Hello to Down Under!  :)

> I guess that, at 28, I'm relatively young in mechanical music circles.

Ha!  I can beat you!  I'm just 24.  ;-)

> I sometimes worry that the instruments we love are not appreciate
> by younger people and I wonder how many player pianos, player organs,
> orchestrions, etc., will be around as the years go by and aging
> enthusiasts quit this life.

I can assure you: There is absolutely no need to worry whatsoever!
Especially with the street organs, you do get around and get seen,
and then there are, of course, those certain mothers, who stop with
their children to show them the curiosity.  Not all of them, and
maybe not even many, but _some_ of these kids will eventually keep
this experience in mind and will -- when given the opportunity --
purchase mechanical music later on in their life.

With player pianos, so I think, it is no different.  The only
difference is that you don't get seen as frequently or by as many
people.  BUT: it is up to you to change that!

This is not quite a religion and you don't have to do a missionary
job, yet, you too would be able to infect others with the "bacillus
mechanicus" and all you need to do, as you've seen, is play it,
play it, play it!

> Cadet Mark A. Williamson

I guess you are "in the Army now!" ;-)

musical greetings by(e) InK - Ingmar Krause
Victoria, BC, Canada
Erlangen, BY, Germany