In response to John Tuttle's response [071016 MMDigest] to my concern
about "the value of player pianos", the issue at hand is not how much
restoration work we are involved in; I also have work booked out
through '08 (thank goodness for the sentimental value of Grandma's
and Aunt Mabel's old player pianos).
The issue I was asking about is "What do we do with the non-high end
reproducing pianos that no one wants?" I am not about to spend 200 or
so hours restoring a Marshall and Wendell or Stroud reproducing piano
when fully restored Steinway Duo-Arts and Knabe Ampicos are selling for
less that $10,000. I've worked for less than minimum wage on for too
many projects.
I just leased more storage space down the hall to store some of these
gems. I will restore these pianos for someone that wants them or, if
someone wants one of these pianos with an electronic system, I will
accommodate them with a nice playing piano.
No one has responded to my original query about what to do with these
pianos in storage collecting dust or the restored ones with no market.
Donald Barton, RPT DPS
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