I have a 1925 Baby grand with the Ampico Player that is working OK.
In the next year I am going to refinish the piano and rebuild the
player. At that time I would like to install a MIDI system so I
could play both Paper & E-Rolls if posible. If this is as much
enjoyment as I think it will be, I hope to restore more of these
pianos.

David McQuaide


--- In E-Roll-Collectors@yahoogroups.com, Spencer Chase
<spencer@...> wrote:
>
> Greetings E-Roll-Collectors,
>
> As usual, I am trying to determine if I can continue to produce the
> E-Roll Player. Due to the low value of the US dollar, parts costs
have
> skyrocketed. I had reduced costs to the point that I would actually
> make some money if I continued the current design but that is not
> possible now. I have a new design in testing that will be cheaper
to
> produce and is made from components that do not have absurd
purchase
> lead times as with the current design. I hope to have a fully
tested
> system together soon and to work out the details of manufacturing
and
> programming the new board. The rest of the system is the same which
> has proven to be very reliable, robust and easy to repair.
>
> I have enough of the old block style (with through holes) that can
be
> built in to systems, once the new boards are proven. This
combination
> of old and new parts (tested with the current valve board)actually
> results in the best performance of any system yet. I had to make
some
> modifications to allow the new coils to fit the old block and this
> resulted in increased performance.
>
> I am writing to ask a few questions.
>
> First, the three (maybe 4) systems that can be built in the near
> future are probably all taken but things can change in time. If you
> might be interested in one, let me know and I'll put you on a list.
>
> Any ideas about the future demand for E-Roll Players would be
helpful.
> I need to determine if I should make another batch which involves
> serious parts price negotiation and tying up a lot of money. The
more
> I build, the lower the cost but the greater risk of having a bunch
of
> money tied up for a long time on a very low profit venture.
>
> How much of a price increase would be possible? Basic system is
$2500
> now. The cost increases add $500 just to build the same design. Is
> $3000 (worthless US dollars) too much for an E-Roll Player? You
could
> buy a medium quality sofa for that much, charge a wide screen TV on
> your credit card and forget about the reproducing piano.
>
> Any success with competing products? I make money selling the E-
Roll
> MIDIs and am continuing to scan and increase my collections. Would
be
> great to just sell the music and let a better business person make
the
> players.
>
> Are people switching to solenoid pianos and giving up on pneumatic
> players. Is the market just too small to bother trying to support
> them?
>
> --
> Best regards,
> Spencer Chase mailto:spencer@...
> 67550 Bell Springs Rd.
> Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only.
> Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only.
> Spencer@...
> http://www.spencerserolls.com
> http://www.spencerserolls.com/MidiValve.htm
> (707) 984-8356
>