The Great Depression and radios in the 1930s helped kill the demand
for player pianos and then, in the 1940s, player pianos became totally
worthless.  Here in Nebraska, farmers were throwing them in their
ditches to help stop erosion.

Those player pianos that survived became collectible in the 1960s,
'70s and '80s and were prized as valuable family heirlooms.  People
could afford to invest a thousand or two [dollars] for restoration
and then their working instrument had a market value of a thousand
or two more than the amount they paid to have it restored.

Just like in the 1930s the economy and electronics now seem to be
killing the player piano market.  And just like in the 1940s, player
pianos again seem to be perceived by the general public as having
little or no value.

Today, it is not hard to understand that it is tough for people to
pay restoration costs on their old player piano and then wind up with
a restored instrument with little or no market value, should they
have a need to sell it.  I fear that too many generations have passed
and that the family heirloom factor for player pianos and antiques in
general is fast disappearing.

My hope is that enough of these unique old music machines survive to
again see a day when economic times are better and interior decorators
will pay a fair price to use them to add a nostalgic touch in their
decorating scheme, or that a new breed of collectors will emerge to
value them after tiring of the electronic world.

My hope is to live long enough to see that day.

Larry Schuette
Raymond, Nebraska