I'd like to thank everyone for the discussion on hide glue vs. modern
PVA type glues.  I think Ralph Nielsen put the discussion to bed with
his expert opinion and experience in working with these glues.  I'm a
novice in mechanical music and hope to restore a couple of nickelodeon
pianos whenever I have the opportunity to retire.  I do restore old
tube radios and jukeboxes from the 1920s and 1930s.  Like Ralph, I've
had many opportunities to re-glue radio cabinet joints that have come
loose over time.  Having no experience with hide glue, I use the
standard PVA style Titebond glues.  After completing the cabinet repairs,
the cabinets are lightly sanded, and stain is applied.  It is at this
point that you notice what Ralph mentioned, in that the PVA in the
joint, or any that happened to roll onto the exterior, that was wiped
off, but dried, will NOT take stain.

When it comes to the pneumatics restoration, I'm sticking to the original
materials, i.e., hide glue, in restoration to keep it authentic and so
that it can be easily restored in the future by someone who will get it
after I'm gone!

Britt Abbott
Chesapeake, Virginia