Hi again; Thanks everybody for your further ideas on this.  From the
responses on the MMD and a phone call from another very respected
rebuilder the consensus is that the wood in question is indeed red gum.

I don't know where I got that idea originally but when it became
necessary for me to actually need some I discovered that red gum,
at least from major US suppliers of variety woods, is almost impossible
to find.  The one source in Canada that I located didn't think much of
its mechanical properties leading me to believe (as was suggested in
another reply) that there are different varieties of it.  The Standard
player action company in New York must have consumed vast quantities
of it so it once was available.

It's not very attractive wood (to my eye) and I guess its expense
prompts the use of other, similar wood like poplar these days.  I did
locate one other source, in Georgia, and the cost from them was $35.00
per board foot plus shipping.  I'll bite the bullet and order some and
let you know what I get.

Thanks again

Mike Kitner