I must throw in my own two cents worth regarding the Montana Heritage
Commission and their collection of music machines.  Yes, they are in
sad shape.  Yes, there are signs that seem to mock them.  That I can't
stand, but after performing at the Opera House in Virginia City for two
summers, I came to realize that they are essentially broke and they
don't have the funds to do any type of restoration on the machines.

When I went out there to perform at the Opera House, I was told it was
a "player piano thing that needs work."  It ended up being a Cremona
photoplayer that was in sad, sad shape.  The only thing working on it
when I first turned it on were a few pipes here and there, a couple
notes on the xylophone, and the bass drum.  Not exactly the best of
conditions!

Being that I grew up with nickelodeons and band organs, I started to
work on the instrument with what limited things I had with me.  (I do
work on pipe organs, so I had leather and plenty of tools with me.)
Three weeks later, after putting in marathon hours rehearsing shows
and working on the photoplayer, I got all but six pipes playing all of
the xylophone, the snare drum, tambourine, tap cymbal, crash cymbal,
wood block, and a couple of sound effects.

The whole instrument could use a complete rebuild from top to bottom,
but in three weeks I did not have the time or energy to do that kind of
work.  After all, I was there to play eight shows a week, which I did.
I put the photoplayer through its paces and had a blast doing it.

At the same time, the Heritage Commission was freaking out that I did
the work.  They came in and saw the instrument in pieces all over the
auditorium.  (I set boards on top of the chairs to make places to put
everything I took out.)  However, once they realized that I got the
thing working again, they mostly backed off, but I still had someone
(who is thankfully no longer there) on my back for touching their
historic items.

I did try to get some work done on the machines in the Music Hall,
but most everything there needs a complete rebuild from top to bottom.
They have been played to death.  The (what was a) Wurlitzer 180 is
a joke.  It just honks and bleats every now and then.  The Gavioli's
need to be releathered and retubed, and the music books and rolls have
worn through.  It was way too much to tackle while keeping my show
schedules and with their unwillingness to allow any major work done.

But the outlook wasn't always completely dark.  Members of AMICA came
out and saw what I did with the photoplayer and were extremely happy.
It was the first time in several years (decades, even) that they heard
as much of it working as they did.  After talking with them and finding
out that they wanted to sponsor some machines getting rebuilt, I highly
recommended the Wurlitzer DX nickelodeon.  This was restored by Art
Reblitz, and was just returned last year.  Also, their Seeburg was
sent out to Mike Edwards who did an awesome job of restoring that.
Unfortunately, the Seeburg needs major work again as the Commission put
the nickelodeon outside on the boardwalk when it was over 110 degrees,
and the glue melted and the leather and tubes came undone.

Unfortunately, my work here in Detroit prohibits me from taking summers
off to perform at the Opera House anymore, so I am not there during the
summers anymore.  But there _is_ hope: AMICA is still looking at doing
more sponsoring of the machines there.  If more sponsorships of the
machines can be done, they can get work done.  Perhaps MBSI could
sponsor a machine or two (or three, four or five!) and help get them
working.

Another problem with the machines is the building that they are
displayed in.  It is not heated, cooled, or climate controlled at all.
The summers are hot and super dry.  The winters are extremely cold.
The machines sit there and suffer.  The room needs some type of climate
control put in.  The dryness in the summer is simply tearing those
machines apart more each time they are played.

Writing the Montana Heritage Commission will help if it is done
constructively.  If all they get are rash complaints with no helpful
input, they could just junk the machines and they would be gone
completely.  The best thing is to help sponsor a machine either through
a chapter of AMICA or MBSI, or on your own if you so choose.

Let's hope that this collection can get put back into working order and
not be the joke that it is today.

Dave Calendine
Detroit, Michigan

 [ Links:
 [   http://www.virginiacitymt.com/Bovey.asp
 [   http://www.virginiacitychamber.com/
 [   http://www.virginiacity.com/
 [   http://www.virginiacityplayers.com/
 [ -- Robbie