I believe that patience is a virtue regarding this subject.  If player
pianos are being put in the fireplace, etc., then us lovers of these
instruments should be advertising, and replacing the weight of the
wood, that particular person has to burn with actual fire wood.  It
wouldn't cost much for a few dozen pounds or kilograms (wherever you
come from) to swap for an old player, in return to cart their old
Pianola away (be it an old H. C. Bay hybrid) just to retain the spare
parts.

Here in South Australia, the mid to late 1980's was a boom time for
the instrument.  They were in high demand.  This demand has dropped
off right until now, for many reasons.  Regardless, us lovers of the
instrument should be storing them for the proverbial rainy day.  We all
know around the world, that if you are in this business for the money,
you will remain frustrated for long periods of time (especially in
recession).

It is our job as conscientious restorers to preserve them because of
our passion for the machine.  Not, the money that we may receive)

Consider this.  Most baby boomers were in contact with a half working
player piano when they were young.  This huge amount of our population
are now roughly 55 years old, and in the financial prime of their life.
They may just want a bit of that restored, nearly antique nostalgia,
in the near future.

Brenton Jenkins
Barossa Valley
South Australia