Player Pianos Are Alive and Well in 2002
By James Jelinek
I would very much like to agree with Mr. Tuttle but unfortunately
I can't. Here in the Chicago area, sales of old pneumatic players has
been very poor to nonexistent. I used to sell a great many units in a
years time, but in the past several years this has dwindled down to one
or two per year if I'm lucky.
I have plenty of rebuilding work and tons of service calls but sales
are pretty much a thing of the past around here. Everyone is looking
for a bargain and there are plenty of old, used players that turn up
for half my price and even less then my rebuilding cost, which is
modest. I am a one-man shop and barely surviving this down trend in
player sales.
As far as rolls are concerned that has never really floated my ship,
even though I stock thousands of new, used and old titles.
I know several other restorers in the area and none of them paint as
rosy a picture as Mr. Tuttle. Perhaps the business has shifted back
east or there is more interest there than here. Sales used to be the
icing on my cake but lately I am having to have it very plain indeed.
Jim Jelinek
|
(Message sent Fri 20 Dec 2002, 13:17:55 GMT, from time zone GMT-0600.) |
|
|