The only constant in the world is change, and unfortunately it is not
changing the way we as restorers would like.  The player piano enthu-
siast sees the future as being very bleak.  I compare it to an effort
that I am currently involved in.

I am part of a restoration team that is restoring a WWII B-25/PBJ-1J to
fly.  Our organization, the Commemorative Air Force,  restores World
War II aircraft to flying condition.  We see the demise of these old
warbirds in the same way as the player piano restorer sees the demise
of player pianos, but who else cares?

Most people today have no knowledge about airplanes with round motors.
Jets are the thing.  However, there is still a group of people clinging
to the dream of flying and maintaining a fully restored WWII warbird.
Our group is getting smaller as time goes by.  The day will come when
no more vintage aircraft will be restored and no vintage pianos will be
restored.

We restorers, no matter what our subject is, must be content with the
fact that what we are doing is giving us a tremendous amount of satis-
faction and we should not worry about the future.  Hopefully, we can
impart some of our enthusiasm to the younger folks.  But unfortunately,
if it interferes with their time on a PlayStation or Xbox, it is not
going to happen.

Enjoy the restoration process while you can.

Iran Ausley