My country (The Netherlands) was never under a Communist regime and
the last four decades there was no food problem.  Helas [alas?] we are
exposed to a lot of films and TV series from a.o. the US.

But the reaction of the average Netherlands citizen would be the same
as your Russian friend.

Player-piano's are simply only known to very few people.  We call
them normally 'pianola's'; the original Dutch word was: Kunstspelpiano
(= Artificially-played-piano.  But 'Kunst' means also 'Art'!)

 [ It's an "art" to pump it properly!  ;)  -- Robbie

Even the man who tunes my Aeolian always asks me to play a piece.
It's the only one he knows in a working condition.  All others are
'transformed' to 'normal' pianos.

Best greetings,

Wybe van der Wal
Rijswijk, the Netherlands