At Player-Care, one of our primary goals is providing the public with the best information possible. Whether it's technical articles about rebuilding, helpful tips to save you time and/or money, or providing the highest quality technical references, we spare no expense. Such is the case with the Autopiano Service Manual, which is known as "Player Piano Pointers". This manual was first printed in 1917, and over the years it has been reproduced by every major piano supply house and player piano parts dealer in the country. As a result, by 1985 the quality of the graphics had become so bad that they were basically useless. See Cut 9 - 1985 below.

Cut 9 from 1985 manual -click to see full size image

By 1996, one supplier had located an original copy of the manual and they produced a much better copy. It was so much better that the other major piano supply houses bought copies from that supplier and sold them to the industry, who in turn sold them to the public. Below is the same Cut 9 from the 1996 version of the manual.

Cut 9 from 1996 manual -click to see full size image

Late in 2013, I became aware of an eBay listing concerning what was touted as an original copy of the 1917 manual. Naturally, I was quite skeptical. So, I contacted the seller, and they assured me that it was indeed an original copy from 1917. Well, it didn't take long for others to find out about this rare reference, and let's just say that the bidding got a little out of hand. When the manual arrived, I was amazed by the quality of the graphics. Below is the same Cut 9 from the new '2014' Player Piano Pointers manual.

Cut 9 from 2014 manual -click to see full size image

This manual is now available in 8-1/2" x 11" print form (the original format was 4-3/4" x 6-5/8") and in PDF format. Every page was scanned at 600 dpi in full greyscale to preserve the quality of the original lithography. The PDF file is 72+ megabytes in size. The booklet sells for $26.00 and the PDF file sells for $15.00. To place your order for this fine reference, click here. You won't be disappointed.

Since "Player-Care" is an internet business, I prefer that we correspond via E-Mail (click here to fill out the 'Request Form'). However, if I'm not in the middle of some other activity, you can reach me at 732-840-8787. But please understand that during the hours from 8AM-5PM EST (Mon-Sat), I'm generally quite busy. So, I probably won't answer the phone. If you get the answering machine, please leave a detailed message stating the reason for your call. Also, repeat your name and phone number clearly and distinctly. By necessity, I prioritize everything in my life. And, if you call and just leave your name and number, and ask me to call you back, it might be a day or two before I return your call. Why? Because I don't know why you want me to call and I might not be prepared to assist you in an effective and efficient manner. If you leave me an E-Mail address (which I prefer), spell it out phonetically. The more you do to help me, the more I can help you in return. Don't rush. You have four minutes to record your message.