I've been running around the East Coast and finally got back.  I met some
really nice people and seen some places I always wanted to see.

We took the tour at QRS at Buffalo, New York.  When we first walked in we
were greeted with piano music coming from a Haines upright Ampico.  There
was also a Duo-Art grand & several new Story & Clark players.  These
little players had a really impressive sound for a small piano.  We then
enjoyed a slide show about the history of the company.  Then the marking
piano was demonstrated for us.  Then it was to the back room for the
fun!.

There were three perforators.  A computer now sits on the master tracker
bar spool box to run the whole shebang.  I spent a lot of time looking
over the stencil machine: simple but effective.  I had hoped to meet Rudy
Martin but he wasn't there.  After the tour Mr. Berkman came out to
answer questions.  We discussed rolls, arranging, copyrights and
Pianomation.  I am sold on the Pianomation.  I am going to put it in my
recording piano to playback and edit my arrangements.  This piano will
still have the old player stack in it so I can run my old rolls onto
Midi.

We stayed at Mr. Stan Aldridge's in nearby Tonawanda.   I got to see the
Wurlitzer building, and several others that still stand.  Stan had
rebuilt an oval-door Foster and sold it, but he couldn't find the people
who bought it!  I really wanted that piano but it got away _again_!  He
also had a AMICA meeting over the weekend.  Here I had the pleasure of
meeting Mr. Ramsey Tick, and he told me a little story.

When QRS was still in New York, a fellow walked in and wanted to know
what it was all about.  He was given a job in the technical department.
It was some time before Mr. Tick discovered he had talent.  Then the rest
is history.  The man's name is Rudy Martin.!!!

Fast-forward to East Rochester.  I seen the Ampico smokestack and the
original buildings that still stand.  Inside is some photos of how the
building looked in the 'teens.  I was driving the motor home so I spent
the night there.

I spent the rest of the day in piano stores and visiting player people in
search of the oval-door Foster.  No luck.  I was told that this piano
with that style case was only built for a couple of years, around 1913.
I did find a Steinway Duo-Art unrestored for $10,900 -- too much for me!!

Saw Six Flags in New Jersey, then to Baltimore MD where I found a nice
plain square-door Foster.  I brought it home.

Andy Taylor
Missouri