This is in response to Dick Merchant's comments concerning the
PowerRoll.  I don't think I have ever had any dealings with Dick
but it is because of people like him that help restorers like me
stay in business.  He has the right spirit.  One of the pleasures
of restoring is being in contact with people who have old fashioned
values.  I hate to see the world change for the worse.  I have been
greatly influenced by many good people I have met in this business
through the years.  There is nothing better than shaking hands with
someone and looking them in the eye as a way of conducting business
and Dick has this spirit.

I have always been a restorer but for twenty years out of my
twenty-eight year career I bought and sold music machines as well.
For the last six years I have made my living solely on income from
my work.  I have a great lifestyle with no complaints but the money
is not very good.  I maintain my own home as much as I can because it
ticks me off to pay some subhuman $70 to walk in my door to service
something when I know very well that person has no skill.  Restorers
of music machines are under paid compared to other skilled workers.
A person restores because it means something to him.

If you make a living in automatic music you are either a businessman
or an artist.  Larry is an artist.  He has come up with a great product
at a very reasonable cost.  I have ordered three units form Larry.  The
first unit is being enjoyed by one of my customers and has been trouble
free for more than two years.  I have been waiting for my PowerRoll for
about two years now.  I have contacted Larry about three times in last
two years.  In 1980 I got behind the financial eight-ball myself.  And
so when I spoke with Larry I tried my best to be considerate toward
him.

In this business your reputation is everything.  Larry has done nothing
wrong.  He has created a unit that will allow me to have a huge library
of music for a fraction of what a roll library would cost.  I have
known Larry for twenty-eight years and I believe that he will do his
best to come through for me.  Let's offer a helping hand to someone
who has already gone through the hardest part of the job, that is,
developing a great product.  I vote yes for Dick's idea.  It's the
old-fashioned spirit.

Paul Manganaro