I have read many times about the reported problems with the valve
chambers warping and cracking on Otto Higel Metalnola actions.
After extensive research I have found that this never seems to be
a problem on Canadian-built actions from the Otto Higel factory
in Toronto.

The pot metal castings that suffer from warping and cracking seem
to be exclusively on actions built at the New York factory. In fact,
top Canadian piano builders (Heintzman, Nordheimer, etc.) continued
using the Metalnola action late into the 1920s, at which time the
American factory had long switched to producing an all-wooden
"Pratt-Read" style action.

It would be a shame if someone disregarded a fine Canadian-built
player for fear of this issue, without having all the proper
information!

Andrew Pretty

 [ https://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/23/12/20/231220_171612_IMG_9202.jpeg
 
 [ https://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/23/12/20/231220_171612_IMG_2004.jpeg
 

 [ The New York firm advertised it's transmission frame "is constructed
 [ of a single integral die-casting, assuring absolute accuracy in the
 [ alignment of the music roll, tracker bar and take-up spool." Ref.
 [ https://elibrary.arcade-museum.com/Music-Trade-Review/1918-66-13/6 
 [ -- Robbie