I listened to the same RealAudio interview and I had the same conclu-
sion about the $7,000.00 price, so I wrote Mike and he explained
that he got his info from the "Encyclopedia of Mechanical Music."
Right there it was: in the Duo-Art section a bill of sale for an XR
at $7,000.00.

The interview is great.  I made a tape copy of it and I listen to it
in my car.  You need to listen to it.  I have asked to be allowed to
use the file once the college decides to remove it from the servers.
They say they have no such plans and I hope they leave it.

Sam Harris
Greenville, North Carolina
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ranch/9374

 [ A signed purchase agreement of December, 1927, for $7000, is shown
 [ on page 302 of Bowers' Encyclopedia.  On page 299 is a list of "New
 [ York Retail Prices", showing February 1924 prices for Duo-Art repro-
 [ ducing pianos, from $695 to $4675.  The Steinway XR price shown is
 [ $3875 when purchased in New York City.  That's an astounding price
 [ difference in only two years!  The $7000 purchase agreement bears a
 [ rubber stamp "Bill of Sale" dated April 1929, with no value indica-
 [ ted.  I wonder if the amount actually paid to Aeolian was really
 [ $7000.   -- Robbie