How many times have you visited a museum with wonderful automatic
instruments that are not played?  Many of these instruments "cannot"
be played because they have not been maintained.  Or if they are
demonstrated they are disastrously out of tune.

The Nisco Museum, in Ein Hod, Israel is one of the rare museums that
maintains and demonstrates their collection.  From all that I have
read, Nisan Cohen has devoted his life to collecting, maintaining and
sharing the many instruments in his museum.

The recent fire in and around the city of Ein Hod was a disaster for
Nisan.  Many of his instruments were lost and the ones that survived
will need a lot of work to put back in service.   His Ampico and
Welte rolls were singed and many lost the first few feet of paper or
are very brittle.

I encourage anyone who is able to help Nisan get the museum back up
and running by donating some money, a music box or other instrument,
or Ampico or Welte piano rolls.  If automatic musical instruments are
truly our passion, we must help those like Nisan who are actively
introducing today's younger generation to these mechanical and musical
wonders.

Donations can be sent by check made out to "Museum Nisco", Box 180,
Ein Hod 30890, Israel.  Or sent by direct wire deposit to Museum Nisco,
Bank Hapoalim, Branch 591, Haifa, acct. #056773.  I do not know Nisan,
but he sent this information to me at my request.

I may be mistaken, but I believe the American dollar will exchange to
about 3.5 Israeli New Shekels, so any amount you can donate will buy
more there than in the US.

Nisan has vowed to reopen the museum as soon as possible with as many
instruments as he has that are operable.  I know he will appreciate
whatever help you can give.

Jud Murphy