I had the great fortune to apprentice with one of the last remaining player piano craftsman/restorers/repairmen in the west coast. A mad genius if there ever was one. (Hey Larry!).

Not many jobs gave me to opportunity to make glue from fish guts, cut leather, polish wood with graphite and tinker deep in the guts of Steinway's.

The player piano's are truly amazing technology. Ask most people how the players work and they'll draw a blank. (Hint: vacuum).

Sit next to a properly tuned (musically & mechanically) player piano, close your eyes and listen. They can be scary good.