Regarding the restoration question:

We have a large collection, and are not opposed to having our
instruments show a little age; they _are_ old, after all.  With that
said, however, when we had our piano restored we had not planned on
having the case done, since it showed a little orange peel, but was
acceptable in its condition.

Everyone was happy with that, but as the internal restoration
progressed our restorer called us to say that as the interior was being
polished and restored the case was looking worse and worse.  We decided
to have it done, and have not regretted it.  (We did make sure the
refinisher found a place where the case had not had sunlight and dirt
so he could match that and make it as close to original as possible.)

When we put the money into an instrument, we want the restoration to be
done in a manner to make it as original as possible: no changing pipes
to plastic, for instance.  At that time it doesn't make sense to me to
have it look old outside and look like new inside.

This is, of course, a matter of personal preference.  I do think,
though, that if one goes to sell an instrument it should look and sound
like what it is meant to be.  I have heard instruments "restored" which
had an entirely different sound than it they were ever intended to have,
and they would be very expensive to bring back to original, if it could
be done.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Shirley Nix