Regarding the recent discussion on the price of mechanical music
instruments.  Of course, there will always be those who will view
instruments purely as financial investments.  Additionally for some
it is the ownership, rather than enjoyment, of items that becomes the
driving force behind acquisitions.

However, I would hope that most owners of these machines consider that
any financial investment, in either original purchase or maintenance
costs, is repaid by the enjoyment of listening to the music produced.
After  all, it was for the music that the instruments were originally
built and presumably that attracts us to them now.

Douglas Bush
UK