If my experience is anything to go by, there are certainly many
more player pianos lying around in the UK than are ever going to be
restored.  I have about five players offered to me every month.  I know
of plenty that need attention.  I have half a dozen in store awaiting
work and know of other restorers who have similar collections.  House
clearance auctions quite regularly throw up a number of instruments
that have been stored.

Thousands?  I don't know.  But it would not surprise me.

Problem # 1.  The number of individuals or organisations devoted to
full time restoration in the UK is at most seven.  I currently have at
least three years work ahead of me.  If I were younger and at the start
of my career I might employ staff.  But at my age I don't need that
sort of hassle.

Problem # 2.  Self-restoration by the owner is sometimes undertaken in
a frenzy of enthusiasm, only to be abandoned due to the complexity and
time-consuming nature of the task.  But naturally, they cannot bear to
throw their efforts away, so the player gets stored.

Problem # 3.  The cost of professional restoration of any player is
high, and quite likely to exceed the subsequent value of the
instrument.

Problem # 4.  Piano dealers in the UK do not want Pianolas -- not even
working ones -- thus a non-working player quickly becomes a liability
rather than an asset.

Problem # 5.  Players are so hard to move that they tend to be left
where they are -- in a corner, in a garage or outbuilding -- anywhere
where they are not in the way.

Problem # 6.  There is no instant market.  I have had some minor success
in raising awareness but I only scratch at the surface.  Any sales that
I generate are occasional, and I do not rely upon them for business.

Problem # 7.  Some players are more trouble than they are worth.
Small, cheap actions can be a nightmare.  Just give me a nice 1920s
Duo-Art or Higel piano any day.

The result of all of these factors is that I choose now to devote
my time to commissioned work and restoring better quality players.
I think that many of the basic players still left around will end up
being scrapped.  But hopefully the reproducers will survive.  And the
push-up players!

Roger Waring - The Pianola Workshop
Solihull, England
http://www.pianola.co.uk/