Re: Public Displays of MM devices in NY State?
By Bob Conant
In a message dated 96-11-14 03:13:10 EST, Rick Inzero writes:
> Subject: Public displays of MM devices in NY State?
>
> Maybe somebody's already done this, but I'd like to compile a list of
> working mechanical music items on *public* display in NY state (with
> the idea of taking some road trips to see them!). Amusement parks,
> shopping malls, shops, bars, taverns, restaurants, that kind of thing.
>
Interesting concept. There are probably a few machines around like this. There is an organ on the carousel in the Carousel Mall in Syracuse, NY. Because it's indoors, it operates year round. Most collectors, however, visit other collectors whom they get to know through MBSI or AMICA and where they can generally get to see more machines in better condition than those in public places. There are several in your area that I could recommend to you sometime if you are interested.
Two other public places I can think of are both in Pennsylvania. There is a museum in Franklin, PA, which is south of Buffalo. I understand that this is quite a good display and the East Coast Chapter MBSI hopes to visit it sometime. The other place is Knoebel's Grove in Elysburg, PA, off I-80 near Bloomsburg, PA. They have a number of large organs plus other stuff along with a really fine grouping of vintage amusement rides. They are only open in the summer but it is well worth the trip to go there.
> And now a related question:
> In Roehl's old "Player Piano Treasury" book, he has some photos from
> 1961 of the "Musical Museum" in Deansboro (near Utica), run by the
> Sanders family. Does anybody know if this place still exists and is
> still open?
>
This is good news/bad news. The museum does still exist. The Sanders', who are in their 70's, sold the museum to some of the employees. There has since been a number of lawsuits and countersuits because of not living up to the sales contract. The museum is open sporadically so I would call ahead before making the trip. Also, while there is a fairly big collections and some really interesting machines there, they are reportedly in deplorable condition and worthy of inspection but not listening. I feel bad reporting this because this is where my interest in automatic musical instruments was sparked when I visited there for the first time in the mid-nineteen fifties. The first machine I ever heard was the Mills Violano Deluxe (double) Virtuoso playing Silver Threads Among the Gold. I have not been the same since ! I would say go and see it as who knows how much longer it will exist as a collection but call ahead and be mentally prepared for the poor state of tune that aflicts many of the machines.
Hope this helps.
Bob Conant
Endicott, NY |
(Message sent Thu 14 Nov 1996, 17:14:15 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.) |
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