To make one of my dreams come true, I am going to build an orchestrion
and I will probably start within the next year or so.  This is coming a
long way already and I have spent lots of time and money on getting my
workshop equipped well enough to start such a task.

When Craig Brougher's book "Orchestrion Builder's Manual" was
published, I immediately ordered it and have since read and studied
it over and over again.

Long before that already, I constructed a set of 12 pipes for a pipe
chest, just for fun.  At the time, I didn't have much to go on except
for a 110-year-old organ construction book.  I designed a spread sheet
to calculate all the measurements and it really worked first time
round.

Also, I have an old Howard player piano in my store which has been
dedicated to become an orchestrion.

The biggest problem for me is to get proper wood and a spool frame for
this project.

Craig mentions a few details for the construction of a spool frame in
the book, and I have studied them carefully, but there is not enough
info to actually build a spool frame from scratch without a sample
being around to check out a few details and diameters.  Also, I cannot
source any geared motors smaller than 380 watts [1/2-horsepower] in
this country.  One must not forget that I have never seen such a spool
frame; there aren't any in this country.

A new spool frame from the USA would be wonderful but unfortunately our
exchange rate has weakened so much that $600 has become an astronomical
amount in the local currency.  Also, such a frame would still need a
transformer from 220V to 110V to operate.

Maybe someone could help me with a detailed plan of a reasonable O-roll
spool frame, or maybe there is a second-hand one I could purchase from
someone?  Please let me know.

Next, there is the roll question.  I will need a couple of rolls to
start with, for testing, etc.  Can anyone help with the supply of some
O-rolls?

Lastly, maybe someone has any suggestion or even some plans for a
complete orchestrion with a proven design and good expression etc.  Any
additional information to Craig's book will be most appreciated .

Thanks,

Bernt W. Damm