Gary Rasmussen posted a few articles recently which deserve an answer.
I also go by the time and material each project takes. My hourly rate
is still just $35.00 so an air motor which I also do in 8 hours would
cost $280.00 and $10.00 for materials so the total would be $290.00
plus shipping cost. A typical player restoration runs $6,000 to $7,000
now and to refinish the case is around $3500 to $4,000.

I also photograph each project which is sent to the customer as a
"picture progress report". Examples of my picture progress reports
can be seen on the left side of my home page at Nickelodeon Co. and
as you can see it covers all types of automated musical instruments
from singing birds to orchestrions and band organs, etc.

I have run out of PPCo material long ago and now rely on Player-Care
for everything. The service and quality is "Top Drawer." The material
we use are the cheapest part of the restoration so I'd say don't rely
on material that is now 20+ years old. While the tubing may look great
you will find that it has lost its elasticity when put on a nipple and
the cloth is not absolutely airtight any more. Just my thoughts.

I recently closed The Great Canadian Nickelodeon Co. as a limited
company just to make it easier for my executors. :-)) I still have many
interesting instruments for sale and have started to post a few
"memories" of the past 45+ years with lots more to come as time allows.
Everyone says I should write a book but this will to do for now. :-))

I cannot think of any other business that would have allowed me to
meet so many wonderful people and to travel all over the world doing
what I love most (and hope to do for awhile yet -- ha ha!).

Please visit my web site at http://www.nickelodeonco.com/ 

All the very best,

Ron Schmuck - The Great Canadian Nickelodeon Co.
Mount Forest, Ontario, Canada