I feel sad when I see non-functional old pianos and old cars
in museums.  In their heyday those machines _thrilled_ people.

Classic autos and classic mechanical musical instruments share an
attribute unlike most other holdings in museums: they are machines.
To me, their value is greatest when restored to operating (maybe
"new") condition to perform their intended jobs.

Folks expect to see "old things" in a museum; they are happily
surprised to see a "museum piece", restored to new condition,
working once again just like in great-grandfather's day.

The nicest such exhibit, for me, is seeing restored machines at
work in the same environment that they were first purchased for --
restored street organs entertaining passersby in Holland, and
restored autos of the 1920s transporting tourists in Prague.

Walt Disney populated Disneyland with operating orchestrions and
replicas of old cars.  They delighted the visitors far more than
non-functional museum pieces ever could.

Robbie Rhodes