Thought I'd give Joe's advise a go, and post a "mechanical music" topic, as some other members may have an interest in similar items. Anyway- here we go!
I bought this Aeolian push-up piano player a few years ago, (mainly because I have my grandfather's Beale Hapsberg, I can't play it, and don't have room for another piano/pianola), but have found very little information on the net about it.
It is capable of playing both 58 note & 65 note rolls, and I think dates from about 1902. About all I've found on the net, are old adverts for similar pianola's, but the closest I've come to finding this model is one that looks identical, except mine has sliding doors to conseal the pedals, and all the ones in the ad's have swinging doors. I've made a start on restoring the woodwork, but don't know enough about them to feel confident in tackling the inner works. I have a friend that restores pianola's etc, that can help out with the works once I save the dollars to buy the different leathers for the bellows etc.
I'm in two minds as to replacing the tubing. My friend is quite adiment on using original style rubber for the tubing, but I think modern plastic(PVA?) tubing would probably last longer, and might be cheaper as well. Are there any advantages to using rubber, other than for authenticity?
I'm also wondering if these were designated model numbers or names, like phonographs and gramophones?
Also, I haven't been able to find any rolls for this- I saw a couple on ebay a while ago, but missed the end of the auction! My main problem here is that I don't really know what to look for. I know they differ from normal pianola rolls, which have a "female" end to the rolls, but thats about it. Is there a specific brand or something that I should be looking or asking for. I've emailed sellers on ebay, asking about the ends or the number of notes, but they usually give me some obscure answer. They either know less about them than me(if thats posible) or get confused with my asking about male or female ends on the rolls.
Just an after thought- below is a pic of the speed indicator. I want to replace the worn writing on it. Below the numbers, it should say PIANOLA, and I've started ruling it up etc to re-write it, but below that, along the bottom, it's also missing some words. It looks like it was written in "Olde English" text, but I can't make out what it said. I thought probably something like "The Aeolian Co, New York", but it doesn't look like what was there. Any idea's??
