This month has again shown great progress.  When I visited restorer
Kevin Hanna and technician Nathan Smith to return the toy counter
instruments I was presented with a completed playing xylophone.
The toy counter valve chest was fully connected and the instrument
played the piano and the xylophone as per the rolls.  We added the
castanets, the triangle, the snare drums and the others that I was
returning and they played along in their position.

Since then Kevin and Nathan have completed the cathedral chimes
and are now about to start on the main instrument, the glockenspiel.
At the same time they have been working on the top boards of the
organ chest.

Originally the flute, the cello and the violin boxes were combined.
However, when installed in the church, they had been cut into separate
boxes.  Using the existing tops as a pattern, Kevin and Nathan have
made a new top board in its original one-piece design.  This is now
complete also and at present has all the pipes mounted in it in their
correct positions.

We have just received the new cut-and-pressed Large and Small Valves
we need to complete the Photoplayer.  They are water cut from brass
sheet, the same as the original valves that were in the stack, and were
pressed to the original shape (1915 Wurlitzer).  If anyone needs valves
we will have spares available.  The cost works out at US$ 7.50 each plus
freight.  Just drop me an email.  We know these are hard to find so we
cut a few extra.

We have just appointed a carver to reproduce the front of the
instrument and are looking forward to seeing this progress over the
next few months.

Don Paynter
Opotiki, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand

 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/17/04/05/170405_140057_IMG_4546.JPG 

 [ See also the video interview by the Waikato Times at
 [ http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/88005180/historic-wurlitzer-photoplayer-being-restored-in-waikato 
 [ -- Robbie