Greetings from Franklin, Pennsylvania, home of DeBence Antique Music
World Museum.  Yes, DeBence started out as a private collection, of
Jake and Elizabeth DeBence, but has been transformed into a public
501(c)(3) non-profit "museum" for the entertainment and education of
the public.  Our mission includes the fact that we are "The See &
Hear Museum."

Three years ago we underwent a conservation survey through the
Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the fellow who came
formerly worked for the Smithsonian.  It was quickly apparent that his
"museum" thinking and ours did not mesh.  It was appalling that we were
actually playing the instruments!  They should be recorded -- put in
environmentally-controlled glass cases and looked at.

As the Executive Director I could barely refrain from throwing him out.
The Board of Directors agreed and none of his recommendations were
taken.  Perhaps this was just a matter of the wrong surveyor sent by
IMLS, but...

DeBence does indeed play the instruments -- after all, what good is
music if you can't hear it!  Our guests love being able to see the
rolls roll and keys go up and down magically.  They peer into the
Violano with wonder and cover their ears and smile from ear to ear when
the band organs get played.  I've been here five years and have yet to
see guests leave without a smile on their faces.

We are fortunate in that we have a team of volunteer restorers and
repair people.  They have learned, and continue to learn, more and more
each day (thanks, MMD'ers, for being such fine resource people and
teachers!).  There are nearly 200 instruments in the collection at this
time and probably only a dozen or less that are unplayable (through no
fault of ours).

As I write this we have just completed another phase in the restoration
of our four-story building in order to make yet another exhibit floor
available to the public.  (We opened a second floor in March 2002).
We pride ourselves in taking care of our instruments and preserving
them for future generations.

We are a bona fide museum -- a safe and caring place for your donations
of instruments and documents.  There are no "individuals" who are going
to sell anything, as the museum is governed by a board of directors who
believe in the mission of the museum.

Happy collecting, but when you need a new home for something, please
consider donating it to a museum; DeBence Antique Music World Museum
is about music and only music.  And, if you aren't familiar with us
please check out our web site: http://www.debencemusicworld.com/

Lynn Zillmer
Executive Director