Phonoland

Joe_DS, moderator, thought some forum members might enjoy some piano music recorded on a cheap digital camera, by an amateur photographer---so here goes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJrj6b5m ... er&search=
Hal Klassen, recent new member

It sounds great Hal. I hope my push-up sounds as good someday. What sort of pianola is that, and about what year? Did you restore it, or is it "as found"?

So lovely!!!
Thanks a lot
John

Shane, I'm afraid "as found" is only a distant memory of the older members. The piano is an Ampico Model "B" Symphonique in semi - restored condition. It is what is called a "reproducing" piano, in that it reproduces the recording pianist's playing more or less precisely. The first reproducing system was a Welte For Zetzer ?[ push-up ]in around 1902 and the Duo-Art, Ampico and a number of other systems were developed, which started a perpetual argument about which system was best. It turns out that the system you happen to own---is best An interesting theory about what finally killed the player piano, was the new electronically recorded 78s played on professional equipment on radio. You could't get much better than that till stereo and hi-fi came out. Hal

That was the downfall of the acoustic gramophone as well. I guess once radio was available to the masses, anything not as simple as turning a knob & adjusting the volume would have instantly been looked on as old fashioned.
What sort of rolls does yours take? How many notes? It sure looks like a fine piece of furniture. It must sound superb in person. I once saw something similar at a gram collectors house. He hadn't done the bellows though, and had a vaccum cleaner running it, which really distracted from the experience.

The Ampico system robs 4 or 5 notes from each end of the normal 88 note piano for the holes which control the dynamics and pedaling [soft, sustaining etc.] these systems were quite sophisticated and could produce up to 16 levels of volume for the bass and treble, independantly, plus crescendo, decrescendo. I realy enjoy the pianos and I find a short concert very relaxing. The utube playback is about 10% of being there. Hal

Hi Hal,

I promoted your video & posting to the front page (as a link to youtube). Nice!

Marcel.