Hi to all you enthusiastic mechanical music machine collectors
and restorers, from me in Canberra, Australia.  I recently acquired
a Rudolf player piano in very good general condition with the intention
of restoring it and subsequently I discovered the Mechanical Music
Digest.  I have been researching editions from way back in 1996 and
the wealth of information in them is mind boggling.  I am only up to
March 1999 but to date, although there are dozens of brand names
mentioned, I have encountered no references to a Rudolf.

It is branded Rudolf, New York, and was sold in Australia by Elvy's
of Sydney.  It is very solidly built but not what I would call the
prettiest of pianos; however, I am glad to have it and am enjoying
the challenge of getting it to play again.  Does anyone know anything
about the Rudolf?  I would guess that the chance of finding a service
manual would be very slim but I have ordered Player Piano Servicing
and Rebuilding by Arthur Reblitz and eagerly await its arrival.

I am now receiving regular editions of MMDigest via email and reading
all the correspondence with great interest.  I was also directed to
YouTube by one of your contributors and am really enjoying seeing all
those different instruments in action.

If there are any other player piano enthusiasts in Australia who read
this I would be delighted to hear from them.  My email address is
neilstevenson@grapevine.com.au.geentroep [delete ".geentroep" to reply].

Neil Stevenson
Fisher, Australian Capital Territory, Australia