[ Nancy Fratti wrote in 110503 MMDigest --

> Moral of the story -- teach your family how to operate some
> of your machines so they can enjoy your collection even
> after you're gone.  They'll have even happier memories of you.
> Sadly, most of today's children won't know those joys.

I would like to add my experience with my family of two sons and
three grandchildren.  About six years ago, I was preparing my Trust.
On an occasion when all of my family was present I asked each to
select one instrument from my collection they would like to have left
to them.  All selected an instrument except my granddaughter, 16 years
old.  "Not interested," she said.  However, she recently said she
"might" like to have the porcelain lyre clock I had just purchased.

In retrospect I should point out that none of the family has ever asked
me to say anything about any of my clocks, or play the phonographs or
music boxes that I have purchased over the last 40 years. I have played
all for them anyway but there was absolutely no interest in anything.

One grandson had selected a bow-front 15-1/2" Regina disc machine.
He has never asked one question about it or asked how to play it,
although I have played it for him with no comment on his part.  I have
repeatedly questioned him in hopes he would let me show him how to play
the machine, as when the mainspring runs down the disc will stop in
mid-air and binds so that it has to be attended to.

He has absolutely refused to allow me to show him and still has not
asked any questions about the machine!  I told him once that I should
take his name out of my Trust as the owner of the box and he became
very angry.

I have never said to my family not to touch any machine, but they have
taken it upon themselves not to learn to play and, as I said before,
never asked one question of any machine.

This is one person's experience with young people and music boxes and
other collectibles, but I do feel I may not be the only one that has
had a negative experience, unfortunately.

Cordially,
Lelland Fletcher
San Diego, Calif.