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Mechanic revives vintage music makers

Pianos and phonographs of bygone age made new again
Mel Edgar

To make the past sing again, all one Powell River man needs is passion, purpose, tools and often just the gentle pumping of his feet.

Retired mechanic turned piano tuner Paul Mitchell has created a museum of sorts in his repair shop, to showcase his collection of refurbished and fully functional early 20th century phonographs and vintage pump-driven player pianos, which play music using specially perforated paper scrolls.

“I am the dynamo,” explained Mitchell. “Everything here I run by winding it or pumping it up.”

Mitchell said he has already started welcoming patrons to visit his free museum and explore technology that uses natural materials such as oak, steel and aluminum rather than the plastic of modern technology.

Mitchell retired this year after a mechanic’s career at logging camps up and down the coast. He said he sees the vintage technology as a symbol of an age when quality mattered and mechanics had to use creativity and ingenuity rather than replacement parts to solve problems.

“Kids these days coming out of vocational schools are just glorified parts-replacement people,” he said. “These machines are built of wood and steel. No plastics here, they were build to last.”

Mitchell’s museum boasts phonographs created by inventor Thomas A. Edison and the Powell River area’s largest collection of pump-driven player pianos, just over 10 vintage player pianos, including one from the home of former Patricia Theatre manager Henry Pavid.

Unfortunately, while many of his pieces are over 100 years old, many come to him in a bad state after fires or years of sitting unused in damp and dusty attics or basements.

“People just call me up to take these pianos off their hands,” said Mitchell. “The interest and value in these is just about zero. It is a shame because with a little effort they are set right.”

Mitchell said he has spent about $3,000 overall on his player pianos so far, including the purchase of rubber-lined cloth for the pump bellows.

Although player pianos are old technology, Mitchell said music can still be ordered at around $20 a scroll in eclectic styles such as light opera, disco and rock. His personal collection, also in the museum, amounts to around 700 scrolls and features his favourite honky tonk tunes.

“Music back then just had a story,” he said. “My goal is to share these and get the enjoyment of watching others discover what it is all about.”

Readers can find Mitchell and his vintage music players between 10 am and 4 pm Tuesday to Saturday at Suncoast Vintage Music on Willingdon Avenue.