On PlayRite and B's
By A. B. Bonds
Many thanks to both Craig Brougher and Robbie Rhodes to their comments with respect to my queries. I may try a couple of the newer PlayRite rolls, but I have visited the Playtime site mentioned (not slow at all, even during the day) and found that their Ampico catalog was severely limited to a few pops rolls. At least some years ago, PlayRite had well over a hundred Ampico titles in their catalog.
To play 88-note rolls, I'll try yanking the #6 lines and see what happens. RE Robbie's comments that I should get a foot-pumper and that A's are "better" than B's, I'd reply (1) I have an A (upright), a B (grand), a 7-ft grandfather clock, a Victrola Orthophonic console, an Ariston organette, two cats and a chair in my living room. I suppose I could do without the chair, but I haven't seen any foot- pumpers that small. (2) IMHO, the A is great for A rolls and popular music, the B is great for B rolls and classical. Mebbe it's the difference between an upright and a grand, but that's how I use them.
A final question. My B is getting a bit wheezy. I restored all the pneumatics, rubber and valve facings about five years ago, but tried to do a couple of valve block pouches and determined that I had neither the skill nor patience to do them well, so left well enough alone. A number of them are getting pretty leaky--they do get a fair amount of exercise. Any recommendations for shops who can do Ampico blocks? I apologize if this is getting too commercial....
(Oddly, the A, which is 6 years older than the B, soldiers on with most of the original valve pouches. They may not be as sophisticated, but they are robust.)
Regards A. B. Bonds
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(Message sent Fri 5 Jul 1996, 21:27:08 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.) |
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