We have been informed that the recipient of the Murtogh D. Guinness
collection of mechanical music and its accompanying endowment will
be the Morris Museum, Morristown, New Jersey.  Although legal
documents have yet to be signed, the transaction is anticipated
to proceed without difficulty.

This very important collection consists of approximately 650 pieces,
including a core of outstanding cylinder boxes and automata
complemented by pneumatic instruments and examples of many other
kinds of mechanical music.

The Musical Box Society International (MBSI) made a comprehensive
and professional acquisition proposal to the directors of the
Foundation which has held the collection since Murtogh's passing
in January, 2002.  Based upon the very open and frank discussions
that I personally had with the executor of the Guinness estate,
MBSI could not be the recipient primarily because we do not own
a permanent museum facility which could immediately display the
collection.

To ensure access to the collection by mechanical music enthusiasts,
MBSI has had discussions with the Morris Museum regarding their
intentions for the collection.

In addition to featuring individual pieces in locations throughout
the museum, two central galleries will be immediately allocated for
exhibition use.  Mechanical musical instruments and associated items
will be in the larger of the two galleries; automata in the smaller
gallery.  Displays will explain operation and use and social role of
the instruments.  A display about New Jersey's role in the history
of musical boxes will be featured.  Exhibitions will rotate and
change as new themes are explored.

Most impressive are plans for the collections future.  Their
goal is to create a center of mechanical music activity with an
addition to the museum to be known as the Murtogh D. Guinness
Galleries.  It will comprise about 6000 square feet of gallery and
other space within the museum.

In addition to exhibition space, Morris Museum has offered MBSI
space for its library and a collection study area.  It is hoped
that our collaboration with Morris will present opportunities to
organize meetings, hold symposia, work on publications and continue
our long-standing relationship with the collection.

MBSI's trustees and officers will be discussing the Guinness
matter thoroughly at its trustee meeting in March.  While it is
disappointing that we were not the recipient of the collection,
we can nevertheless have positive impact on its display and access,
ensuring that it won't be relegated to storage as is so common in
other museums which own mechanical music.

Ralph Schack
Vice President, MBSI