-kind.  He had a delightful aura of eccentricity about
him, did a great deal to further interest in mechanical music and was
enormously knowledgeable about the history of our hobby.  We have lost
a unique individual, I shall miss him.

Rest in peace Dan.

John Farrell
http://homepages.tesco.net/~stridepiano/midifiles.htm