Paul Johnson enquires whether there are any other enthusiastic
pedallers about?  Well you can certainly count me among them, Paul.
I'd say that I would play my Stroud Themodist-Metrostlye player ten
times as often as I switch on my Gulbransen Recordo.  A reproducing
piano is after all simply a specialised record player ( yes, I know a
Recordo is only an expression piano ), but a pedal player is a musical
instrument into which one has to put significant effort to produce a
worthwhile performance.  Pedalling is thus much more rewarding than
just passively listening.  Of course a foot-pumper can produce really
awful sounds in the hands ( or at the feet ) of an inexperienced or
uninterested operator, but so can a violin.

I'm now donning my tin helmet and flak jacket.

John Phillips.