Dear Hearts & Gentle People,  This is in response to John Tuttle's
excellent posting.  I have been thinking about this all day.

This hobby has three kinds of people, in my opinion, and we need all
three: (1) musicians, (2) mechanics, (3) Elite Possessers.  Sometimes
one person can be all three, or two categories, or just one.  I am two
categories: a musician and mechanically-minded.  The third category of
collector is not my favorite type but we need them also.

The letter begins with "My father and I _share a love_ for old musical
instruments."  They found an Apollo piano, restored what they could,
and called a technician to do that which they could not do.  I think
that deserves a lot of credit.

In my instance I am blessed to have three pianos, two of which were
completely restored before they entered my L-shaped living room which
measures 15'x7'x15'.  Mechanical music is my life.  I have been to
Nethercutt's and various home collections.  At one fine collection of
1940's jukeboxes, the patter was the same as we were shown every model
of Wurlitzer: "This is model xxx, it is worth $$$$$$, I found it for
$."  Then a 1960's rock record was played on it.

At Nethercutt's we were shown _only the finest_ if they had a lowly
Seeburg L that was hidden away.  Also _no touching_ and _no flashbulbs._
Now this is not meant to belittle these people in any way, but I like
to enjoy a little time with this kind of music, not just a 60-second
snatch of something.

Phono records are a whole other ballgame.  On one I have the piano
sounds like it has a broken string left in place, and another has a
damper that has fallen off so one note just keeps singing away.
Some are too fast and others are too slow; it can go on and on.

At home I can tend to these things and play what I want at what speed
I like, etc.  There is nothing like feeding my Western Electric 10 or
20 nickels while I cook or take a bath or whatever.

I do apologize for going on and on but it did sound like you think
these old pianos may fall apart at any time.  If they are well restored
they should last 5 years?  Maybe 10?

It sounds like they may have enough funds to buy something modest,
perhaps even a Seeburg G; who knows.  I just think this family does not
want to be cheated, neither do I.

Let's encourage them.  Let them do both: go to the museum or rally,
and also get the father a _real_ Father's Day present, one he will love
just like some us do.  Have you dropped a nickel in the slot today?

Regards to all of you,
Jerry F. Bacon