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The Montana Heritage Commission takes great pride in displaying the
largest public collection of automatic music machines in the country.
Recent postings to MMDigest and YouTube have failed to address the
positive changes that have been made to the collection in recent years.
While we appreciate the valid concerns voiced by the people posting on
this topic, we would like to take this opportunity to address a few of
the larger issues.

No staff member of the Montana Heritage Commission would ever ridicule
or attempt to poke fun of these fantastic American treasures.  The
labels referenced were created in the late 1970s and were meant as
a lighthearted jest and have been left in place out of honor to their
creator.  Current exhibit labels located in the Music Hall address the
mechanics and history of these fantastic machines.

The Montana Heritage Commission, in cooperation with AMICA and the
Montana History Foundation, has begun restoring the machines so they
may again sound as they should.  AMICA has developed an "Adopt a Piano"
program in which members raise funding for restoration.  In 2006,
the Wurlitzer DX was fully restored by Art Reblitz under this program.

To date the Montana History Foundation has raised more than $125,000
dedicated to this collection.  Recently restored machines in the Music
Hall include the Seeburg KT, Wurlitzer Pianino, Wurlitzer 126, and in
Virginia City, the Cremona Photoplayer in the Opera House.  Last year
all drum heads were replaced on machines in the Music Hall.  The
Seeburg K and Peerless Coin Piano Style 44 are currently undergoing
restoration.  While progress is perhaps not as rapid as some may wish,
there is progress on these machines each year as funding and manpower
allows.

These machines have been sought after by private collectors for
decades, and thankfully the people of Montana have not surrendered this
collection to the highest bidder.  As an educational and preservation
entity, the Montana Heritage Commission feels that private ownership
would limit access to these machines.  Over the years, so many of these
machines have "disappeared" into private collections that access to
them by the general public is now quite limited.

Some of them may not be in perfect tune, but Montana school children
save all year so that they have money to play these machines during
their annual visit.  The music machines have delighted generations of
visitors from around the world.

While it is our goal for all machines to be restored to a fully
functional state, this will take time and funds. In the mean time, the
public outcry would be immense if we choose to close the Music Hall
during these repairs.  Curiosity and deep affection for the collection,
even though some are out of tune, bring laymen and connoisseurs alike
to Nevada City.

For those who are truly concerned for our collection, perhaps
they would like to join AMICA and support the Adopt a Piano program.
If anyone would like to discuss or actually see the collection, please
call, stop by or email the Curator of Collections, Janna Norby, at
406-843-5247, JNorby@mt.gov, 700 West Hwy 287 Virginia City, 59755