I have to admit to being a bit overwhelmed by the vast array of reasons that people have for "Liking" or "Disliking" Player Pianos. However, it doesn't change the fact that a lot of interesting information was collected and I did discover the most popular reasons why people "Like" Player Pianos. By far, the most common response was simply listening to live music on a real instrument without having to actually play. This category was devided in a number of groups like A) Interacting with the instrument, B) Bringing people together, C) The memories of past good times, D) Pretending and E) Exercise. The second most popular reason was 'intrigue'. People seem intrigued for various reasons from mechanical to musical but by far, the majority of respondents in this category were intrigued by the mechanical aspects of the unit. The third most popular reason is that they enjoy working antiques and that by using and maintaining the unit, they are helping to preserve a part of history.

The two most popular reasons for "Disliking" the player piano are the expense of repairs and electrified units. In general, people had very little to say that could be considered serious dislikes. While some didn't like electrified units, about an equal number enjoyed the aspect of not having to pump the unit if they didn't want to. Most of the people in that category and those with similar comments did indicate that there was quite a difference in the quality of the music. They stated that the electrically driven pump made the music less 'lifelike'.

Lastly, there were a few rather touching stories about how an individual came to love their player piano. And even though some of them are not really very precise with regards to what they liked or disliked, it's pretty easy to tell their feelings by reading their story. All in all, I am pleased by the results I gathered and I believe the best way to present them is to simply list every single comment. Naturally, all the names and identifying information have been removed to protect the privacy of the individual even if they did give their name. Some of you readers might be able to tell which responses came from people involved in the business and yet some of the responses from very involved people were not that much different from those who just enjoy the player piano. I hope you find the reading entertaining.

So perhaps Joyce Brite was correct in stating that the survey was too open-ended. And I fully admit that nothing of a statistical nature came from the survey. It was none the less interesting and everybody that responded seemed to enjoy themself. I was a bit surprised to find that it was more the music than the memories associated with the music. And to that end, my previous feelings about what trips people's triggers about players was slightly off the mark. Basically, they like live music.

John A. Tuttle (John A Tuttle)

Comments = Like: All types of pneumatic players and orchestrions the more complicated the better.
These show the innovations of the time.
Dislike: Repairers who pull out expression systems,if they don't want it connected why not just leave all the bits in the bottom of the piano?
Not really dislike, just indifferent to: midi players, ok but a computer can do anything these days can't it. Not very impressive at all.
Dislike: Snobbery amongst DA, Ampico, Welte owners.
Dislike: Modern plastic players, bits that can't be repaired.

Comments = I like listening to almost any reproducing piano play that's in excellent condition. I like watchin the note hole patterns on any piano roll as it plays. I like intrupreting a roll on a pumper. I like listening to any really good pianolist go at it on a pumper. I dislike the aspect of a solinoid player at an AMICA convention that it drones on forever instead of "playing a roll" and quitting.

Comments = I love my player's manual sustain lever...
I HATE it's top 3 and bottom 3 notes not working, and to think it was designed that way!!

Comments = My player piano is like my friend. It plays beautiful music for me
whenever I want and it never argues.

Comments = Like: The idea that someone's fingers manipulated
some keys many years ago and we can listen to them now in a very accurate fashion. How much has been lost to time over the past 80-100 years? We still have piano rolls.
Dislike: I am disturbed by the loss of historical artifacts for lack of sufficient finds to store or rebuild pianos that are worth saving.

Comments = I am a mechanical engineer with a strong music
background. I collect, and can play, to varying
degrees, several dozen instruments. I have also
built a hammered dulcimer. Therefore, players are
a natural combination of the mechanical side and
the musical side of me. I am also heavily into
computers, so the next logical extension would be
somehow combining MIDI with my player. To date I
have rebuilt 2 pianos and one piano player.
Finally, I just like the music that comes
with a player. A properly rebuilt pumper is far
preferable to an electric and is more fun when
people come by.

Comments = 1973 Aeolian Duo/Art (NOT Duo-Art repro. piano)
Like: well-functioning standard player, even to this day without too much maintenance to the player mechanism.
Dislike: The piano was made at the low-point of quality for American pianos. The piano part has not held up well, though it isn't horrible.

Comments = I like it that you can pretend you are a great pianist. I sit at the piano with the windows open and let the music play. People turn and look to try the find the source of the great music. It is great to fool them into thinking you are the one that is playing.
A player piano is a great party entertainer. When the party is dull, turn on that piano and you have the whole crowd singing to the tunes. They don't care if they have a great voice or not. They just love to sing a long.

Comments = Brings family members together around the dancing keys. Also enjoy the works, entertaining to work on and to watch in operation. Hope to get a "Reproducer" some day. We have Packard with a Standard Player Action.

Comments = The mechanical operations of players
the music as played on the players
like restoring them for the challenge they offer
like bringing an old silent player back to life.

Comments = It's the exercise!

Comments = I love ragtime and jazz. I do play the piano but enjoy listening to it. With the player piano I can listen to it anytime I want in my own home. Further it is a real instrument with real sound as opposed to recordings. I admire the ingenuity and craftsmanship of the player pianos. I guess that doesn't leave anything to dislike.

Comments = I came from a family with seven kids, five girls. We would play the piano all the time. We use to thank the piano for the size of our thighs! It kept us in shape until we moved away from home!

Comments = I first played (foot powered) a player in 1950 on the farm of my cousin
in No Mn. It was our Radio, TV, Computer all in one.It was the only
entertainment there was after dark. but so novel my sister & I always
looked forward to the time when the grownups played cards in the
kitchen, and we could play the player. later I wanted my own and
finley abt. 3yrs ago I foud it, An American Player Piano Co, upright
w/150 old rolls for $350 SOLD! I'ts my baby now.

Comments = My mother bought a player piano for herself about 25 years
ago. I have always enjoyed the piano, but was unable to play
much less understand sheet music. Recently with my mother's
poor health, she decided to give her childern some of her
belonging. Knowing that her player piano has always
been special to me, she gave my wife and I the piano and her
collection of player piano rolls that I have always loved.
My wife and I as well as our small son have enjoyed
many nights sitting by the fire and enjoying the sounds
of many of my mothers favorite songs. Our collection
does not include any Christmas player rolls. We hope to
include such so that we can enjoy or cold northeast eves
by the fire, with our Christmas tree, our player piano
playing Christmas music, and my thoughts of my childhood,
and my mother who I will dearly miss, but will always love
and remember everytime we play one of her favorite piano
rolls
Since a boy I was always fascinated at the mechanical
wonderments;
now my kids are. I work on them as a hobby; finding it relaxing and a
sense of accomplishment when you put a roll in, pump the pedals and hear
the music. I'm currently resurrecting a Lauter Humana.

Comments = As an engineer and a piano player, I greatly
appreciate the technology at work to create that
wonderful music. I grew up in the MIDI age, but
find the old pumper pianos much more engaging.
My daughters love sitting around singing as I
pump out those old songs. We just don't get the
same joy sitting around our computer.

Comments = I can tell all the girls at the bar I can play the piano flawlessly.
It is an efficient way to exercise those hard to reach calf muscles.
I can annoy the hell out of the man who lives above me who has a squeaky mattress.
It gives new life to songs destroyed by Lawrence Welk, such as "Roll Out The Barrell"

Comments = We can't normally play piano and now we can!

Comments = I began playing the piano when I was 7 years old. The piano I learned to play on had been in my mother's family for generations, being moved from Tennessee to Colorado in a hay wagon. It was passed from oldest girl to oldest girl; and I, being the only girl in my family (out of 4 boys), was given the piano, much to all of my brothers dismay.

Comments = It is a beautiful upright grand with a tonal quality unsurpassed. I studied music until I was 17, taking piano lessons after school and attending every music class I could offered in school. My parents never had to tell me to practice. In fact, my brothers begged my parents to move the piano because I was always playing it and they couldn't watch T.V.
About 15 years ago, my parents moved back to Colorado. The house they purchased was offered by a family moving to Europe. And to their delight, the family was also offering a baby grand reproducer for sale. They bought the house and the reproducer!
When I visited them, I loved to listen to the reproducer! It was such a pleasure being able to sit and listen, having the lovely piano play for me!
Recently my parents sold their house in Pacific Palisades and moved to Camarillo, California. I was enlisted to help them pack for moving day and ended up packing their entire house (it took me an entire week of 10 to 11 hours a day of packing). I begged my mother to sell everything and buy new . . . what a chore!
And, for my birthday . . . and I'm sure for packing their household, my parents gave me the P.S. Wick (St. Paul) baby grand reproducer! Boy, oh boy, did I score!
In order to get the reproducer here to Arizona, I enlisted my brother's help. And, in exchange for moving the reproducer for me, I gave him my upright piano (boy is he lucky . . . .).
Well, the poor reproducer hasn't been tuned in over 5 years; the key action is great, but the reproducer didn't function properly - it just wouldn't play. So, this Thanksgiving weekend my dear husband (he can fix ANYTHING!) and I replaced all of the vacuum hoses. And, on my birthday, Sunday, November 30th, it worked for the first time in years! What a birthday present!
Needless to say, this being the age of information, I spent the rest of the day on the internet looking for information about player and reproducer pianos. I found this very web page and filled out a form to receive a catalog of available piano rolls. Much to my surprise, John
Tuttle responded, advising that a catalog would be sent to me with the next mailing, and would I consider visiting this site to share what I liked about player/reproducer pianos!
So, this is my story. I just love the dear reproducer because I can turn it on (it's electric), put a roll in, hit the 'repeat' button and listen to it while I clean my house, do dishes (that's what I did last night), and have an 'invisible person' play the piano for me! I think that if we had one while I was growing up, I wouldn't have continued to take music lessons! I think I would have let the reproducer, or player, do the work for me!

Comments = I like the choices provided by the player. I can
sit at the keyboard and plink away with the kids
or just pop on a roll and sit back and watch. The
kids favorite part is pumping the pedals to keep
roll turning.

Comments = The sound of a player is the most satisfying real (non-amplified, non-electronic) musical sound that can be heard in the average middle class household.
Most people are just floored by them when they hear them for the first time--since most people today are not aware of the instrument's potential. In fact, I have noticed that many young people have never even heard of the instrument! It amazes most of them when they see/hear it for the first time.
It can play arrangements that no human being could ever play thus adding to the wonder of the instrument. It's mechanical complication (which is also really rather simple) is also quite wonderful.
I don't like them because each song costs about $10. Compare this to a CD. I also don't like the fact that they are so gosh darn delicate. But these are small complaints. They really are worth it. Everyone at work is somewhat jealous that I have one. I work in a very enlightened office.

Comments = I really like the deep sound that eminates from
my old piano and I'have never heard it from another.
You can never replicate the sound of an old
player piano these days, they just don't live up to it.
It's been in our family for almost
30 years, and I know for a fact that it was made
before 1925, but I need to fix it up badly. all
the rubber hoses and bellows are rotting and
it wont play worth a hoot now.

Comments = I love my piano because I can't play a piano but a player will do it for me. The only thing I dislike is having to get parts from so far from where I live.

Comments = It feels like stepping back in time hearing a old
player piano. I like the quality and sound.
And the ability to hear the music, but not have to
play it

Comments =I like old and insteresting things, also I like the music.
My parents were given a player piano, and in addition to a regular upright they have, they just don't have room in their small house for two pianos. I will be getting the player piano probably in the next six months. I love the idea of a player piano because I play the flute and I don't have anyone to accompany me! Now I will be able to play whenever I want. Also, my children love music and this will be a wonderful way to have fun and sing and dance.

Comments = I love Player Piano's. They bring back such fond memories of my childhood. All the children and adults, gathering round the Piano, enjoying moments of sheer delight to all present. Young children working their hardest to Pump those pedals, keeping the music in time. My father had the family piano electrified, personally I was horrified. I prefer the pump. My children now enjoy the music just as much as I did, even though their little hamstrings and quadraceps don't have work like mine did.

Comments = My first contact with a player piano was when I was younger (as to when I'm
completely unsure!!) at a friend of the family's. I remember it being a very
well kept model, but that's about all. Must have stuck in my mind though because
in 1991 back where I was living, Cardiff, Wales, UK, I found a Aeolian Pianola
at an architectural salvage yard, with around 35 original rolls.
It was dusty, dirty, scratched and obviously did not work - though the sound was
still reasonable from the piano (considering it obviously had not been played or
tuned for quite some time!).
Based on the fact that I had not seen any since my first encounter, I guessed that
they were not all that common. So I purchased it for the equivalent of $350 dollars,
with the plan to bring it back to it's original condition.
Well, now that I live in the USA (Capitola, CA) I have the time and space to follow through
on this plan. The strip-down and restoration has started.
The final pleasure being putting
the first roll in place and starting to pedal.

Comments = I don't need to know how to play the piano to have real piano music played by professional pianists.
The player piano is a real novelty. Many people have never seen or used one. It's fun to show it off.
I wish it weren't so loud. The music seems to carry throughout the house -- not always desireable.
We don't use it as much as we should. I guess having it for so long, we take it for granted.

Comments = I don't dislike anything about a player piano! As a
matter of fact, I love them so much I have two of them.
The first one I acquired (free) from a friend of mine in Maryland.
It has a Starr player action and is from around 1920. I
began the restoration process approx 6 years ago but had to
put it on hold since I got transfered (I'm in the Coast Guard)
and have been transfered 4 times since. I still have all the parts
and my intent is to restore it once I get stationed somewhere
that I'll be for at least 4 years.
The other one is very very special to me. My father gave it to
my mother 32 Christmases ago and it has been played ever since. She
had a vacuum pump installed in it about 8 years ago. It has a
Standard player action in it. This past winter, my Mom asked me if I wanted
it, if I did she would pay to ship it to me. Now it sits in my den
alongside the other one. Bad news is, it has a few leaks which I intend
on fixing shortly.
My plan is to restore (completely) them after I retire from the
Coast Guard. Player pianos mean quite a bit to me. I have very fond
memories of all my grandparents, my cousins, my brothers, friends, and parents
standing around our Player singing Christmas songs on Christmas Eve
every year that I can remember when I was a kid. It was the center of
many a gathering and will be for years to come.
You will be hearing from me in the future as I start the restoration process.
Rest assured, when I say restore, I mean all the way down to the sound board.
I plan on doing it right so that I will have something to hand down to one of
my five children.

Comments = It is part of my heritage. Our Mason & Risch circa 1850 first belonged to my great uncle who in turn bequeathed it to my father, and now who in turn bequeathed it to me. Some of our rolls date back to the late 1800's and early 1900's. We have just had it restored to its full capability and the sound and tone are wonderful. We are currently looking to purchase some updated music.

Comments = As a child, my folks had a player piano, and many rolls, they used to play it at all the family gatherings and sing along with the music.
After I was grown and had a family of my own I was fortunate to find a player that I could afford, and was able to restore and get working again, also to find many rolls some that were the ones that I had heard when I was a child.
Well now that I am a senior and the wife and I have found a spinet 64 key player, and will start to collect rolls for it, Love the music from them and play it often, it is the same old pump type that I am used to, so will be visiting your site often I'm sure.

Comments = We just bought an old pump player piano. We love "playing" the piano. My father-in-law swears that pumping his piano was the best physical therapy when he broke his hip!

Comments = I have a Sterling Player Piano. It has been in my family for generations. I love playing old holiday christmas rolls. I love the arrangements that have the chiming bell harmonics incorporated in the arrangement.
My biggest disappointment is my old rolls are deteriorating, and can no longer be played. I wish there was a copying service available for these rolls.
We have so much fun at parties when I crank up the old player, forget about the karoke machines, just put on a roll or two,

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