Last year over 1,000 player pianos were destroyed here in the UK
following the death of the owner of one company whose executor could
only find a home for the best pianos such as Bechstein & Steinway.
I have given up trying to find new homes for un-restored players as
no-one in the UK seems interested in a 'project' any more.

What concerns me more this year is that there are two Aeolian
Orchestrelles at risk of destruction by the end of March 2019 if
a new home is not found for them.  Over the past 25 years I have
managed to find new homes for all Orchestrelles offered except one.

In 2018 there was a large Aeolian, for which the owner had paid
£4,500 and was in full working condition, which the owner decided he
had to get rid of.  He gave myself & someone else three months to find
a new home (free of charge).  But only two weeks later he phoned to
tell me had had lost patience and chopped it up.

I hope to prevent this happening again, but I list here all the
Aeolians I know of for sale in the UK just now, including the two
at-risk instruments.  I know there are not so many MMD readers in UK
and Europe but hope someone might be interested.  Please contact me
in the first instance; some of these owners are only on telephone,
not e-mail.

131. Model "Colonial" suction, Sussex, 64-1/2" high x 72" wide x
27" deep, £1,750 + plenty of rolls.  Was working 5 years ago when
I last played it; all mechanics and pneumatics are original.

133. Model "W" complete, not working, located Cambridgeshire, £400.
Will be 'dismantled' in March if not gone by then.

138. Model "Y" complete mechanism, no case (kept by owner for his
own case-less machine).  Please ask for price.  Located Notts.
Circa 8 feet tall.

139. Model "F" two-manual, circa 8-feet tall, all valves & pouches
renewed ca. 2014 by previous owners but one.  Including rolls, working
perfectly.  Located Sussex, ca. 8 feet 4 inches tall.    £7,450.

140. Francis the First Model (a "W" in a very ornate case) restored
by the current owner.  Located N.W. England, £2,995 with 30 rolls
(more available by negotiation).

141. Francis the First Model (a "W" in a very ornate case) restored by
current owner.  Located N.W. England, same owner as above; he has to
renew his storage payment next month and will destroy the instrument
if a home cannot be found quickly.  Price £0.0 -- very cheap.

142. Model XW a 116-note model. Very unusual ornate case.  Not working
now, but it was 10 years ago.  With 5 or 6 rolls only, but I can supply
more. Located Cambridgeshire.  £675.

Kevin McElhone
kevin_mcelhone@hotmail.com.geentroep [delete ".geentroep" to reply]

 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/19/01/14/190114_055644_XW%20PL.jpeg