My first post here, hope I'm doing it right!  I recently acquired a
Howard nickelodeon, with a Baldwin stack.  The roll frame needs some
serious help: the pot metal gears have swollen and fallen apart --
typical of such material.

The piano itself is in pretty good shape, and surprisingly nearly
in tune after likely many years of never being touched.  Obviously it
will need a complete rebuild of the player part, but that is pretty
do-able (and much simpler than my Ampico).

I have a machinist who may be able to make the gears, but before
tackling that, I'm wondering what the chances are of finding another
roll frame from a scrapped piano, or a substitute roll frame that would
adapt and fit?  Pictures are at http://www.tri.net/~rrogers/Howard/ 

Many thanks for your help and advice!

Rod Rogers
Salina, Kansas

 [ The spool frame with the pot metal gears looks like the one in the
 [ Tangley Calliaphone, powered by an air motor.  It's a good design
 [ when (re)fitted with bronze or steel gears.  -- Robbie