[ Ref. 031225 MMDigest, "FS: Robert Morton Player Organ in Dallas"
 [ described at http://hometown.aol.com/robertmorton24/index.html

Am I alone in finding the tone of this forwarded contribution mildly
offensive?

Here we have an individual castigating organ collectors because they
will not buy his Chapter's instrument.  He is challenging _anyone_ to
come up with $7000 -- serious money for something that, according to
his advertisement, requires restoration.

Let me explain further. I quote:

> I am making one final plea to save a historically significant organ.
> The North Texas Chapter has, for nearly a year, been aggressively
> marketing a 1924 2/5 Robert-Morton residence organ with dual roll
> players.

I have visited their web site and find no mention of this organ or its
availability; see http://www.theatreorgans.com/nttos/  Is that what one
calls aggressive marketing?

Again:

> Space has become a severe issue and the organ _must_ be sold.
> The North Texas Chapter has lowered the asking price to $7,000
> and will provide packing and loading assistance to a buyer.
> Website asking price is $7,500.00

I suggest that $7000 is still way too high if it really _must_ be sold,
and it requires restoration.

Here is the funny bit:

From their web site :-

> The chief purposes and goals of the NTC-ATOS are:  To restore,
> maintain, and preserve theatre organs and to promote the theatre
> organ and its music.

From the advertisement :-

> This organ was unique in it's day and is, to our knowledge, one of
> a kind existing today.  It is desired that the organ be sold as a
> unit with the assurance that it will be restored and installed intact
> and not broken up for parts.

From the posting :-

> If the organ is not sold by January 1, 2004, it will be parted out!

Well, that's okay, then.  Who cares about principles?

Does no one from the North Texas Chapter care enough to do what their
constitution implies?  Why bother to acquire this instrument if they
have no intention of restoring it and using it?

Finally, from the posting :-

> There is such a clamor made about saving and preserving organs and now
> I'm going to sit back and see if there is _anyone_ that will step up to
> the plate and get past the platitudes.

Well, yes, I admit that _that_ is aggressive, anyway.

Come to think of it, why don't we all sit back and do nothing?

Roger Waring - The Pianola Workshop
Solihull, United Kingdom
http://www.pianola.co.uk/

 [ I suspect the writer, Rick Mathews, feels "trapped between a rock
 [ and a hard place!"  The two chapter members who have stored the
 [ organ for several years want it removed, but there is no place to
 [ remove it to, yet the members of the Chapter want to sell it and
 [ make a profit for the Chapter coffers.  The situation seems to be
 [ another example of an owner (the Chapter) that doesn't want to admit
 [ that the market value of their instrument is actually much less than
 [ they believe it should be.  The result is an impasse -- nothing!
 [
 [ Incidentally, did you notice that the biggest picture at the web
 [ site is of the "toy counter"?  Reminds me of nickelodeon fans who are
 [ overly fond of the noisy "toys" in their instruments.  Doesn't anyone
 [ appreciate the music?!  A previous owner, at least, spent extra money
 [ to replace the Dulciana with a Trumpet rank.  -- Robbie