Hello MMD.  After working on the lower player action of my 1918
New York Steck upright D-A for about a year, I finally took off the
front panel of the upper action and discovered that I am the owner of
a set of cross valves.  This is the fourth Aeolian player that I have
rebuilt, but until now, I have never seen a cross valve.

I won't get to see the lower valve plates until I pull the three valve
chests apart.  The chance of my finding a replacement set of round
aperture valve plates is vanishingly small, since the demise of PPCo.,
so I'm thinking of sticking with what I have.  I believe some people
don't like cross valves; I would appreciate some comment.

John Phillips in Hobart, Tasmania.