Slightly O/T - Our visit to Zaharako's Soda Fountain & Welte

[JohnM]

Had to go to Bloomington and Indianapolis today so we stopped along the way in Columbus, Indiana (about 38 miles north of Madison) to visit the recently restored Zaharako's Soda Fountain. The shop opened in 1900 and is still fitted with its original marble soda fountain and oak back bar, leaded glass lighting, etc. -- beautiful! In 1908, a Welte Orchestrion was installed and was re-rebuilt as part of the total restoration. It had just been serviced and tuned on Thursday, so was in magnificent voice. We took this video to share with you all. The current owner of the place also has a soda fountain museum in an adjoining room and there is a weight-driven roll Welte in that room that we didn't get to hear today because only the owner operates that one. If you all are ever in the area, we recommend you to stop at Zaharako's . . . it is absolutely beautiful. Enjoy!

http://zaharakos.com/

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WoNlMsFF60[/youtube]

[Kirkwood]

Such a great instrument! I was delighted to see this on Youtube earlier today (your reflection was in the mirrors as you panned the camera around the room). I'm acquainted with the restorer, he specializes in Welte instruments and does phenomenal work on these. He owns a larger Welte unit that's at his home, which is likewise restored to the pinnacle of perfection: Every pipe in tune, the cabinets and beveled glass all gleam like new, and they sound just wonderful. He is one of a number of keenly talented people that I have had the pleasure to know via this hobby. By the way, somewhere out there on the 'net, I have seen videos of this ice cream shop AND the Welte in various stages of restoration. They aren't on Youtube, I think one of the local TV stations may have aired a few segments earlier this year. This was a no-expenses-spared restoration of a beloved local landmark---quite a welcome antidote to the all too common stories we usually hear (where the beloved local landmark is sold, gutted, etc etc). Thanks, John, for putting this out there for us to enjoy.

[JohnM]

Yes, I know Durward, too!

When the last of the Zaharako line in the business closed the shop a few years ago, the Welte was removed from the premises and sold to a collector in California. The current owner of Zaharako's, bought the organ back, had it -- and the entire shop -- restored, modernized, and enlarged, and the organ reinstalled where it had stood for a century! So actually, there was a real close call there, but the story had a very happy ending as you can see (and hear)!

Besides my reflection, that is the lovely Lauri in the fleece coat.

[Valecnik]

Wow what a great story and fantastic result. I would love to see it in person. What a great place to take the family.

[larryh]

Always loved player pianos, and then the Reproducing Pianos which were invented by Edwin Welte. So your video of the Welte at the Zaharako's soda fountain is quite interesting to me. In fact a few weeks before we had traveled over to Terre Haute Indiana to see a Radio Recreation of the War of the Worlds. While there I visited a fellow who used to be the Editor of the AMICA Bulletin (automated musical instrument collectors association) for those who may not be familiar. I had sold him a large collection of classical and other rolls a number of years ago but had never actually met him or seen his collection, so we took that in as well. He specializes in Welte rolls and had a wonderful Vorsetter (push up player), one of the first serial numbers found of this wonderfully interesting machine. He had it recently redone also by a welte expert. I have recordings made of one like it from the early 60's and his machine played rings around those. The impressive thing to me was how massively constructed this machine was. It had oversized cast iron parts holding everything together with massive three pump, two stage motor that operated it. I was particularly interested in this since as usual, way back in the 60's I owned a American built Welte Push up Cabinet player that resembled a buffet when not in position. I too had it rebuilt, but the recommended so called expert in those days was less than reliable and it never worked to my satisfaction and ended up being sold to a musical museum in Florida which recently closed. I only know that because the owner of the Welte now found my name in a old book on the subject and called to see if I had any information on the history of who owned the machine before me, which I did pass along. But back to Terre Haute. This fellow had literally a house full of pianos and rolls with the vast majority being Welte, but some of the Ampico and Duo Art both of which he also had representative pianos of. It was truly a wonderful vist and the first time I had actually seen and heard a really first rate Welte in operation. It was something I would not forget easily.
It was made even more interesting to see this earliest version of a reproducing player system due to the fact the one of the few things I have owned, or my family has owned that I didn't part with is a Steinway Ampico which is the last reproducing vacuum type reproducing piano known to have been produced in the 1942 period. It too has been professionally restored and plays very wonderfully. I am including a picture of the Steinway.

[JohnM]

Always loved player pianos, and then the Reproducing Pianos which were invented by Edwin Welte. So your video of the Welte at the Zaharako's soda fountain is quite interesting to me. In fact a few weeks before we had traveled over to Terre Haute Indiana to see a Radio Recreation of the War of the Worlds. While there I visited a fellow who used to be the Editor of the AMICA Bulletin (automated musical instrument collectors association) for those who may not be familiar. I had sold him a large collection of classical and other rolls a number of years ago but had never actually met him or seen his collection, so we took that in as well. He specializes in Welte rolls and had a wonderful Vorsetter (push up player), one of the first serial numbers found of this wonderfully interesting machine. He had it recently redone also by a welte expert. I have recordings made of one like it from the early 60's and his machine played rings around those. The impressive thing to me was how massively constructed this machine was. It had oversized cast iron parts holding everything together with massive three pump, two stage motor that operated it. I was particularly interested in this since as usual, way back in the 60's I owned a American built Welte Push up Cabinet player that resembled a buffet when not in position. I too had it rebuilt, but the recommended so called expert in those days was less than reliable and it never worked to my satisfaction and ended up being sold to a musical museum in Florida which recently closed. I only know that because the owner of the Welte now found my name in a old book on the subject and called to see if I had any information on the history of who owned the machine before me, which I did pass along. But back to Terre Haute. This fellow had literally a house full of pianos and rolls with the vast majority being Welte, but some of the Ampico and Duo Art both of which he also had representative pianos of. It was truly a wonderful vist and the first time I had actually seen and heard a really first rate Welte in operation. It was something I would not forget easily.
It was made even more interesting to see this earliest version of a reproducing player system due to the fact the one of the few things I have owned, or my family has owned that I didn't part with is a Steinway Ampico which is the last reproducing vacuum type reproducing piano known to have been produced in the 1942 period. It too has been professionally restored and plays very wonderfully. I am including a picture of the Steinway.

When one thinks of poor old run-down Terre Haute, one usually doesn't think of reproducing pianos!

In regard to your Steinway Ampico: <sound of jaw dropping and hitting the floor> WOW!!!

[larryh]

John,

I have to say that we have passed though Terre Haute a number of times and stopped at some local malls. But getting off the main drag and staying at a brand new Hilton hotel downtown and attending the amazing Indiana Theater which is a Jewel in its self was quite a surprise. Overall I was more than impressed with the mid sized town's quality in the residential areas and great college's, one campus only two blocks from the downtown which perhaps survives reasonably in tack due to its presence. But your right, one wouldn't expect to find a great collection in that location. The reason behind it is that the person we visited is a professor at the local college which probably explains why he is there. But still the town is more than one sees from the highways for sure. I look forward to returning.

I would also like to at some point visit the Zaharako's soda fountain which he also mentioned but I was somewhat aware of also. I need to check out another rather out of the way collection not far from me. A rather large collector of musical mechanical machines is located in a small town a few hours from me and I need to get there too.

As to the Steinway, it has an interesting history. We are the second owners of the Piano. As far as is known there are only three Steinways with Ampico Reproducing systems installed. Steinway for nearly all its history was the premier piano with Duo Art installations. But when in the 30's the market had cooled way down due to radio and phonographs a fire destroyed what was left of the Duo Art Operation. By that time American Piano Company had purchased the Aeolian companies rights to the reproducing pianos and was making rolls for both companies at there plant. So after that point of the fire if a person purchased a reproducing piano its only choice was the Model B Ampico which is known as the ultimate reproducing system. Their upper pianos would have been Mason an Hamlin and Knabe. But a few customers of Steinways still wanted a reproducing system installed and so far as know only three were ever converted to Ampico. Out piano was purchased by a family in Clayton Missouri from Aeolian Piano in St. Louis, the customers paid to have it returned to what was left of the Ampico Factory, which had actually been closed to production for at least 3 or 4 years at this point. There the single legs that the Steinway came with were removed and an custom conversion of Mason and Hamlin parts was made using the double legs and skirt added to the lower edge of the piano to conceal the mechanism. The mechanism as installed showed just how close to out of business they were. The air motor was shown in restoration to be a Model A pump which was modified to become a B pump with a few minor changes to its function. Due to the width of the piano the last two lower notes on the reproducing system were not able to be activated. The legs and skirt are walnut with an over stain to come close to matching the original cabinet which is Mahogany. In a Steinway duo Art the roll is behind the fall board that covers the keys, on an Ampico the roll mechanism and other controls are located in a drawer beneath the key board.

[JohnM]

Larry,

The next time you head this way, give me a holler . . . there are a few other things you need to see in this area that aren't well known.

John

[Brad]

Finally got around to watching the video. This machines are cool. If you are ever in Franklin PA, there is a great private museum of these machines and they will play them and open them all up so you can see. They have a few phonos as well. Worth an hour and not too far off of I-80.

One other thing I noticed - Zaharako's really packs em' in. The place was hoppin'

[JohnM]

One other think I noticed - Zaharako's really packs em' in. The place was hoppin'

Well, we were there at the stroke of 9am on our way to Indy. They had just unlocked the doors. We only ordered coffee, but while we were there two other groups of customers arrived. I can drink beer at 9am no problem, but I draw the line at eating ice cream! I'm sure the place has no business worries -- there is even another room completely set up as an old soda fountain with all period furnishings down the hall behind the Welte that is used for private parties. A sign outside the front door as we entered warned that the entire facility was closing early that afternoon for a private function. They serve lunch and dinner, too, and are open 7 days/week.

Don't know if you know anything about Columbus, but a wealthy businessman who lived there endowed the city with millions of dollars earmarked to pay the architectural fees of any new structure built in the city. Consequently, it is a microcosm of interesting architectural styles and there is a driving tour of the city featuring that. Even the I-65 overpass at Columbus is architecturally unique! The largest antiques mall I've ever seen -- and I've seen a lot of them -- is at the Columbus Exit 76-B on I-65 (well, technically 76-A is Columbus, 76-B is Edinburgh. Close enough). That's where I picked up my banner-front 'Home' with Model D repeater.

John