A most unusual find!

[gordon stelter]

Never seen one, but I'd suspect it was built up from
an old, gutted, mini-Ampico "top loader".
     Thump

--- Robert Goodale <rrg@unlv.edu> wrote:
> <<Long but worth it- read on>>
> 
> I have come across the most unusual piano.  The
> local dealer got it in on trade some time ago for a
> new Petrof, but I never got a chance to get a close
> look until a couple nights ago.  This piano has a
> player in it that wasn't working. Under the
> assumption that it was a Pianocorder, (as the dealer
> thought), I agreed to take a look-see with no
> promises.
> 
> The piano looks beautiful, an interesting burled
> walnut finish.  The front has intricate lattice work
> overlaying clear glass.  There are only six and a
> half octaves making the piano look like a Victorian
> birdcage, though it is not.  Over all a very nice
> specimen.  But then the surprise... smoke and
> mirrors my friends.
> 
> I'll start by saying that some technician somewhere
> put an enormous amount of work into this. I have to
> question if they made any money out of it concerning
> the labor that must have been involved.  The piano
> is studio sized and has "Collard & Collard" on the
> fall board and below that it the name of a dealer in
> London.  Pretty exotic sounding.  Cast into the
> plate, however, is "Marshal & Wendell", an American
> manufacturer.  Then the other surprise.  This piano
> is actually more of a large console or very small
> studio.  About four inches has been added to the
> height of the piano with a filler section.  The
> modification is very well done, it almost fooled me.
>  The sides are continuous with no patch made to
> extend the height, thus the entire sides of the
> piano were also replaced.  Likewise the entire
> exterior of the piano was re-veneered, a very good
> job of it too.  The lattice work covering the front
> is all custom made; clearly someone spent a lot of
> time making it and did a fine job.  It is all
> assembled with vintage hardware, however, to give it
> an antique look.  At first, second, even third
> glance you would swear that this is all original,
> but it most certainly is not.  I have never seen
> such an intense effort to completely convert a
> piano.
> 
> The saga continues...
> 
> Now onto the player.  The entire system is
> homemade!!  At first glance the control box, (which
> is very neatly installed in a roll out drawer),
> looks like an old Pianocorder.  It even fooled me. 
> Slide it out, however, and surprise... says Yamaha
> it!  It is nothing more then a simple midi
> sequencer.  Closer examination reveals that the unit
> is connected to old Pianocorder logic boards.  The
> main power supply for the whole thing is from Radio
> Shack.  But it doesn't stop there... The system is
> operated by vacuum pneumatics!  Below is a very
> strange pneumatic player stack made from aluminum
> and PVC.  A small and VERY noisy suction motor is
> tucked into a corner.  A platform to support all of
> this is built with the same neat looking
> craftsmanship as the rest of the modifications. 
> Small electro-pneumatic valves activate the
> pneumatics from the midi sequencer instead of a
> music roll.  This was an amazing and gallant effort
> by someone to invent there own player system. 
> Unfortunately it was largely in vain.  This strange
> system has no expression capability, and there are
> numerous sticking electro-pneumatic valves.  With
> the noise of the pump, the whole thing is pretty
> futile.  Only half the notes seem to be playing, and
> it sounded pretty bad.  The dealer would like to
> have it removed.
> 
> So there you have it.  I can't imagine how much work
> someone must have put into this, there is no
> possible way the cost could have been worth it, but
> wow what an effort.  I would like to try and post a
> few pictures of this when I get the chance.  Has
> anyone else seen one like this or have any idea who,
> (a name), may have done this?
> 
> Rob Goodale, RPT
> Las Vegas, NV
> 
> 
> 
> 


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