All this talk of junking player pianos is making me feel guilty.
Two weeks ago at my local auction in Finchley, London, there was a
player piano which I pumped with one foot as I walked past, to see if
there was any life in it. There was nothing at all, despite the porter
saying that it was working fine a minute ago. I walked on and forgot
about it.
Last Monday I heard that it had failed to sell and had been put out
on the rubbish pile with all the 3-legged chairs and scrap furniture.
At first I thought I should rush up there and save it, but when I
thought about its =L= 60 ($90) transportation costs, and an almost
permanent place in the cellar, ... It has rained three or four times
since, which will have made things worse.
I just hope it is gone by next week so I don't have to look at it
amongst the rubbish. This is the same auction at which, two years ago,
I bought a recently restored Aeolian Duo-art upright for peanuts,
complete with 150 rolls.
Michael Start
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