[ Bill Maguire wrote in 091117 MMDigest, "Suction Boxes for
 [ Modern Aeolian Players":
 [
 [> I think hobbyists and "elite rebuilders" need to understand the
 [> realities many of us face with the general public are different
 [> than true enthusiasts in AMICA and on MMD.  In most cases,
 [> "the general player piano owning public" don't want, notice or
 [> appreciate perfection -- they are not willing or able to pay for
 [> perfection and they own what most enthusiasts would consider
 [> "bottom feeder" pianos.

I agree with Bill Maguire.  Why can't we all get along?  Does it
really matter in the end if someone is a "true enthusiasts" or an
"elite rebuilder" or just someone who may own a "bottom feeder piano"
or a reproduction?  There is an economic range of people who
appreciate mechanical music in all forms.

Should some people be denied the pleasure of hearing mechanical music
because they can not afford the elite class of instruments or have the
financial or mechanical ability to totally restore an instrument to
original condition?  Or just maybe, they don't have the keen ear for
tone and pitch of sound.

In order to protect and preserve the heritage of mechanical music, we
need everyone to understand and enjoy it no matter if it is a million
dollar instrument or just a 'bottom feeder' or a reproduction that may
not play perfectly or be rebuilt to original standards (which is some
cases may not be the best standards).

Do we really want to just preserve the biggest and the best even
though this is not what our ancestors actually had?  I'm sure during
the Depression a lot of bubble gum and duct tape repairs were used to
still give a little pleasure to people.

By encouraging the appreciation for all instruments no matter their
class or condition, the cream of the crop will still draw the higher
prices.  But without a large population having an appreciation for
mechanical music, only the large elite instruments will be found in
a few museums and elite estates and the common man's instruments will
be lost forever and therefore the appreciation for mechanical music.

Of all the instruments I have, my greatest love still is for a little
drummer boy music box that I gave my mother when I was young.

Paulette Smariga