Do you have a local player tech?
I'm interested as to what the situation is in your various countries as far as player techs go. New Zealand is a country of about 4 million people. I live in Auckland, which is the largest city by far (about 1.1 million). There are no player techs at all! For some years, I've been in the unfortunate situation of wanting a FULLY restored upright player piano (and I mean new hammers, no expense spared type of restoration), having the money to buy such, and none being available. The last decent player tech in Auckland chucked it all in to drive a taxi, where by his account he's earning more and working less than in the player business! Is it any better over in the UK?

In the netherlands there's One fully professional restorer and about 2 or 3 semi-professionals to who it's an out of control hobby. the professional is also the only Dutch resource for materials (he even ships to Australia, right Dan.?)

Yes he came in handy for me ,and got me some much needed Hupfeld parts i was after........:)

is it any better in the UK? Well it's a little hit-n-miss like everywhere else. We have : a few good honest effective restorers a few ramped-up part-timers at least one utterly dishonest sociopath a few complete rip-off merchants a couple wannabees-but-never-wills My advice is, as ever, do your research FIRST!!! Don't take the chit-chat from the person to whom you are potentially handing over large sums of money. In the UK most people are fine BUT there are a few who will a) charge you about 5-10 times what the work is worth b) never deliver on their work until you threaten them with either i) violence and ii) actually commence court proceedings. The worst-offenders are very well known to people "in the loop". Newcomers to the hobby and relative outsiders are often duped so it always pays to ask around! Being a sucker customer is what keeps the rotten apples in "business". No name-and-shame on this forum please as we don't need litigation threats but do ask around first! Remember - bad tradespeople destroy your enthusiasm and enjoyment of your instrument. Don't let it happen to you!

There's one butcher that was active in the 80s and 90s here in New Zealand. His legacy is dozens of players that have keys that no longer move, and pedal doors that no longer fully shut! God knows how he did it, but at least he was consistent! :roll:

Hi, Up here in the wilds of Scotland there is a really friendly Piano Tech just down the road in Kinloss (about 2 miles) he lent me his piano skate board to move my Aeolian when I collected it from Blackpool, England, and he he hadn't even met me before! He subsequently tuned my instrument without the need to remove the player action either! Andy