Greetings from The Bronx,  I had attended Boy Scout gatherings at the
now defunct 'New York Coliseum'.  At one particular gathering, there
was a demonstration of a fully functional 'Link-Trainer', showing the
player piano technology that was still being used.

In Binghampton, New York, there is a museum showing many of Edwin Link's
accomplishments.  The museum has a static display of his famous 'Link
Trainer'.  Also featured is a working example of his 'C-Sharp Minor'
Theater Organ.  (Unfortunately, at the time I was there, the roll player
was not functional, but was played by an accomplished organist.)

Then there was a movie from 1965 that featured 'Link-Trainers' as
part of the plot.  The movie in question is 'McHale's Navy Joins The
Air Force'.  The scene in question revolves around McHale's nemesis,
Capt. Binghampton, trying to catch McHale and his crew doing something
that could get them court-martialed.

Binghampton hides in a Link Trainer, which just happens to be scheduled
to be transported for repairs.  The trainer is loaded onto a truck with
Binghampton and his underling Carpenter, in tow.  After a very bumpy
ride, the trainer falls off the truck in mid-transport.

The trainer tumbles down a ravine, and when the two stowaways emerge
from the trainer, all Binghampton can mumble is "Link-Trainers Can't
Fly, Link-Trainers Can't Fly!", after which he ends up at the hospital
for observation.

Hoping you find this informative and amusing!

D. F. Rowe
Bronx, New York
fredsorchestrion@aol.com.geentroep [delete ".geentroep" to reply]