From my last posting about eBay, I had quite a few private comments in
favor of putting small postings (and I mean *small* -- perhaps at the
end of the list) about something you may have for sale.

I am a large collector of many things.  I cannot cover all of the bases
that I have open to me.  I belong to many "chat groups" such as this
one and it always has small postings that people "clue us in" or just
have directly for sale.  _No one has ever complained about the small
postings!_

Now let me cover another point.  People who collect large mechanical
instruments tend to be the older "seasoned" individuals who may have
their "collection", who were able to buy them many, many years ago when
they were much cheaper and _available._  After they have made their
collection, they want for no more and it seems these may be the indi-
viduals who are against such postings!

Let's face it folks, the world has changed, these type of things are
_no longer available_ in the junk and antique shops, and are pricey.
It is difficult to find your specific needs anymore and the Internet is
here to stay.  The "younger" or new collectors are having a very
difficult time at this point and it will just get more so.  They are
eager to enlarge their collection and need all the help they can get.
Lighten up!  I for one appreciate someone e-mailing me to tell me that I
may be interested in a specific item; I can just delete it at the click
of a button when I find out it is not for me.

I am not telling this group or host what to do, I just think it might
be time for a reality check that this kind of stuff is _just not avail-
able anymore._  This is also what this group is all about anyway -- to
help all of us further our hobby, to find out how to repair it, to find
materials or instruments be it commercial or not.  Go to your Target
department store or Home Depot hardware store to find player piano
supplies.  We need each other!  My $.02 worth.

Sincerely, Julian Burke