Frank Holland's collection at Brentford, London is closed for the
whole of 2003 as it is being moved to a purpose built new building
on the development of the existing site.
There is a small collection of mechanical music at the Victoria and
Albert Museum at South Kensington, but all the instruments are behind
glass and never played. Basically a waste of time for mechanical
music but entry is free and you could spend a week in the museum and
not see everything.
There are no other mechanical music museums in London that I know of
so the alternative is to get an invitation to a private collection
in the area, through the Player Piano Group or the MBSGB.
If you don't mind travelling there are a few museums within about
100 miles :
- Keith Harding in Northleach, www.mechanicalmusic.co.uk
- St Albans Organ Museum, www.saintalbansorganmuseum.ork.uk
- Clive Jones at Mechanical Music Museum, Church Road, Portfield,
Chichester, 01243 372646. No web site known.
There are many others further from London. I can supply addresses
if required.
Best wishes, Nicholas Simons
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