The value of player pianos has been discussed many times in MMDigest
in the past.  Some other bad news is not only have player pianos
dropped in price, but so have regular pianos.  I remember the good
days when pianos were selling as we unloaded the trucks.  Today we are
often given pianos to haul them out of homes and churches.  These used
pianos used to be easy to sell, but no longer.  Many of the prices we
see in on-line auctions are inflated by bidders that are friends of the
seller, in my opinion.  Vintage guitar prices at shows are down from
several years ago.

Is it the economy?  I really don't think that is the problem.  It is
simple economics of supply and demand.  Every generation collects items
from an era they are familiar with.  Today the musical taste of the
general public leaves much to be desired, in my opinion.  I regularly
work music shows with artists who range from young to older.  The
people that attend the shows are generally the same age as the artist.

Player pianos have always been collected mostly by people that are
now over sixty years of age.  If you go to a clock show today you will
see an older group.  Where are the young people?  The fall in prices is
not necessarily anyone's fault, it's just a sign of the times.  We are
fortunate that there are some younger people interested in piano music.

You might even consider that today is a golden opportunity to buy.
I am fortunate to work in the music business and to be able to show
some of my nickelodeons to people of all ages.  I have never had anyone
want to join the collecting hobby, but then, traditionally people in my
area have not been collectors of mechanical music.  I have no solution
to offer but hope we all continue to enjoy the mechanical music hobby
as a hobby.

As for me, I just bought another Coinola and I still have that gutted
Steinway I mentioned the other day with not a single inquiry, but I did
buy all the guts for it from another MMDer.

Laissez les bon temps rouler!  Joie de vivre!

Don Teach
Shreveport, Louisiana