Since the demise of Vestal Press, figuring out how to sell a few books
or audio CDs has been challenging. Having the instruments tuned and
prepared for recording and having a professional recording engineer
make good quality recordings can be expensive, but that is the least
of the ongoing work.
The gross revenue from selling a small number of reasonably-priced
items by mail order doesn't pay for someone to maintain a credit card
merchant's account, advertise, process orders, distribute, account for
sales and income tax, etc. Vestal Press had long term success because
they carried a large number of items, some of which were very good
sellers. We are fortunate that David Ramey Jr., Nancy Fratti, Chris
Carlisle, Bill Black, Nancy Fratti, and others are willing to carry on,
just to share their enthusiasm for mechanical music.
Recordings of instruments in the Sanfilippo Collection are currently
being made just after each instrument is tuned and serviced. These
will be available for sale at collectors' meetings and other events at
the collection. The first one, a fine CD of the 110-key Gavioli organ,
is already available at these events.
Art Reblitz
http://www.mechanicalmusicpress.com/
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