I meant to include in my earlier posting about the nickel plate screws
that there is even more crossover between the pianos and the automobiles.

Remember that the heyday of the player piano was between 1910 and 1930.
During that period the auto manufacturers went to the same set of vendors
for hardware that the piano makers did.  During the twenties (and
thirties) there was a lot of wood used in automobiles for framing,
for trim and for tacking strips.  Today there are not only some of the
original OEM vendors for hardware but also quite a few reproducers of the
stuff.  So things like cup washers, T bolts, convertible top snaps along
with nuts, bolts, bearings, etc., are often readily available to restorers
of pre-1940 cars.

For example, virtually all the Snap-The-Dot snap fasteners needed to
attach a belly cloth to the bottom of an Ampico grand are being used by
restorers attaching canvas tops to roadsters and cabriolets.  Usually
these are available to restorers in "kits", or at least in small
quantities.  Finishes are brass, nickel and the like which are compatible
with the era of our pneumatic machines.

Chrome plating did not become common until about 1930.  Prior to that a
copper/nickel plating process was used.  This was good looking but did
not hold up well outdoors (for bumpers and trim), while chrome was a big
improvement but has a decidedly different appearance.

As I previously noted, many auto restorers substitute stainless steel
fasteners for the nickel plate as the stainless holds up much better than
nickel over steel and the appearance is nearly identical.  Both stainless
and nickel are available today.  One company that comes to mind that
supplies stainless fasteners is Tioga Stainless in Johnson City, NY.

Sorry I don't have access to my library at this time but there are some
other antique car folks on this list that may be able to mention a few
other vendors of fasteners and fittings.  Hope this helps.

Bob Conant¶
Endicott, NY¶
(Currently hiding out in N. Ft. Myers, FL)