Dear Jody:  My wife Suzanne, who goes by the screen name of Grayday,
subscribes to your magazine.  We were out antiqueing today when we
happened upon a Jacob Doll & Sons player piano which is selling for
about $300.00.

This piano has historical value to me personally as my grand uncle was
Jacob Doll, and my grandfather on my mother's side also worked in the
company.  The outside of the piano is in very good condition and I am
told that it plays even though it is very, very out of tune.

I am planning on buying this piano if only for it's personal value but I
would like to know what I am getting into if I try to restore it.  I do
not know the first thing about player pianos or pianos in general as I do
not play the instrument.  I figure that trying to restore this piano will
be a life-long project similar to restoring a Model T Ford by somebody
that does not know how to drive.

Can you put me in touch with some of your subscribers who restore player
pianos who can recommend any sources for parts, plans, instructions, etc.
and who can give me a rough idea of the cost and pitfalls of trying to
bring this piano back to life?

Since I will be responsible for transporting the piano, I also need to
know how much one of these things weighs and how "delicate" we need to
handle it.

Any help you or your readers can provide will be greatly appreciated.
You or your readers can reach me at Grayday@aol.com , or at the mail
address below.  Thanks again to you and your readers for any help.

Sincerely,

Paul Williams
152 Union Street
Ridgewood, NJ 07450

 [ Editor's note:
 [
 [ One of our very knowledgeable and very helpful MMD members lives near
 [ you, Paul.  Read the information at his web site first (most of your
 [ questions will be answered there), and then contact John and get
 [ acquainted:
 [
 [   John A. Tuttle   "Self-Playing Pianos"
 [   407 19th Avenue,  Bricktown, NJ 08724
 [   E-Mail: JohnTuttle@PlayerCare.com
 [   http://www.PlayerCare.com
 [  "We Keep Your Music Rolling"
 [
 [ -- Robbie