eBay's interesting offerings

Of course they are not really 99p by the time you have collected them from the other end of the country - not to mention getting them working properly! I was very close to bidding on the giant Gotha Steck upright which Julian mentioned earlier - which went unsold with a reserve of £45. I know from Julians example that this would be - for me at least - the perfect instrument, with a plain 65/88 note player and a distinctive tone quality which I thought matched the best grands. Apart from having to convince my wife - I don't think I could have got it in the house. I had to remove an outside door to get my current normal sized player in a few years back. What cheers me up is knowing that there are so many nice instruments still out there, when the family allows more room (someday) I know I wll be able to find something really special. Neil

An Iver's and Pond Baby grand player ,with what appears to be a remote roll changer? http://cgi.liveauctions.ebay.com/152-An-Ivers-and-Pond-Baby-Grand-Player-Piano_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ28221QQihZ021QQitemZ310061829272QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

now THERE is something super-fine and interesting! A Telektra Grand! An electric solenoid operating player (the "(el)ektra" part) controlled via wire to a remote player console / cabinet (the "tel"(ephonic) part). 65 and 88-note versions made. Roll is punched brass sheet in a metal cassette. Later 88-note format with added expression. Very late systems made with paper roll reader instead. Only (I think) 1 example in the UK - an upright. A fair few still survive in the US and some in playing order. Rolls / cartridges do turn up from time to time on eBay BUT often vendors don't have a clue : you know one when you see one. Very large roll catalogue issued and a popular system that sold well and for a good number of years in its day!

Here's an interesting one. Weber players are very common here in the UK, but it's rare that we ever find one as early as this. Note that it's a 65-note player mechanism with an 88-note tracker bar, which is surely a later modification. The instrument looks to be a USA-built example and the serial number quoted would date it to 1908. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260260815205

Ian, it's possible they were just using up 65 note stacks, I have a Bell player from 1908 and it also has a 65 note stack. The part that convinces me it's original, is the factory tracking mechanism and tracker bar with tracking holes. My piano was untouched and had the higher and lowered notes coupled an octave down or up. Hal Klassen

A Boyd Pistonola -I have seen a few of these, but not yet one in working order. Its amazing just how little room the mechanism takes up - just look at the tiny wind motor. The quartered panels on the casework are quite nice. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Pianola-Pistonola-Boyd-Terpreteur-Model_W0QQitemZ220264462662QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item220264462662&_trksid=p3286.m14.l1318 Neil

A Beale Ampico reproducing upright in Australia. Appears to be pedal-only which would make it a very rare piece indeed. http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Pianola_W0QQitemZ200242665335QQihZ010QQcategoryZ16220QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem I think you will find that its not an Ampico reproducer , but in fact just a standard Amphion player.Inside under the lid there is usually a sticker stating something along the lines of "Made by Ampico" , and of course the seller then states in the listing thats its an Ampico player (then the collectors all think Ampico Reproducer). I saw another one on ebay a few months back , and they too stated Ampico pianola and a close up view of the tracker bar just showed a standard Amphion expression player and nothing esle. Daniel :)

Chris Marshall, an Australian piano distributer, recently sold a traded in Beale Ampico (genuine article) with 100 odd reproducing rolls. A beautiful piano with unblemished mahogany case, blah blah.. his price was A$8000 on eBay I think, pretty sure it sold, looked worth it. :) Paul

Another rare gem , and again im in the wrong country.... http://cgi.ebay.com/ANGELUS-PIANO-PLAYER-ORGAN-WILCOX-WHITE-1903-55-ROLLS_W0QQitemZ110278213239QQihZ001QQcategoryZ159954QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Steinway pianola!!!!!! http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Steinway-Pianola_W0QQitemZ190246662307

ohh, well not thanx, I got a Steck already...... (read: no funds and room unfortunately)

73-note Phonola Test Roll ("Skala" = Test Roll) http://cgi.ebay.de/1-ALTE-NOTENROLLE-f-AUTOM-KLAVIER-SKALA_W0QQitemZ370091511974 and see sellers other items for more Phonola rolls Imhof & Muckle Orchestrion red manilla rolls in wooden cartridges http://cgi.ebay.de/Notenrolle-fuer-Orchestrion-vor-1928_W0QQitemZ270282118381 and see sellers other items for more Imhof rolls

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