Folks,

I too will be at the MBSI convention next week, and I look forward to
meeting as many of you fellow AMI-listers as possible!  I will be going
on the Wisconsin bus tour Wednesday (8-28) to Bob Gilson's collection
and the House on the Rock.  Thursday looks open.  Friday will feature
workshops, and I've been asked to introduce Hans Schmitz, who will give
a talk on my new favorite topic: Welte!  I hope to video tape his talk
since the MBSI resources for same will be stretched; the details may
eat up some of my Thursday.

Saturday is the gala at Jasper Sanfilippo's, which will be great.  I've
gotten to know the curator there, Robert Ridgeway, very well and I know
we'll have a great time.  You'll have a chance to see the building in
progress to house a beautiful French carousel (and organs) in addition
to all the marvelous instruments you have probably heard about.  The
carousel restoration is of course also in progress, and you'll be able
to see the restoration shop and progress being made there.  If anyone
has any special interests I may be able to help you arrange to spend
more time with a certain machine if you wish.  Let me know.

We AMI-l'ers need to figure a way to identify ourselves to facilitate
meeting each other: a dot on our name badges?  A sign on a bulletin
board?  This may also be an opportunity to show the rest of the MBSI
folks a little bit about ourselves, and to invite others to join us.
Any comments, folks?  Who else plans to be there?  As Angelo Rulli has
mentioned, this will be the largest assemblage ever, ANYWHERE, of music
box / AMI enthusiasts!  This is going to be a blast - I can't wait!

Cheers,¶
Rob DeLand¶
(deland_robert@macmail1.csg.mot.com)