In MMD 111231 Larry Schuette asked about installing an e-valve system
in a player piano:

> Are these systems easy to install or do you need a degree in
> electrical engineering?

Larry, as far as I know, there is now only one supplier of e-valve
systems -- the VirtualRoll by Hunt Piano Company in Maine:

  http://www.virtualroll.com/ 

The system cost me about $2,400 but you would need to talk to Bob Hunt
about that.  You might also wish to install a vacuum motor so you
don't have to pedal.  I used an Electrolux vacuum cleaner motor, but
John Tuttle of Player-Care.com has a system which might be better and
easier to install than my home-made system.

You don't need an engineering degree, but a bit of knowledge of
electricity and basic electronics will help, as will some home handyman
type skills.

I would be happy to speak with you by phone (from Australia) if you
wish to send me your phone number (land-line only please, cell phones
are too expensive).  I will send my phone number by private email.  You
can contact me on gward1211@bigpond.com.geentroep (remove ".geentroep"
from the email address).  You can review the results of my project at

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJr7eI1yf0k 

Kind regards,
Geoff Ward
Sydney