Help Save a Piece of Musical History!

We're asking for your help in preserving a unique and beautiful piece of American musical heritage.

Some close friends of ours are moving their parent out of a longtime home and into assisted living. As part of this transition, the family must part with a beloved treasure: a 100-year-old Aeolian "Duo-Art" player piano that has filled their home with music, joy, and memories for over half a century.

Thankfully, they’ve found a wonderful new home for this remarkable instrument at the Marin Rod and Gun Club, where it can continue to be enjoyed by the community. The only hurdle left is the cost of safely transporting this incredibly heavy piano—something that’s understandably difficult to cover while the family focuses on future care needs.

Why save this piano?

The Aeolian Duo-Art wasn’t just any player piano—it was a marvel of early 20th-century engineering. These instruments were among the first ways people could experience pre-recorded music in their homes, before the days of radio and phonographs. Duo-Art pianos didn’t just play notes; they captured the expressive performances of legendary pianists like Paderewski and Rachmaninoff, bringing concert-quality music into everyday living rooms.

This instrument is a rare survivor from a golden age of mechanical music, and it deserves to be preserved—not discarded.

Please consider donating—even a small contribution will help ensure this historical treasure reaches its new home, where it can continue to inspire and entertain for generations to come.

Thank you for being part of this rescue mission for a truly special piece of music history.

The money raised will go towards paying the movers. Any excess funds will be donated to the San Francisco - Marin County Food Bank.