Entrance at Cliff House basement.

"Laughing Sal" greets visitors.

In June my wife and I made a special trip to San Francisco to visit Musée Mécanique before the doors are closed at that location forever, as the building is being torn down.  We had a delightful visit and spent some time with Larry Speer, the curator of the collection.  When we identified ourselves as MMDers, members of AMICA and MBSI, we were treated royally.  We were given a special CD of one of the Seeburg KT's on display.  Larry is in the process of making more CDs of other instruments.

During our visit we noticed that the young teenagers were the people most fascinated with the machines and musical marvels.  They were pumping quarters into the machines so fast that Larry Speer had a tough time keeping up with their needs to make change.  A few were working the "antique" video machines, but most of the quarters were going into the mechanical musical instruments, especially the coin pianos!

We spoke to a lady who gathers up a group of teens every week to bring to the museum just for the pure enjoyment of seeing their eyes light up, watch them come alive and spend a day at one of the best amusement parks in the country.  We sent MMD a few photos of our visit.

We are also happy that the Musée will find at least a temporary home on Fisherman's Wharf, and possibly a permanent home in the former San Francisco Mint.

Happily from New York City,
Vincent Morgan
8 Aug 2002 10:09:12 -0400 (EDT)