I am not sure that I agree with all this doom and gloom.  My workshop
is full, and so is that of my colleague, Steve Dibble.  I get regular
enquiries to dispose of player pianos, admittedly, but I also get
perhaps two or three serious enquiries per year from folk who wish to
buy and own a properly working one.  They see them as a potential
source of great pleasure.  And someone from the UK Player Piano Group
may wish to comment on membership numbers.  From my experience the past
few years have seen very well attended events.

Personally, I am presenting 10 days of music at the upcoming Birmingham
International Jazz Festival, the 1st-10th July.  I have two players on
show: a recently restored upright Steck Duo-Art, housed in a replica of
The Moulin Rouge in Centenary Square, and a restored upright Steinway
in The Wellington pub, Bennetts Hill.

I shall be taking lots of up-tempo rolls and a few classical examples
too.  I shall put on my best bib and tucker and chat to all and sundry.
And I shall have some CDs to offer for sale as a further incentive.

I shall be very surprised if I do not get a lot of interest.  Will it
lead to more restorations or sales of instruments?  We shall see.

Roger Waring, The Pianola Workshop
Solihull, West Midlands, B92 9AJ United Kingdom
http://www.pianola.co.uk/