Rick and Betty Cooley & the MMD,  In regards to Rick Cooley's article
on the future of mechanical music: I think you have some very valid
points about the lack of interest by the "younger generation".

Just to give you a perspective on me, I am 36 years old, married with
two small children.  I am a clinical psychologist.  I have restored my
1910 player piano and just recently acquired a 1920s, so far unknown
manufacturer, modified o-roll orchestrion, that I am going to start
restoring.

I too have noticed that most of the younger generation are uninterested
in mechanical music.  A few weeks ago I had two church get-togethers at
my house.  The first was with a group of older people ages 55-80 who
were absolutely fascinated and very interested in my instruments.  They
listened to them for about two hours.  The second was with a youth
group ages 12-17 and their adult church leaders ages 23-28 who had no
interest whatsoever when I started up the instruments and instead
scurried off to the pool.  Another example just happened yesterday when
one of my 20-something co-workers saw me looking on the internet at
pictures of orchestrions, and basically said "why would you want one of
those when you can just put a CD in a CD player?".  Very sad!

I think part of the challenge with mechanical music is the cost.  Don't
get me wrong, these instruments are well worth their price, but most
young families cannot afford these magnificent instruments.  Housing
prices, gas prices, food prices are all at a record high.  The stock
market is doing poorly and many people, even at my level of education
and income are struggling to make ends meet.  We could just barely
afford the orchestrion we just purchased, but I couldn't pass it up.
Those who do have larger incomes and can afford a decent collection
sadly choose to spend it on other things, such as fast cars, fast
women, or drugs up their nose.

I would someday love to own some of the instruments I see talked about
on MMD and other places, but financially it is not an option right now
and won't be for some time, if ever.  I would love to professionally
restore mechanical musical instruments, but from what have seen it is
difficult to make a living doing that, especially living in California,
so for now for me it is sadly a small hobby, hoping someday to bud into
a big hobby.  Unfortunately, as Rick said, many of the restorers are
passing away, and no one is jumping up to take their place.  I would
love to, but I also have to feed my family, which is of course my
number one priority.  Is there anyone who is making a good living doing
restorations?

Lastly, If anyone ever has a mechanical musical instrument that needs
a good and loving home, where it will be adored, played, and taken care
of, I would like to open my home for such instruments or even parts and
pieces of mechanical instruments.  I would gladly take them in and
provide them shelter and love.  I could probably come up with moving
costs to get it here if needed.

My love for mechanical music grows every day that I listen to my two
mechanical instruments, and so far, my 3- and 1-year-old girls are
loving them too.  They dance, they peer into the front glass to watch
the instruments, and get so excited when I get home from work to start
the music.  I hope that at least in them, two of tomorrows youth, I can
instill a love for these wonderful music machines.

Humbly,
Charlie Morgan