Noting the article [180713 MMDigest] for a restorable piano in
Michigan, Bush and Lane, of Holland, Michigan, comes to the head of
the list.  Bush and Lane, Victor and Farrand, all from the Bush and
Lane house.

Their player mechanisms by Otto Higel were in four styles:
(1) Teakettle with primary, (2) Teakettle without primary, (3) Cast
pot metal cube valve, and (4) a similar all wood valve, both with
adjustable valve throw ring.  Strangely, the pot metal sort was used
in the expensive pianos.  I've only seen the wood version in Farrand.

I have a restored pot-metal Teakettle in a _big_ Bush and Lane upright
of circa 1917.  I found it in Spokane.  Pot metal seems to do better in
dryer climates.  I've seen two Farrand 5' 2" grands with Welte-Mignon
player using the pot metal square valve stack.  Bush and Lane also used
Standard Pneumatic actions in some of their pianos.

Tom Binnall 
Seattle, Washington, USA