Even though most major roll makers are out of production, I think the
player piano market is far from being dead.

Case in point.  I recently remarried into a family, and now have three
teenage sons.  They were fascinated with my solenoid piano.  Then I
told them, "Now let's see a real player piano."  I ushered them into my
shop where stands a Baldwin-built Monarch.  Even though this piano does
not play yet, they were asking, "what does this do?" referring to the
roll motor.  The point is, they were twice as fascinated with the old
pneumatic pedal pumper, even though it didn't work!

Craig Brougher said it years ago: the charm of pneumatic players has
stood the test of time.  Now, I have to rebuild the Baldwin, because
the boys can't wait to hear it play.  We intend to make it a family
project.  I suspect that at least one of them has been bitten by the
player piano bug, but good!

Eventually rolls may get a little scarce for player pianos, as the
originals are crumbling.  I suspect that eventually most roll
production will be left to hobbyists, whose skill and determination
have built some of the best perforators in existence.  Converting
pianos to MIDI operation has its advantages, but a moving roll and its
lyrics have a charm that will never be equaled.

Dead?  Not in my lifetime!  One good thing about a depressed market is
that people of meager means can now purchase a machine that was
previously beyond their reach.  I always wanted a Duo-Art, but never
could afford one.  I picked up a fine old Weber last year for
practically nothing.

Andy Taylor