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Excess of Pianolas in UK
By Roger Waring

If my experience is anything to go by, there are certainly many
more player pianos lying around in the UK than are ever going to be
restored.  I have about five players offered to me every month.  I know
of plenty that need attention.  I have half a dozen in store awaiting
work and know of other restorers who have similar collections.  House
clearance auctions quite regularly throw up a number of instruments
that have been stored.

Thousands?  I don't know.  But it would not surprise me.

Problem # 1.  The number of individuals or organisations devoted to
full time restoration in the UK is at most seven.  I currently have at
least three years work ahead of me.  If I were younger and at the start
of my career I might employ staff.  But at my age I don't need that
sort of hassle.

Problem # 2.  Self-restoration by the owner is sometimes undertaken in
a frenzy of enthusiasm, only to be abandoned due to the complexity and
time-consuming nature of the task.  But naturally, they cannot bear to
throw their efforts away, so the player gets stored.

Problem # 3.  The cost of professional restoration of any player is
high, and quite likely to exceed the subsequent value of the
instrument.

Problem # 4.  Piano dealers in the UK do not want Pianolas -- not even
working ones -- thus a non-working player quickly becomes a liability
rather than an asset.

Problem # 5.  Players are so hard to move that they tend to be left
where they are -- in a corner, in a garage or outbuilding -- anywhere
where they are not in the way.

Problem # 6.  There is no instant market.  I have had some minor success
in raising awareness but I only scratch at the surface.  Any sales that
I generate are occasional, and I do not rely upon them for business.

Problem # 7.  Some players are more trouble than they are worth.
Small, cheap actions can be a nightmare.  Just give me a nice 1920s
Duo-Art or Higel piano any day.

The result of all of these factors is that I choose now to devote
my time to commissioned work and restoring better quality players.
I think that many of the basic players still left around will end up
being scrapped.  But hopefully the reproducers will survive.  And the
push-up players!

Roger Waring - The Pianola Workshop
Solihull, England
http://www.pianola.co.uk/


(Message sent Fri 29 Nov 2002, 11:21:33 GMT, from time zone GMT.)

Key Words in Subject:  Excess, Pianolas, UK

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