THE OLD PIANO ROLL NEWSA Publication of the Barton Player Piano Company Spring 2012

Barto

n Play

er Pian

o Co.

2715-4th Street S

.E. • S

uite #40 M

inneapolis, MN

55414 (612) 378-1102

12th Annual Piano Roll Flea Market & Movie Event

It’s a Family AffairRestoring a player piano is generally an expensive project. As the age of pianos approaches or exceeds 100 years, the extent and cost of restoration often out paces the budget of many individuals. Increasingly, family members are combining resources to have their treasured heirlooms restored. Barton Piano has recently completed and is in the process of restoring four family projects. Siblings Lisa and Richard Osman are one of the families that are pooling their resources to restore the family piano. Following is Richard’s recollections of the family piano.

Siblings Lisa and Richard Osman are working together to preserve a rare 1913 Kranich and Bach player piano.

“Growing up in South Dakota, Richard and I heard many stories and often dreamed about our Aunt Doris Able’s player piano that was in her home in Washington state,” according to Lisa. Here’s the remarkable saga of the of the Kranich and Bach player piano.

Aunt Doris loved to surround herself with beautiful artwork and collectibles and this piano was one of her many cherished antiques. In 2004, we had our first opportunity to take a trip to visit our aunt’s home in Washington, which

was within walking distance of the home of Microsoft founder Bill and Melinda Gates.

Aunt Doris was concerned about the condition of the piano and explained that it was probably not in working order. However, with a few adjustments and with a lot of leg power, we were able to have the Kranich and Bach filling the house with beautiful music. In Addition, we were getting some great exercise.

Aunt Doris was surprised and overjoyed because it hadn’t been played in nearly 20 years.

Eventually, Aunt Doris was placed in an assisted living center and whenever we traveled to Washington, we would stop by the house and play it for her so she could hear it over the phone. She loved the sound of the player piano and often requested certain rolls to be played.

The day we moved the piano to South Dakota was a memorable one. The piano had to be tipped on its side to get it out of the room and then once out of the house it had to be moved down a driveway that was almost a 30 degree angle to the home. Tim, a neighbor, helped us by driving his Jeep snugly up against the piano as we slowly backed the piano down the hill.

With the piano secured in the trailer, we headed back to South Dakota. We took the piano to a piano rebuilder in North Dakota. He wasn’t able to find any information on the Kranich & Bach player system, so he photographed the parts and uploaded it to the internet to solicit information from player piano rebuilders throughout the country. Many were aware of this type of piano technology but no one had worked on a Kranich & Bach pneumatic system before. He came to the conclusion that this job was more than he wanted to tackle.

Richard began another search and contacted builders in Massachusetts. He was ready to travel east when he happened upon Barton Player Piano’s website and decided to give Mr. Barton

The Osman family gathered around the player piano with Aunt Doris looking thoughtful, Richard pumping the piano and Lisa on right singing along.

Go G

reen and S

ave M

y Green!

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Piano Roll Flea MarketSaturday, April 14, 2012 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 2715-4th St. S.E., Minneapolis

Trim your roll collection or add some new tunes. Hundreds of new and used piano rolls for sale from multiple vendors, as well as a great selection of used and restored player pianos.

Cost to vendors: $30 table/ $15 half table

Movie & Organ ConcertSaturday, April 14, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. The Historic Heights Theatre 3951 Central Ave N.E. Columbia Heights

Barton Piano Co. is proud to sponsor the 12th annual Movie & Organ Concert. The feature film will be Who Framed Roger Rabbit. We will also present a short silent film with organ accompaniment, as well as a short documentary that illustrates the piano roll manufacturing process. This years proceeds will again go towards funding the new handicap accessible bathroom at the Heights. Last year we raised

$500. The suggested donation is $7, however, feel free to donate more for such a worthy cause.

Movie Review—Who Framed Roger RabbitWho Framed Roger Rabbit is an American fantasy-comedy-noir film starring Bob Hoskins as a private detective who investigates a murder involving Roger Rabbit, Christopher Loyd as the villain, and Kathleen Turner, as the voice of the very sexy cartoon wife, Jessica Rabbit. This film, by far one of the best examples of combining live action and animation, intertwines romance, suspense, and comedy into a fun-

filled movie. And of course, it includes the Barton Player Piano Co.’s required fantastic piano scene.

An underlying theme of the movie is the attempt to destroy Toon Town and the street car system in order to make way for the emerging freeway system in L.A. A timely topic, as the Twin Cities rebuilds its rail system after the planned demise of

the system in the 50’s.

A fun film appropriate for all ages.

Family affair, to back

Some Good News & Some Bad NewsThe good news is that QRS is still producing piano rolls at the Buffalo N.Y. facility. They are running the production facility with one person, down from four. Understandably, with a labor force cut by 75%, there will always be gaps in the inventory, but with a little patience, you will have a constant supply of piano rolls. There is even talk of putting out some new releases.

Now for the bad news….. QRS has restructured it’s dealer pricing making it unprofitable for Barton Piano Co. to carry new rolls in the future. We purchased a large inventory before the change, so there will be a great selection at the flea market.

QRS Piano Roll Update

Building Sold, Must VacateThe building at 2715-4th St.S.E. has been sold and will be torn down to make way for student housing. This development is not a total surprise since the building is situated one block from a transit station on the future St. Paul light rail line, but the announcement still came as a surprise. It’s a little ironic that it’s the destruction of Tune (Toon) Town in reverse.

At the time of publication, it is unknown where Barton Piano will move. It is unlikely that the new location will have a large common area that would facilitate the piano roll flea market, so this year’s flea market may be the last. But as they say, “never say never.”

The building was built by Smith Welding Company in the early 1900s which became Tescom Corporation after W.W. II. From 1973 to 1986 Parton

Machinery occupied the building. From 1986 to the present it has been used as a multi-tenant building. Barton piano moved into the building in 1998.

Also anticipated in the move

is that the new show room will be considerably smaller, so pianos in the existing inventory will be sold at reduced prices. If you are looking for an upgrade or know someone who is looking for a player piano, now is the time to buy.

Final Piano Roll Flea Market?

MilestonePiano mover Chester LaRue, who delivered for Barton Player Piano Co. for 24 years passed away peacefully in his sleep November of 2011. He was 82 years old and was buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Chester served in the army during WW 11. He is survived by his daughter Kathy and grandson Phillip. His moving career spanned six decades. Although his moving trucks always looked a little shabby, he always got the job done.

a call. We were very excited when Mr. Barton said he wanted to see the piano, so we hauled the piano to Barton’s Player Piano workshop in Minneapolis in the fall of 2010.

As Mr. Barton examined the piano at his workshop, he was surprised at the excellent condition of the piano. After nearly a thousand miles and loading and unloading four different times, he couldn’t believe how well it had stayed in tune.

Research shows that this Kranich and Bach will be the first rebuild of this type of pneumatic player system in the United States. Most players use similar in design, but the Kranich and Bach kiss valves are unique. The rarity of this piano makes it special and our Aunt Doris knew this when she purchased the piano some sixty years ago.

Richard and I love music and regularly attend silent movie night at the Fargo Theater in Fargo, ND. We have also attended Barton Player Piano

Co.’s sponsored movie events in Minneapolis. Richard has a collection of the black and white silver screen classics of the silent movie era. We look forward to mini movie nights with family and friends while the Kranich and Bach piano plays in the background.

Editor’s note:

Lisa and Richard picked up the piano on Saturday March 24. The Kranich & Bach player system is indeed unique in design and presented some interesting challenges, however, the end result was an absolute success. Art Munger , assistant player technician at Barton Piano was instrumental unraveling the design and restoration process of the very unusual Kranich & Bach “kiss valve.”

In addition, I doubt if this is the first Kranich and Bach restoration in the U.S.

Family affair, from front

Who Invented the Player Piano?The question, “who invented the player piano?” is like “ who invented the automobile?” There just isn’t any clear-cut answer ,for as in the the case of the auto, the credit must be divided among a number of pioneers in the field.

In 1863 a Frenchman named Forneaux patented what appears to be the first player operating on pneumatic principles. The Pianista formed the basis of practically all later developments in the field. The Pianista had it’s American début at the Philadelphia Exposition in 1876. It is what is commonly referred to as a “push-up” player. It operated by means of a hand crank

Alfred Dolge, publisher of Pianos and Their Makers” suggests that R.W. Pain was probably the first to build a self contained player piano in 1888.

In 1886 George B. Kelly developed the slide-valve wind motor used to cause rotation of the drive spool for music rolls.

In 1891 William D. Parker received a patent assigned to his employer, the Wilcox and White Co., for a combination manual and paper-roll operated piano. The first successful automatic product of this company was the Angelus Orchestal player patented in 1897.

John McTammany, however, who patented certain devices pertinent to automatic organ construction went to his grave claiming to be the inventor of the player piano.

Chet on right. Grandson Phil on left.

View more of our fine pianos on our website: www.bartonplayerpianos.com.

Pianos For Sale Lowest Prices in Years!

Steinway 88/65 note player piano. Sold one, and we have one left. Don’t miss out on ths rare opportunity to own one of the best player pianos ever manufactured. Working and partially restored $5,000. Fully restored, $8,500. Includes 100 rolls.

1928 Chickering Ampico BPiano and Ampico system in XL playing condition. During the late 1920’s, Ampico perfected their reproducing system with the “B” system. This piano expresses flawlessly. The piano action, soundboard, & pinblock are perfect.The piano alone is worth double the asking price. Includes 100 rolls. $6,500

The Best of Two Centuries! 1905 Beckwith Piano with the revolutionary Pianomation CD system. Matching bench, beautiful refinished walnut case. Price reduced $8,995 to $7,495.

Christmas Collector’s Roll 2011

“Jim Brickman Christmas” $34.95

1. “Joy to the World”

2. “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”

3. “Angels We Have Heard On High”

This is the 29th Limited Edition Xmas collectors roll QRS has presented. The arrangements are definitely arranged in the style of Jim Brickman (no printed lyrics).

2005 Amica Souvenir Roll• Minnesota Moon

• The Foshay Tower-Washington Memorial March

A few of these rolls still available. Includes narrative of the interesting saga of the Memorial March. $21

Minnesota Moon

The Foshay Tower-Washington Memorial

March