Ever heard of a 'positive rant'?  That's what I'm about to do now!

For about a year, I've seen posts despairing the future of mechanical
music -- that there's "No hope" and "No interest."  I've heard stories
about collectors not boasting about the exciting machines they just
bought, but about the machines they _finally_ sold.  That all sounds
discouraging, and to an enthusiast, it's heartbreaking, but that's the
rough surface to a hobby that's still flourishing, and if anything,
it's getting stronger!

In the past few months, I've met _six_ kids under eighteen who are
hooked like I am on the stuff; furthermore, one of those kids goes to
_my_ high school!  I'd never even talked to this person beforehand, and
he loves band organs.

All of these kids are incredibly interested in joining the organizations,
and while they aren't necessarily as 'deep' as I am (I may be young but
I've been in the hobby for a while) they're curious, they're learning,
but most of all, they're having fun!

In those same months, a Wurlitzer 175 was purchased by American
Treasure Tours, Knoebels bought a Wurlitzer 125 that's on public
display, Idlewild fixed their band organs, both of Dorney's organs got
overhauled, and I fixed Kings Island's Wurlitzer 157 through a complete
labor of love.  (There's things I still need to do, such as a tuning,
but it's been playing since I visited back in July to fix the organ.)
That sounds like an exciting few months for mechanical music, doesn't it?

I'm currently working with a large newspaper to write an article, both
in print and in video, on my efforts to fix Kings Island's Wurlitzer
157.  This is discussing not only the efforts to get it playing, but
mechanical music in general, rolls, organizations, and why mechanical
music is the great hobby it is.

The park even surveyed some guests to see if they could _really_ tell
the difference between a band organ and a CD player -- and they did.
To paraphrase one guest, "It's a million times better!"

With all due respect to those who believe that 'the end is near' for
mechanical music, I think it's time to look at all the great things
that are happening in the hobby, the upcoming rallies and conventions,
and as always, the superb community.

Mikey Mills
http://www.mechanicalmusic.org/