The Mail-Journal, Volume 10, Number 20, Milford, Kosciusko County, 13 June 1973 — Page 6

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Hobbies are relaxing— Restoring old player pianos is interesting and unique hobby of Syracuse's John Walker

John Walker of Syracuse likes restoring player pianos because “It’s unique. I-like to work with unusual things that other people aren’t doing or can’t do.” He started working with player pianos about seven years ago. In 1967 he acquired a 1921 player piano his grandmother bought in 1924. The piano didn’t play, but all the parts were there. So John tackled the job of trying to make it work. “I enjoy doing anything mechanical,” he remarked. “In

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this case I taught myself how to fix the piano. I looked at a book and I looked at the piano, and figured it out from there.” Since the beginning, Walker has added another 1924 player piano, a disassembled 1872 reed organ and over 200 piano rolls. The family has around 30 favorites among these rolls, including “The Old Rugged Cross,” “Stars and Stripes Forever” and many other Susa marches. They have a religious roll called “Ever Thine” which

was made in 1896. It is the oldest roll in their collection. A tour through Walker’s workshop and a discussion on how the pianos work are fascinating. In the workshop are piano parts in various stages of assembly. The pianos are run by a vacuum air motor, which is operated by pumping pedals up and down with the feet. Over 165 feet of small rubber hose is used in the process of operating the instrument. Interestingly enough, the pedals can be folded away, and the piano played manually, also. Walker has restored player pianos for several people in the Lakeland' area. He remarked, “The biggest enjoyment I get out of restoring these pianos for other people is seeing their eyes and faces light up when they hear the piano play its first roll in perhaps 20 or 30 years.” Having completely restored and refinished his original piano, he demonstrated it for a MailJournal staff member. He showed that by flipping one switch he could make the tone change to sound like a mandarin. The volume can be controlled with another knob. , Walker commented, while walking through his workshop filled with piano parts, tools and “Popular Mechanics’’ magazines, that this interest also led him and his family into an interest in antiques. Since acquiring the first piano, they have picked up a piano roll cabinet, an antique writing desk, a buffet and two mirrors, mostly at auctions. He is presently working on a piano of his brother’s and the 1924

Mark Spitz to be in Webster on June 27; dinner at Tippy

International Palace of Sports foundation officials announced today that Olympic swim star, Mark Spitz, will meet with Mermaid Festival and tournament of knights contestants here on Wednesday, June 27, as the first annual king of sports under the foundation’s king of sports youth program. While here, Spitz will tour the International Palace of Sports building now under construction; will be inducted into the Order of

- r <1 . 1 il S'*. | fr , JOHN WALKER AT HIS PIANO

piano which was given to him. He plans to sell the second piano some day.

the Royal Sceptre of the Realm of Recreation; and will receive a solid gold king of sports medallion in his likeness to add to the seven Olympic Gold Medals he won last summer in Munich, Germany. Spitz will be accompanied by his bride of one month, his father and his public relations agent, Jay Bernstein of Los Angeles. They will visit Camelot Square and the Palace of Sports in promotion of a worldwide king of sports career awards program that the foundation is sponsoring jointly with Kiwanis International service clubs. Bronze 2(nd silver replicas of the gold medallion in Spitz’ likeness will be distributed by individual Kiwanis clubs to donors and collectors in support of career awards to deserving youths selected in local communities. They will be recognized in the International Palace of Sports museum now under construction as “Knights and Ladies of the Year” members of The Royal Court. Public presentation ceremonies will be held on Camelot parking lot in North Webster beginning at 10:30 a.m., and will be followed by a coronation luncheon and reception at the Tippecanoe Country club at Tippecanoe Lake, from noon until 3 p.m. at which famed sportscaster Chris Schenkel will act as master of ceremonies. The latter will be a

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When asked why he enjoys working with these pianos. Walker replied, “Well, it takes a

$25 per plate function held in benefit of the king of sports youth program. Foundation director, J. Homer Shoop, reports that the foundation will establish a perpetual Mark Spitz “King of Sports” award in connection with the annual tournament of knights. The tournament of knights is an all scholastic sports competition for high school graduates staged by the foundation in June each year in order to dramatize its youth program.

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long time to fix one of these right. But basically it’s a lot of fun to do. It’s a very relaxing hobby.”

Charles Baldwin on McPherson's honor roll Charles Baldwin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Milford Baldwin of Syracuse, has been named to McPherson college’s honor roll for the spring semester. McPherson college is located in McPherson, Kan. MRS. KIRKWOOD HOME FROM TOUR Mrs. James Kirkwood returned home to Syracuse this week after a vacation of two months. Mrs. Kirkwood has spent the past months touring the Holy land. She visited Turkey, Greece, Italy, Israel and Switzerland.

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