Hi All,  D.L. Bullock's recent posting reminded me of a few things
that I have mentioned in the MMD in prior years.  Having witnessed
three piano companies go out of business in my career, I noted one
common thread; they all had dozens of old, unrestored instruments that
ended up at the junk yard.  ["Player Pianos Need Homes", 001007 MMD]

This is truly a shame because, as D.L. so aptly puts it, they are
typically the best place for a novice to start learning about player
pianos.  So at the risk of sounding redundant, I want to repeat one
thing I've said before.  Don't take these instruments out of general
circulation just because you can pick them up for a song.  As I like
to put it, 'Leave them alone, and they'll find a home'.  And if they
don't find a home.... well, they'll end up where they belong.

Interest in such instruments is NOT generated by music stores or
private rebuilders, and having many of them "on-hand" for customers
to look at rarely ends up with a sale.  On the other hand, most people
are hard-pressed to throw away something as big as a player piano.  So,
they usually pass it along to some other member of the family.  Point
being: It stays in the family and in circulation.

Sooner or later, one of two things will happen.  A family member will
take interest in the unit, or the unit will finally meet its maker in
instrument heaven.  The old saying that fits to a 'T' is: "Out of sight,
out of mind!"

In closing, I'd just like to say that if you're truly interested in
keeping the player piano industry as vibrant as it can be, leave the
old instruments in the hands of the general public, where they can
generate interest by their own presence, in the home of a future
customer.

Musically,

John A. Tuttle