Player Steinway

[Les Smith]

In a word, yes, a player Steinway outfitted with a Duo-Art reproducing
player mechanism is definitely worth doing. The Duo-Art built by Aeolian
and found in pianos such as Steinway and Weber (among others) and the
"Ampico" built by The American Piano Company and found in pianos such as
Chickering and Knabe (among others) were the two major competing repro-
ducing player systems. Both discontinu4d production in the early 30's.
As to which is the "better" system, it depends upon whom you ask. That
question is still being "duked out" 3/4 of a century later. The bottom
line is, however, that a vintage Steinway grand outfitted with a Duo-Art
reproducer IS a worthwhile restoration.

There were three different models of the Duo-Art system offered over the
years, the so-called "early", "late" and "very-late" versions. The latter
produced in very limited quantities and brought out to meet the challenge
of the Ampico "B". Among player enthusiasts, however, the "late" model
is the most desirable of the three because it allows full "manual con-
trol" of all the expression mechanisms if desired. All these manual con-
trols are missing in the more streamlined "very late" model. If ALL the
controls for the player are located in the spoolbox, and you have an
electric-drive roll mototr, you have the very late model. If the con-
trols are located in behind the keyslip in the front of ther piano, you
have one of the two earlier versions. If the controls behins the key-
slip include a round control labeled "temponomic" you have the earli-
est version.

Rolls, both old and new, are still available for both the Duo-Art and the
Ampico, today, but they're getting pricey. It's getting more and more dif-
ficult, however, to find technicians qualified to restore Duo-Art player
mechanisms back to original condition. There are a couple of nation-wide
groups devoted to players and and other automatic musical instruments.
There is also a group here on the internet through which you can possibly
find a technician in your area qualified to do the restoration. You MIGHT
also ask yourtt local Steinway Dealer for a referral. HOWEVER, most Duo-
Art restorations done today reflect varying degrees on incompetence. Their
restoration is rapidly becoming a "lost art". For this reason it is be-
coming increasing difficult to find a "restored" Duo-Art player the per-
forms anywhere near it's potential. CHOOSE YOUR RESTORER VERY CAREFULLY.
You don't just want a "name" you want to meet him, hear for yourself a
couple of examples of his work and talk to several people for whom he's
done restorations. This is not a place to shop price. The right man will
be expensive and worth every penny he charges. Good Luck!

Les Smith
lessmith@buffnet.net 



On Thu, 9 Oct 1997, John Hartman wrote:

> Dear List,
> 
> I need advise on restoring a Player mechanism. The Piano is a Steinway 
> model L in a carved mahogany case and is scheduled for a complete 
> rebuilding.  The player mechanism seems to be intact and the word Duo-Art 
> is stenciled on the fall-board. The client has shown interest in 
> restoring the player and I need help on what to advise them. I have no 
> intention in doing the work myself and need the name of the most 
> qualified player restorer to refer to my client. A few other questions I 
> have are; is this worth doing, is the Duo-Art the better quality 
> "reproducing" mechanism, can player roles be found that work and what 
> kind of service problems will be encountered?
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> John Hartman RPT
>