Mellotronists

Dear Vance, All.

Re this subject, I am afraid that I was talking Partial Bollocks.

Interested parties, please note the following:

The "Piano-Player" (aka "push-up" or "vorsetzer") was the forerunner to the
automatic player piano, being introduced in the US in around 1897. The
popularity of these instruments (which were placed in front of a regular
piano, and operated the keys of same via small buckskin "fingers"!!) waned
from about 1907 when the mechanism became available already built in to a
piano cabinet. These instruments were called "Player Pianos"

I correctly stated that in the UK at least, these things are cheap....SOME
are!! There are two fundamentally different versions; one capable of playing
the entire 88 note compass of a piano keyboard and an earlier type playing
the middle 65 notes only. (A very rare 65/88 note version also exists) It is
only the 65 note version which is cheap!!... a good one changes hands for
around �250. The 88 note machine is the "Mk2" of the autopiano world!!....
It's much rarer, and can fetch up to �3000!

Player pianos, on the other hand ARE relatively cheap, owing to their
bulkiness when compared to a standard piano. A player version of a quality
British Upright piano (Chappell, Challen, Broadwood, etc......) is
invariably worth LESS than the standard non-player equivalent.  The danger
is that owing to their cheapness, repairs, maintenance and restorative work
nearly always outprices the value of the instrument, so there are many
bodged examples out there. Sadly, most good player piano specialists are
over subscribed with work, and I can think of one repairer in Britain who is
capable of fine results, but who is such an unreliable pillock when it comes
to finishing repairs on schedule, he's not worth using. The eccentricity of
these instruments is often eclipsed by the technicians who work on them. And
many owners.

And remember!...Piano repairs are expensive. I know this, because I repair
them and charge for doing so. Piano repairs paid for my Mellotron. A player
piano can cost many thousands of ��� or $$$ to restore, and its final value
next to zero. The market for these is BAD!

Still!!...Fun tho!... and even better if you find a cheap one that's in g w
o. Further info can probably be obtained from the British Player Piano
Group. Go to:

http://www.PlayerPianoGroup.org.uk

And grow a silly beard.



Cheers f'now!


C


----------
>From: The Pomeroy Ranch <punchbowl4@earthlink.net>
>To: mellotronists@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: Re: [Mellotronists] The most impacting music I have ever heard!!
>Date: Mon, Feb 11, 2002, 5:29 pm
>

>
>
>When you say "push-up", are you referring to what is also known as a
>"vorsetzer": a box that rolls up to the keys of a piano with 'fingers' for each
>key and plays them via a perforated roll??? I have seen one in action here in
>the LA area but thought they were rare and expensive. Do tell more! Where? How
>much?
>
>I pumped (no cheeky comments please) many a mile on an Aeolian as a kid. That's
>where I discovered Franz Von Suppe.
>
>What is the best way to get an automatic piano?
>
>Vance
>

>