Robbie commented in 031227 MMDigest:

>[ I suspect the writer, Rick Mathews, feels "trapped between a rock
>[ and a hard place!"  The two chapter members who have stored the
>[ organ for several years want it removed, but there is no place to
>[ remove it to, yet the members of the Chapter want to sell it and
>[ make a profit for the Chapter coffers.  The situation seems to be
>[ another example of an owner (the Chapter) that doesn't want to admit
>[ that the market value of their instrument is actually much less than
>[ they believe it should be.  The result is an impasse -- nothing!

I have in front of me a letter from a large organ construction and
restoration company to the former owner of the Kilgen pipe organ
I now own.  It reads in part:

  "This instrument is a 3-manual, 7-rank theatre-style pipe organ
with 12 trap instruments, 3 tuned percussion instruments, and chimes.
It is equipped with an elaborate 4-spool automatic roll player...

  "The cost of an instrument of similar specification built today would
be approximately $154,600 plus tax, shipping, preparation of the chambers,
electrical hook-up, hoisting, etc.  The overall value, then, would be
approximately $175,000...

  "Unfortunately, due to its condition, its present-day sale value is
approximately $5,000 to $6,000 less the cost of removal which would
mean a net to you of about $1,000...  I feel it would take a minimum
of $50,000 and as much as $100,000 to restore the instrument..."

I'm afraid that is typical.

Marc Kaufman