Donating to a museum?  This way of passing on your collection item is
not a bad plan, in spite of some of the recent posts.  _But,_ if you
want your collection preserved and available to the public, there are
a few items that need to be considered before making a donation of
machines or literature.

1) When you donate an item you lose all control over it.  Period.

2) No reputable school or museum will guarantee much of anything about
display or retention of a donation.  If they do make such a guarantee
don't believe them.  Over time the pledge will become un-doable or
forgotten.

3) Your best indication of the probable fate of your donation is to
check on the fate of past such donations.  If they refuse to discuss
that subject then you have your answer, and you can walk away.  Your
best chance for continued public access to your donation is their past
record of such access.

4) You need to trust that if the item is eventually sold it will go to
someone who appreciates it.

We believe DeBence Antique Music World is an example of a proper
place to donate.  We hold in trust what Jake DeBence collected, thus
preventing it from being sold to and probably hidden in many different
private collections.  We keep all of it available for public view and
performance.  We have received a number of major instruments over the
last 20 years.

The Hammond-Aeolian player organ, the Nelson Wiggen Style 6, the
Aeolian Duo-Art grand, the Sohmer Welte upright and the Playel grand
piano with Playela reproducing system all came to us needing repairs;
they have been restored and are exhibited and played for visitors,

We have filled gaps in our phonograph and instrument collections with
donated instruments which have been repaired and are now on display.
We have been given several non-working phonographs duplicating items
which we already have, and we have restored and sold them.  Proceeds
from such sales are used for restoration and maintenance of the
instruments in the collection, and if the donors care they are told
where the money from the sale of their machine was used.

In summary, don't discount this way of passing on your collection
items as there _are_ worthy places to donate an item where it will be
restored, preserved, exhibited, and played.  You just need to do your
homework and research to find them.

Scotty Greene
Executive Director, DeBence Antique Music World
Franklin, Pennsylvania
http://www.debencemusicworld.com/