Gouley player piano info requested

[Les Smith]

Hi, Lar.

I hope this helps. I really had to dig back for some information on this
one. This was a tough one.

The Gouley's full name--which should be on there somewhere-- is actually
Gouley, Winter and Leeming, LTD. this piano was made in Toronto. It was
associated with the Mason and Risch, Canadian compnay, which built some
fine pianos back in to old days. It was also associated with the Sterling
action and key company (Canadian). The Sterling name was also associated
with the Canadian Piano Company, which was once located on Adelaide St.
in Toronto. The name Sterling (and, also Winter--Canadian) was also later
associated with the name Mason and Risch. The G,W and L, LTD, player was
a Toronto (Canada) player. No doubt about it. Almost.

Now things get a little easier. My records indicate that the ONLY player
used in a GW and L player was the American-made, Standard Action. Because
of the two action's great similarity, it may be possible to find a G,W
and L, LTD player with an AUTOPIANO action in place of the Standard Act-
ion. It really doesn't matter. 

The Standard (and it's cousin, the Autopiano) constituted the most pop-
ular, most widely-used, most reliable and easiest-to-rebuild of all the
American-made player actions. Parts and insructions for the rebuild are 	
readily available. Reblitz covers the topic thoroughly in his book on
rebuilding and servicing Player Pianos. My records indicated that the
G, W and L, LTD player I encountered long ago, indeed was outfitted with
a Standard Action, and it's automatic tracker was of the famous, "double-
hole" in each side" design. Since no special notes are included, I can 
only assume that the rebuild was it's usual "piece o' cake". The Stand-
ard/Autopiano player action is among the easiest to rebuild. Further, the
player, of course, uses standard, still-easy-to-get rolls. The upright
piano which enclosed the player was--with apologies to all Canadian mem-
bers- only so-so, even after extensive work. On the bright side, however, 
the player's American owner did pay cash.
  
I hope you find some of this information useful.

Take dang good care of yourself.  :)

Les Smith
submitted 4/28/98