I could not agree more with Larry Norman's letter on values of
mechanical music.  I think that people miss out on a lot of enjoyment
from their mechanical music items, because they are afraid to invest
the money because they won't get it back.

Does someone buy a new piano, say a Disklavier with the idea of making
money?  I don't think so, or if they do they're in for a big surprise.
It's purchased because they enjoy the music, or they just want to look
at it.  Not to put their kids through college, when they part with it.

It was discussed at some length a while back about "Piano Shaped
Objects".  It was a great topic.  Bottom line: our antique pianos blow
the doors off the new pressboard copies!  Isn't that reason enough to
restore one?  They look great, and sound better then what you can buy
new.

I also agree that the unusual will always bring more return on your
investment.  Be careful, though: take a look at cars.  Ferraris were
being purchased for some time purely for investment, not to be driven
by car people.  Then they all got greedy and the bottom fell out.  Some
people lost millions of dollars on one single car, bad for the investor,
great for car people.  It resulted in lowering the cost so that
enthusiasts could again buy them.

Model T Fords are another example, they are losing their value.
From what I have been told it has a lot to do with the market literally
dying.  Those that really loved them are passing away, and baby boomers
prefer later cars.  Those they grew up with.  So they have lost a lot
of buyers.

I wonder if that might not happen to the $300,000 violin player?  What
happens if the stocks drop?  People stop buying and get rid of their
toys.  Maybe Larry will still be able to own his violin machine!

Dave Brown