This is not a question of one verses the other because the debate ends
when an electronic circuit board capable of performing complex programs
is added to a piano.  The only relation between the two is when the
piano is gutted only because of a convenient pre-existing hole cut in
the keybed in which to install the current favorite electronic robot
to play music.

There seems to be no shortage of Golden Age pianos of the non-
reproducing variety, so please be kind for history's sake and leave
original reproducers alone.  Another reason they seem to be ravaged
more frequently is because a past generation seemed to take value in
them and keep them maintained and I wish the current generation did
the same.  A mechanism removed to be reinstalled at a later date will
likely never happen.  Even with best intentions, just look at how many
regular or art case pianos are missing the matching bench, music desk,
or pedal lyre let alone a non-essential player mechanism.

As a volunteer who donates 100-plus hours a year to maintain and
demonstrate a 1927 Knabe Ampico reproducing piano in Seattle's largest
movie palace, I show a little bias.  When the theatre opened the piano
was an advertised draw for patrons because it had "Wow!" appeal.  It
still does today and is being featured with public and school tours
and bi-yearly, month-long silent film series where the piano is being
viewed, heard and talked about.

I cannot predict the future but am fairly sure that 80 years from now
there will not be an advertised public tour that includes the current
Stanke LX or Disklavier pianos.  Firsts and revolutionary technological
advancements have lasting power, but small incremental improvements
based on the newest solenoid or processor will fall the way of the VHS
video cassette or 8-track tape and are merely timely fads.

I hold no malice towards this new technology but trying to compare
them using scans of vintage reproducing rolls has no merit whatsoever.
It reminds me of the game we played in grade school called "Telephone"
where you whisper a statement in another's ear and on and on and on
through the class 'til it gets back to the beginning being totally
different.  To take a period artist and their performance, reformat
and "improve it" to make up for the lacking of the original reproducing
roll or design short comings of the vacuum system, looses all historical
interest and becomes only an interesting copy.

Well, that's my 5 cents worth (inflation, you know).

Kurt Morrison
Tacoma, Washington

 [ Piano dealers have said for decades that a used piano with a player
 [ system is harder to sell than a normal piano.  If we accept that
 [ statement as true, then we can understand why a Mason & Hamlin with
 [ an Ampico installed is cheaper to buy nowadays than a Mason & Hamlin
 [ without a reproducing system installed.  That's tough to accept,
 [ I agree, but it probably reflects market conditions.  -- Robbie