Bill Boulton said:

> I just received a call from a person wishing to sell an old
> push-up player.  ... I have no idea what these things are worth.

If he put it in a roll auction, he'd find out !

These pushups are pretty common in England and, like old grandfather
clocks before the antique trade got working on them, in the 1960s and
70s had a standard price almost regardless of condition, in this case
=L=50.  At that time most just about worked without having been
restored.  In Australia there are an excess of them over the requisite
number of 65-note rolls, a matter easily rectified by recourse to
British roll dealers, who have more than they can sell.

Since then, condition has begun to tell.  Now I'd guess a poor one might
fetch =L=80 but a working one can confidently expect to raise =L=150,
possibly =L=200.  These would be "Orchestrelle Co" (Aeolian) ones.  A
Chase and Baker might go for more as being rarer, and a Simplex for
less on account of the mountainous restoration task.

Aeolian 65/88-note pushups, which were only made between 1909 and
1916, are in a different area altogether.  (Hupfeld 88n Vorsetzers
are even rarer, being heavily outnumbered in Germany by Phonola/
Claviola 73n ones playing Hupfeld's special themed roll.)  Only 23
65/88-note pushups are known to exist which points to a global figure
of maybe 150.

Yesterday I received my "wins" notice for the latest Post-Bid
Enterprise London roll auction, in which I had also bid,
unsuccessfully, for one of these pushups.  Its reserve price was
=L=1500 and the winning bid was =L=3300.

I have long daydreamed about making a modern 88n version of these
august machines, possibly using an Amphion/Ampico style ball-bearing
primary valve stack, and my guide retail price has been =L=3200.
I'm feeling quite pleased with my guesswork !

Pounds to dollars -- for 1950s, x 2.8, now x 1.65.

Dan Wilson, London