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I know that may sound smug, or discouraging but after one such apprentice had rebuilt his 3 upright players, he started rebuilding his Ampicos and he once came to me and told me something that surprised me.
He said, "When you told me to rebuild a few players first, I wasn't happy but that was the best advice you could give me. Thanks."
It is good solid advice. If you have already rebuilt several upright players completely, then ignore this post. You already have what you need to do the job.
Doug L. Bullock
dmcquaide wrote:
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. , Spencer Chasecom
<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
>
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