Introduction
By Bob Taylor
I signed on Aug. 4, 1996 but have only been "lurking" since that time. While I met some of you in Chicago (I helped host the Krughoff collection, but did not attend the convention), the rest of you should know that I am primarily interested in reproducing pianos. My prime concern is the Ampico system and the coding of those rolls. Starting in 1984, I was involved with Robbie Rhodes and Wayne Stahnke in a project that applied Ampico coding to rolls that were recorded on Wayne Stahnke's studio piano. Using printed data via a Rhode's program, coding was applied to rolls that were then produced on the Tonnesen perforator. The Artist was (the late) Leo Podolsky. All of us enjoyed success in that project, and the art of modern roll production took a giant leap forward.
A somewhat less involved roll project has been with Rob Deland as we have collaborated to code some of his 88-note rolls into Ampico format. The John Arpin "St. Louis Blues" is one of those rolls.
Of course I collect rolls and also have a collection of pianos. My favorite is the Ampico B. I have identified several types of roll coding and have traced the actual rolls in the progression of Ampico roll coding.
I restore instruments on a limited basis. Some of the instrument I have restored are one of a kind. The factory demonstration Ampico A Chickering Concert Grand is one of those. It has some very unique components and a special remote control device built in. It is also equipped with a power boosting system to drive the stack pressures high enough to fill a concert hall.
My free time is rather limited and I can only "lurk" here most of the time. Occasionally I will put in my "two-cents". I have enjoyed the reading here. I know many of you already. I'm sure I'll get to know many more! It's delightful to see my English friends here. Dan, give my best to Denis and Rex.
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(Message sent Thu 5 Sep 1996, 04:39:42 GMT, from time zone GMT-0600.) |
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