Regarding past-due PowerRoll units:

I owe Jack Conway a very deep apology but wanted to do something
special for him, because his unit was ordered earlier than some others
sent in its place, because certain customers tormented me mercilessly
until doing so became the only choice to fulfill obligations to all,
and for one reason or another did not get sent.  We have known each
other for many years and whenever I think of him I feel that I must do
something at once.  Why I have not is probably that I feel so bad about
the delay that I put it aside, making it worse.

I can supply you with all customer data, Jack; no elaborate census is
necessary.

If Jim Moore regards my bleeding triple esophageal ulcer, soon followed
by pneumonia and hospitalization, with the three months out of work and
months more of weakness and struggle it involved, as "just a _lot_ of
excuses,"  he is either not the friend he has represented himself to
be, or is trying to make some kind of pathetic show for his wife's
boss.  More likely he is a good man who has no idea about how difficult
it is to run a small business on a shoestring (and keep it going for
twenty years).

Jim was quick to attack during the first round of MMD PowerRoll
attacks.  Maybe he has Jack Conway's PowerRoll.  As with every angry
customer, he was happy with the product, once finally delivered.

I have run my reproducing and player piano restoration business for
over twenty years at the same location, and have occupied the same
one-bedroom apartment since 1980.  Every cent earned other than basic
overhead, goes back into the business, and since late in 1997, that
has meant the PowerRoll.

I now know that the PowerRoll was simply undercapitalized.  I have
been working hard at finding a way to deliver all of the 40 or so
past due units and make money for the investor, as I don't expect
to make any.

The PowerRoll is perfected as a product.  Virtually all service
problems have been minor, and investment in subcontracted quality
control facilities would eliminate them.

That, with the inspiration of the editor of this Journal, Robbie
Rhodes, referring me to my dear dead friend and partner in the venture,
Laurent Coray's invaluable help and trust, I, Laurence Broadmoore,
developed and perfected the PowerRoll -- the best and most important
advancement in the history of self-playing instruments -- marketed it
and we shipped those shipped from my little shop, at the same time
operating my restoration shop as best I could, is nearly miraculous,
considering my budget and other obstacles.  Most of my customers have
understood the difficulty and importance of this and have kindly
endured much unintended delay.

I now acknowledge in retrospect, that I didn't do a great job managing
the business.  I only did my best.  I'm an inventor, not a businessman
-- what do you expect!  How about some financial help from you wealthy,
retired hobbyists?  Would you rather make a few bucks and leave me with
a few pennies or nothing, as is usual, by helping out the PowerRoll,
or would you prefer the spectacle of making our tiny life here even
more difficult?, possibly depriving my customers from their units?
All I care about is fulfilling my obligations, however tardy, to my
customers.

This is a call for financial aid, so that Jim's wife's boss (Jack's
unit is in my shop) and the rest can receive their goods, at minimum.
It can be structured so as to isolate my obligations from the investor,
preserve high standards, ensure completion of new, unsold units, and
still guarantee delivery of all units due.

If anyone has any comments or questions regarding the PowerRoll, as
always, they may contact me directly, 24 hours per day, 7 days per
week, at (800) 497-4266.  I will return the call within 24 hours.
If our discussion then requires a public response, I will make one.

Sincerely,

Larry Broadmoore