A couple of weeks ago there was discussion about the fact that too
many folks will never get the chance to see the neat music machines we
enthusiasts enjoy so much.  Here's how we solved this to our own
satisfaction some years ago.

Our collection is not large, but it's representative of just about
everything done in the field.  We have 17 pianos, ranging from the
Seeburg G and the Wurlitzer CX  to a Link cabinet orchestrion (of great
local historical interest) and numerous music boxes of all types, large
and small, to the 57-key Gavioli and the Wurlitzer 146A organs,
together with snuff boxes, manivelles, and three reproducing pianos,
the Steinway XR, Knabe Ampico B, and a beautiful Bauer Welte Licensee.
And, oh yes, two beautifully restored monkey organs.  When we built
three music rooms some years back we designed them so that about 25
people could be in any of the rooms and still see them demonstrated.
We also installed security system that 'protects the collection.'

My position is that these gadgets are no novelty to us; we know what
they do.  They're only fun when you show them off!  I guess there's
still enough 'schoolteacher' in me and I'm enough of a ham that I enjoy
doing this.

We've let it be known, for years, that if any group of, say, 20 folks
want to get together we'll schedule them for a tour, and we'll do this
up to twice a month.  We've had all kinds of folks in here, from
Friendship Force tours (the most recent was from Chile) to travel clubs
like the Wally Byams, and of course all kinds of service clubs and
senior groups.  We don't cater to youngsters unless they're about 10th
graders or higher.  We try to do this in evenings if at all possible.

If the group comes in an evening we try to play a silent movie (most
often Laurel & Hardy) with the Fotoplayer and that's always a big hit.

Over the years we've have hundreds and hundreds of folks see mechanical
music here, and of course the local PBS TV station has been here many
times, too.

I always emphasize that we don't have a museum; it's a private
collection in a private home, so they won't get the idea they can just
come knocking at the door.  Of course, when individual collectors want
to stop by they're always welcome, and over the years we've had scores
of such visitors.  I can't think of a single instance where we've had
reason to regret showing off stuff.

We don't take any money from anyone though sometimes an organized group
will want to make a donation and we then suggest they do so on our
behalf to the local food pantry, CHOW.

I must add that a lot of folks have helped us build this collection.
Tim Westman and Mike Kitner have done a lot of wonderful pneumatic
restoration, while we have done most of the piano work.  Jack Garside's
marquetry work on the barrel organs is just beyond compare.  There are
lots of others as well, but these folks deserve special mention.

Harvey Roehl
Vestal, New York