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MMD > Archives > December 1996 > 1996.12.13 > 10Prev  Next


RE: Monograph: Player Pianos - draft
By Jim Canavan

Robbie, A great start on the monograph.  Suggestions:

1.  Re your comment:

  > Note that a pumper piano fitted with an electric pump is not in
  > this category.  In fact, the whole thing should be in the trash!

I take exception: although I LOVE pumping my York Standard Action upright
(and always show it off it "newbies" in this fashion), I also am glad that
it's restorer added a vacuum motor.  It's awful nice sometimes to sit back
and read, while the piano plays me a nice long medley roll (such as the
wonderful QRS "Automatic" recuts from Rob DeLand!).

While I agree that an electric pump should never be added at the expense
of removing/harming the foot pumping capability, I fail to see how adding
this harmless li'l removable 8-inch square box is such a mortal sin!

 [ Good point.  The sin occurs when an electric pump is installed as a
 [ "quick fix" instead of properly repairing a dilapidated foot-pumper.
 [ The roll recuts you mention were arranged for this situation, too.
 [ But, Jim, are other 88-note rolls pleasant at constant volume?
 [ -- Robbie

2. Under Player Organ, you list:

  > Reed Organ (roll, barrel)
  > Roller Organ (roll)

A better term for these two might be "organettes," at least for the
home-sized instruments.  Gem, Concert, and Chautauqua organettes called
themselves "roller organs" yet use wooden pinned cobs.

Jim Canavan¶
CYBRFLASH@aol.com¶
Alexandria, VA

 [ Author's note:
 [
 [ Thanks, Jim,  I'll use "Organette" for the table-top organs.
 [ I believe the term "roller organ", like "roller piano", results
 [ from the pinned wooden roller which resembles a biscuit roller
 [ ("rolling pin"), and not from the rolled music sheet.
 [
 [ Peter Neilson also wrote asking if I'd forgotten "Band Organs"
 [ (yes!), and correcting my spelling of "Telelectric."
 [
 [ -- Robbie

(Message sent Fri, 13 Dec 1996 09:04:32 -0500 , from time zone -0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  draft, Monograph, Pianos, Player

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