I don't want to start a flame war here (or perpetuate one!), but I'm
against putting a collection in a museum, documents excepted.

Mechanical musical instruments are meant to be played and enjoyed.
Take them to the streets (if they're loud enough), listen to them!
Why put them in a cage -- behind bars, for people to gawk at as
a relic that they don't understand?

On one hand, I commend Mr. Guinness to have the foresight to preserve
his collection and share it with the public, but the question of
practicality comes to play:  Will the public be allowed to enjoy it?
How often will there be performances of music boxes in that museum?

Nethercutt's "San Sylmar" museum is exceptional in that every tour
hears a large number of instruments playing proudly.  I am waiting to
hear what will be the ultimate fate of Mr. Guinness' collection in that
regard.

For myself, I would be much happier to know that my instruments are
sold to private collectors where they will be enjoyed (and preserved)
than to put them into a potential black hole.  (Wasn't there something
about the Welte masters being donated to "a museum" never to be heard
of again?)

Eliyahu Shahar