We talk about preservation of instruments, historical documentation
and music media as the way to keep mechanical music alive.  I believe
exposure of young people to mechanical music and mentoring those who
show a real interest is also important.  I don't think most collectors
are willing to open their homes to tour groups of children, but
whenever possible, if they could participate in organized public
displays it would be beneficial to the mechanical music field.

We are fortunate to have high quality recordings to listen to but
recordings can only give half of the pleasure.  The other half is
seeing the instrument perform.  Watching the pumps work, the drum
beaters move, the perforations pass over the tracker bar as the music
plays, the pinned cylinder plucking the comb of a music box is the
visual experience and that is as important as the audio experience.

I'm a member of COAA.  Most of their activities are organizing band
organ rallies.  I participated in the 2004 rally at Knobels Grove, PA.
I hauled my Wilhelm Bruder barrel organ up from Florida and had a great
time.  Over the three days of the rally, thousands of people saw and
heard several instruments that were in top playing condition.

Several years ago I belonged to a group of local enthusiasts who would
put on public displays in enclosed shopping malls.  It was a lot of
work for all concerned but it was also a lot of fun.  We found people
who were so taken by these displays that they eventually became members
of our group and ultimately the MBSI and AMICA.

It is the strength of local groups that make these displays possible.
Getting instrument owners to agree to moving their pianos, organs and
music boxes from their home to a mall and back is just the half of it.
Those who don't have instruments to show need to step up to the plate
as well.  Help is needed to move the instruments and demonstrate them.
Local chapters of the MBSI and AMICA could do this.  Yes, it requires
a lot of work and commitment but if we want to preserve mechanical
music then we need to find younger people who are willing to continue
preserving what we leave behind.

If you are lucky enough to find someone who shows a real interest,
then take that person under your wing and help that interest grow.
Make arrangements with other local collectors to take this person to
see their instruments.  I haven't met a collector yet who does not
enjoy showing off his stuff to someone who is genuinely interested.
Perhaps restorers could accommodate small school groups and give a tour
of their shop and explain what is involved with doing a restoration,
give a brief talk on the history of the instruments and demonstrate
some working examples.

It's really a matter of self-preservation for many of us.  If you make
a living working in the mechanical music field then it is to your
benefit to promote these activities.  Instrument dealers go out of
business if there is no one buying instruments, restorers go out of
business if no one is willing to pay to have an instrument restored,
music roll perforators will cease to run if rolls are not moving off
the shelf.  MBSI, COAA, AMICA and the many other organizations around
the world devoted to mechanical music will fade away if sufficient new
members are not found to replace those of us who are no longer around.

I had a pleasant experience a few days ago.  My nephew brought four
youngsters between the ages of 8 to 14 years old over to my house to
show them what mechanical music was all about.  I showed them the band
organ I am working on and explained how it worked.  I played the Seeburg
E in my shop and some CDs of band organ music to give them an idea of
what these machines sound like.  The reaction of the three younger
children was typical: they were entertained but that was about it.

The reaction of the older boy was very different.  He was exploding
with enthusiasm wanting to know more.  I gave him a CD of a Wurlitzer
153 and told him to listen to it and I warned him that if his friends
find out that he likes this kind of music, he won't be considered
"cool."  He said he didn't care what they think.

A teenager who thinks for himself?  I didn't think they made those
anymore!  Who knows, maybe a future MMDer was born.  Maybe the future
of mechanical music is a little safer.

Bob Moore
Orlando, Florida