Hello,  there was a post in 2010 about a Philipps Duca reproducing
system built in a Scholze, Georgswalde, upright piano.  The post was
by John Tuttle, and there was a comment from Robbie which was incorrect
and should be corrected.  I own two Philipps Duca instruments with
exactly the same system and also the same layout of the expression
system.  They are made in the late 1920s by Philipps and I agree with
John, in an excellent craftsmanship.  Ed Smith got a really excellent
reproducing system with a great piano as well.

 [ See http://www.player-care.com/scholze-georgwaldes.html  -- Robbie

The expression system is very similar to the German original Welte
Mignon system but with some improvements.  My two Duca pianos are
made completely by Phillips, which merged in the 1920s with the Arnold
piano company (Aschaffenburg, near Frankfurt/Main).  I'm not sure where
Robbie got the information that Philipps quit the production of the
Duca in 2012; it's simply not correct and should be corrected.

That Scholze had the cast iron frame with that top line doesn't mean
that they had a license or did manufacture the Duca system.  Just to
add also, that this late Duca layout is one of the most maintenance
friendly and the simplest system I have ever seen in a (German) player
piano up to now, besides Hupfeld's aluminium or Bakelite valve system.
I did add some photos of my pianos; they are built completely by
Philipps between 1926 and 1928.

Sincerely,

Olaf Schreiber - Organ builder
Thuringia, Germany
http://www.schreiber-orgelbau.de/ 

 [ Top of one of my Ducas
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/15/05/03/150503_145635_Obereinbau.jpg
 

 [ wind chest, front board with the main valve pouches removed
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/15/05/03/150503_145635_Philipps06.jpg
 

 [ bottom of the 2nd Duca
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/15/05/03/150503_145635_Untereinbau%20links.jpg
 

 [ cast iron frame with the Philipps arm
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/15/05/03/150503_145635_arm.jpg