For years, in addition to being a collector, I have been supplying
mechanical instruments to collectors and museums all over the world,
from music boxes and monkey organs to the largest orchestrions, dance
organs, and fairground organs.  I have been responsible for building
some of the largest collections that exist today.  I believe that I
have a unique perspective on the price of mechanical musical
instruments.

Under the laws of economics, price is a function of supply and demand.
In my opinion there has always been a rather constant supply of
mechanical instruments on the market.  At any given moment I know of
many mechanical instruments which are for sale from music boxes to
grand orchestrions and fairground organs!  But over the years this has
always been the case with me.  I have always found far more than I
could possibly absorb!

It also must be remembered that instruments are never permanently
placed in a collection unless it is a government museum or other public
entity, and even then they can be sold through de-accession.  After so
many years instruments recycle back into the market.  If you can't find
something for your collection, just contact me.  I probably know where
a number of such items can be purchased.

Demand for mechanical music is a product of education and exposure.
In the 1960's Q. David Bowers, a rare coin expert, discovered the field
of mechanical music.  Through his brilliantly written books, advertise-
ments, and instrument catalogs he "stirred the pot" of interest.  He
educated and exposed these instruments to many people.  Many
collections, primarily California collections, resulted from his
efforts.  The fabulous J. B. Nethercutt collection is a prime example
of Mr. Bower's efforts.

The Bowers "flywheel" is still turning.  Nearly every day we pick up
and read his "Encyclopedia of Automatic Musical Instruments" which is
available at www.amazon.com.  Through Mr. Bower's efforts the price
of mechanical instruments increased because of increased demand.

Harvey and Marion Roehl are also two brilliant and fun "pot stirrers".
The Roehl's excitement for mechanical music has been strong nearly 50
years.  (By the way, Harvey and Marion stirred up Dave Bower's interest
when he lived near them in Vestal, New York.  Harvey's pioneering book,
Player Piano Treasury brought the player piano out of retirement.)

Harvey and Marion continued their education and exposure efforts
through their publishing firm, Vestal Press, which for years supplied
everything from recordings to books and catalog reprints.  They also
published "The House Organ".  This wonderful little publication covered
many aspects of mechanical music, from museums to recording releases to
carousels to the latest trips in search of mechanical music.

The Roehl's supplied the collecting world with needed educational
materials.  They also exposed many to this field of interest.  Many
many collectors today can trace their interest and education to the
Roehl's efforts.

Exposure to mechanical music also comes from collector associations,
the media, tourist attraction displays, museums, carousels with band
organs, and band organ rallies.  Exposure is a proactive thing.  The
"pot must be constantly stirred" by myself and other collectors, MMD,
MBSI, AMICA, COCA, ABOA, FOPS, KDV, and other organizations.  Exposure
is important!

I must admit that the media today does not "relate" to the music these
instruments play.  Hardly any contemporary movies or television shows
display them.  Their music is not part of the mass produced controlled
cultural scene.  You don't find the greatest hits of the Seeburg H at
Best Buy or Walmart!

It has been 50 years since Theresa Brewer's "Music, Music, Music" was
a hit song.  The same goes for the song, "The Old Piano Roll Blues".
The movie, "The Sting" is over 25 years old.  When it came out it
introduced a whole new generation to ragtime.  But today, rap music or
the latest hits of the group "Fine Young Cannibals" does not sound good
on a Seeburg G!  Yet in today's cultural desert the music these
instruments play still shines.  Why?  Because it is _great_ music,
_classic_ music!

When I play my music machines for the public at large, they for the
most part enjoy it --really enjoy it.  It is almost as though they are
_starved_ for such music.

For years tourist attractions and museums provided exposure.  I always
like to ask collectors how they came to know about mechanical music
Many say that they first saw on at a tourist attraction or museum --
places like Svoboda's Tavern, Knott's Berry Farm, Clark's Trading Post,
Walt Bellm's Cars and Music Museum, Disneyland, Virginia and Nevada
City Montana, Harold Warp's Pioneer Village, Ghosttown in Colorado
Springs, the Deansboro Music Museum, and many many more stirred up
enthusiasm for the tourist.  I got hooked on mechanical music after
visiting the Bovey Restoration in Virginia City as a child.  Sadly many
of these tourist attractions are now gone from the scene.

But as something fades something always takes its place.  Over the past
25 years carousels with band organs have made a comeback.  Recently
there has been a great carousel revival in America which has resulted
in many old carousels being restored and new wooden carousels being
built.

For the carousel enthusiast a band organ is a _must!_  After all, it's
the soul of the ride.  And these band organs are creating a whole new
generation of enthusiasts.  Each roll or book is a "time capsule" of
good vintage music.  Again it is as though people are starved for good
ol' fun music.  Just look at their smiles!

I got a kick recently when a new young enthusiast referred to a
Wurlitzer 165 band organ as "totally awesome!"  Another new enthusiast
bought a Tangley Calliope for use in parades.  Our conversation got
interesting when I discovered that he had never heard of George M.
Cohan or his music.  I quickly educated him!

In the past 25 years band organ rallies have expanded across America.
The late enthusiast and band organ promoter, Dan Slack, started the idea
of the band organ rally in America after having visited the Stourpaine
Steam Fair in England.  Today there are many band organs in the
Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania area,
because of the organ rallies and Dan's infectious enthusiasm!

And yes, the demand for organs for rallies has kept the market for
band organs strong along with the prices! Today there are several
associations sponsoring rallies.  Rallies are now held from Florida
to California.  This year, for the first time in America, the organ rally
merges with steam shows in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa and in Minnesota.  I
expect that there will be increased demand from this added exposure
to the Happiest Music on Earth!

In conclusion, the old economic rule still applies: "Price is a
function of supply and demand."  The supply, in my opinion, has always
been constant.  I can fill your home today with these wonderful musical
treasures as I could have 20 years ago!  Demand is there and is
affected by education and exposure to instruments.

The following is a micro example:  About 10 years ago I stimulated,
through education and exposure, one major collector to purchase 40
Mills Violanos out of the 800 that exist.  His purchases (his demand)
took the slack out of the market, and the prices of an unrestored
single Violano went from $8,000.00 to $20,000.00.  The continued demand
from others, in combination with music roll availability and restora-
tion stimulated by the initial purchases, has caused the Violano market
to remain strong to this day.  And all of this because I stirred the
pot on these instruments about 10 years ago!

On the other hand, I firmly believe that mechanical musical instruments
are underexposed.  Even with my efforts, and Dave Bowers' efforts, etc.,
they are still the collecting world's best kept secret!  I always run
into people who never knew such things were ever made.

These items have a very high intrinsic value.  When they are exposed
to the public the spark ignites.  The new electronic media of the
Internet, compact discs, etc., can only serve to expose these
instruments more people.

Mechanical music gives a lot of enjoyment and fun to life, but just
think what a superbly produced video tape history of mechanical music
for public television would do -- if given free to public television it
would expose this wonderful hobby to millions!

You had better purchase that treasure you want _now_ before the prices
go up.  If you don't believe me then just look at those bargain prices
in the old Hathaway & Bowers catalogs!

Tim Trager