•I saw this recently in an eBay auction ad, and got quite a chuckle: > This wonderful item is a "Rolmonica". The name has > nothing whatsoever to do with anything William Jefferson > "you-know-who" did with "that woman"! " No, I don't have any connection with the item for sale. Todd Augsburger allma...

•I'm reassembling a Grand Roller Organ, and am unsure about the originality of handles that were on the left and right sides. The handles are of stamped brass-colored metal, and were attached with shortened screws. They don't look original to me, but I cannot remember if these organs even had handle...

•I just talked to Pat Jones from Missouri who has a QRS PlayASax for sale for $60. It has the original box, three rolls, solid casting, and appears to him to be in good condition. I don't know him, but it sounded like a fair deal, and he seemed eager to see that it had a good home. Please contact hi...

•Here are the results of my query: The majority found handles like this: "The side handles are plain, with 3 screws and the bail (handle) pivots on its two ends so that it lies recessed within the frame at rest." But at least one other has handles like I have, a single piece stamped brass with two s...

•Well, I've finally committed to going to the Union (IL) Show this weekend. I don't get out much, and would love to meet any of you MMD types, so if you're going to attend be sure to say "Hi". Although it's highly phono-related, they do promote such things as music boxes and roller organs as well. (...

•Any of you who collect Band Organ literature may want to check out eBay #116692845. A Roller skate catalog picturing a "rink" band organ. I have no connection to this listing--just passing the info along. Todd Augsburger allmax@bright.net http://www.bright.net/~allmax/index.htm

•I noticed on eBay Internet auction that someone has listed three cherubs, supposedly from a band organ facade. So, if you're looking for them, see the ad at http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=127412826 (Standard disclaimer applies -- I know nothing about this item or advertiser...

•A fellow collector, Tom Newsome, is looking for a dealer, collector, or someone who may have a Gem or Concert Roller Organ that he may examine personally in West Australia. He may then be interested in purchasing one so that he may restore it. Surely one of you can help him out? Tom is not a subscr...

•I checked the instrument, the box, the rolls, and the roll boxes, only to discover that it was spelled "PLAYASAX", in all caps in all these places. But in e-mail conversation, I usually refrain from typing all caps, so have used "PlayASax" as a compromise, although I recognize that it was (is) misl...

•Robbie commented in MMD 990801: >[ Product names in the MMD Archives try to follow the conventions >[ used in the reference book "Encyclopedia of Automatic Musical >[ Instruments". Author Q. David Bowers and his advisors seem to prefer >[ the name used by the manufacturer in correspondence or adver...

•Jack, I have no packaging material in my own collection, but I'll share what I've seen and heard. Nelson Pease, in a discussion about original label color, once mentioned that he had received rolls still in their original paper wrapping, unopened. I did not ask him about the type or method of that ...

•Burlap wrappers? I always understood that the wrap was paper. I have some rollers with paper about 5 3/4 wide, sealed with brown paper tape, that _could_ be original, but who knows? How does one tell what is original, and what was added by a careful owner? Todd Augsburger http://www.bright.net/~all...

•Art, Thanks for your comments in MMD. It makes sense! I'm neither a professional restorer nor musician, but when I listen to instruments, I _do_ notice things such as late or missing percussion, mediocre arrangements, and out-of-tune instruments. The worst percussion delay I've ever heard was on a ...

•The Purchase: All those MMD discussions about restoring player pianos finally took their toll -- I bought an upright player at an auction this summer. The price was right, it was only across town, and my wife agreed. The Good News: The player mechanism itself was easily repaired, and all seems to b...

•Thank you all for your informative replies, and your recommendations. It seems that the only reasonable solution is to rebuild, and of course, that's the option that seemed most logical -- but I suppose I was looking for a shortcut. I so appreciate the voice(s) of experience shared in MMD, especial...

•Robbie, In your listing of music media, please don't forget that i maintain a complete list of roller organ rollers (cobs), as well as images of the various styles of roller labels. the information may be found at http://www.bright.net/~allmax/index.htm . You are of course welcome to link to this r...

•It seems like every couple of weeks I get a request about parts, advice, rolls, discs, etc. for various instruments that I own and display on my web site, and I often don't know where to forward them. This week it was PlayASax rolls; last week it was music box movements; the week before someone who...

•Al Pebworth, I stopped by your "Faventia" page as listed in MMD, and was pleasantly surprised! Whatever Faventia music I'd heard in the past was nothing like the sound coming from that machine. I listened to _all_ the sound clips! I'd even consider adding one of these instru- ments to my collection...

•Jack, The shut-off pin is very often found broken off, just as you describe. In fact, on the six machines setting around here, I think only one is original. It appears to me that there were two styles: the earlier machines had a rectangular cross-section (like a square (cut) nail) and tapered out f...

•Pat DeWitt, Congratulations on your recent acquisition of a roller organ. Regarding the "noisy valves", I suppose it's not that unusual if the felt/leather is old and stiff. I've seen some which are nearly rigid! The valve pads are easily replaced, so it would be worth doing if that's the case. I h...