[John Del Carlo asked in yesterday's MMD what accounts for the falling
market value of mechanical music instruments]

Good question.

Could it be that many of these instruments are not exposed well to the
general public?  We have a carousel downtown; it is still runs but the
band organ was replaced with a tape player several ago. It's just not
the same!

I wonder why a reed organ sells for $50.00 but a table of the same age
and craftsmanship sells for much more.  The wood alone is worth more.
Is this due to so many unrestored or badly restored instruments out
there?  I am often told the instrument works great, then find out just
how poorly it sounds or works.  If such people only knew what these
instruments can really do.  I have come across so many poorly kept or
voiced "public instruments" that I understand why most people see no
value in them.

I love restoring these instruments but hate telling folks that the
restoration costs more than the market value. I always give them a full
set of pictures, as they have no idea of the craftsmanship and
complexity hidden inside the case.

Sometimes my friends think that I am crazy because I prefer an
orchestration over a Walkman.  On the other hand, if I had to pay true
value for the instruments I have acquired, I would not own the
collection of over twenty-five players and organs that I have today.  I
guess it is a good time to save what we can from the trash heap and
keep them up in good working order.  Then folks in the future perhaps
will appreciate their true value in music, technology, and just a plain
good time.  Do you think many I-phones will last a hundred years and
still make a child's eyes light up?

Kent Arnold