I wish Damon Atchison luck.  I know for a fact that it is not easy for
a teen to have an avid interest in player pianos.  I also rebuilt my
first player at 16, and my friends thought I had lost it.

Like Damon, I also saw my first player (a Berry-Wood coin operated
piano with mandolin rail) instantly fell in love with players, and HAD
to HAVE one.  I got a part time job (as a volunteer) at a local
mechanical music museum where I met a number of rebuilders.  Watching
those folks over their shoulders and getting tips from them was how I
learned my rebuilding skills.  (I wish I had access to the 'Net back
then, but they didn't let teens on the ARPAnet ;-) and the MMD wasn't
born yet!)

 [ Teens like Jody never admitted their age on the ARPAnet !  :)
 [ -- Robbie   ... hmmm I'm afraid I wasn't a teenager in 1970...  -- Jody

After a while, my friends took note of my hobby, and realized it was
not weird, but actually interesting.  It's been almost 25 years since
I rebuilt my first player, and I have never regretted getting into this
hobby.

During my 3 years at the museum (Yesteryear Museum, no longer in
business) I had the opportunity to help rebuild many fun instruments.
Two of them, a Wurlitzer Military Band Organ (The Bond family's organ
-- anyone know what became of it?), and a Tangley Calliope were used in
parades.  I always walked in the parades to tend the organ and the
calliope (that was hard duty for a shy geekey teenager!) I also wound up
working on the calliope's ride, a 1920 Autocar solid-tired truck...

Damon, your introduction reminded me of those first years in this great
hobby.  Thank you.

Scott Currier
scott@currierandives.com
http://www.currierandives.com