Player Piano Maker - U.L. Kirby 1964
RESEARCHED BY : TINA EASLEY
http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ar/county/greene/
AUGUST 22 -23 - PARAGOULD DAILY PRESS
SOLIPHONE WEEKENDER
78TH YEAR NO. 202 PARAGOULD , ARK.
10 CENTS A COPY
ABOVE - U. L. KIRBY SITTING AT A PLAYER PIANO
U.L. KIRBY HAS REDISCOVERED A LOST AMERICAN ENTERTAINMENT WITH A LOST ART . KIRBY , 824 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET , REMARKS BY HAND , OLD PLAYER PIANOS. KIRBY SAYS HE AN AND AN ELDERLY GENTLEMAN IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS ARE THE ONLY CRAFTSMEN IN THE STATE WHO STILL WORK WITH THE PLAYER PIANOS WHICH WERE ONCE THE CENTER OF ATTENTION AND ENJOYMENT AT NIGHTSPOTS 35 TO 40 YEARS AGO.
HE HAS BUILT AND REBUILT OLD PLAYER PIANO'S OR CONVERTED REGULAR PIANOS FOR FOUR CUSTOMERS IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS , INCLUDING THREE PARAGOULD RESIDENTS.
EVEN THOUGH HE IS ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE WHO DOES WORK ON THE INSTRUMENTS KIRBYS SAYS , THE PLAYER PIANOS ARE ACTUALLY COMING BACK NOW AND THE MANUFACTURERS ARE BUILDING NEW ONES . THERE IS EVEN A BOOK NOW THAT CAN TELL YOU HOW TO REBUILD OLD PLAYERS.
IT TAKES KIRBY AND HIS WIFE ABOUT SIX WEEKS OF STEADY WORK TO FINISH ONE . AND A LOT OF PATIENCES . YOU MAY HAVE TO TEAR IT DOWN AND PUT IT BACK TOGETHER AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES .
KIRBY FIRST GOT INTERESTED IN THE PLAYER PIANOS ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO WHEN HE AND FRIENDS CAME ACROSS ONE . HES FRIENDS BET THAT THE OLD MODEL COULDN'T BE REBUILT . AS A CHALLENGE KIRBY UNDERTOOK TO REBUILD IT.