I just received the most recent MBSI publication.  As a very frequent
visitor to the York/Lancaster area, I was excited to read about the
proposed MBSI musuem being added to the Clock & Watch Museum in
Columbia, PA.  The article included designs & floorplans for the annex,
showing space for everything from large orchestrions to small music
boxes.

My question: does anyone know if the instruments will be PLAYING?
Although all of us here would enjoy seeing some rare instruments, the
general public (not to mention us!) will want to hear them.  While I
realize it would be impossible to be able to play any of them, any
time, at the push of a button (but what a nice dream, huh? <G>), how
about having earphones in front of each instrument, allowing one to
listen to a CD-quality recording of each one?

There was no mention in the article about whether the musuem contents
would be in any way functional...a rather noteworthy omission when
speaking of mechanical musical instruments! Every time I go across the
river into Washington, DC's Smithsonian, and gaze upon the art model
Duo-Art grand with Concertola attachment, I want to scream out..."PLAY
IT!" (Instead, one can push a button and hear a sorry lil' upright
Yamaha disklavier play....big yawn.)

Jim Canavan¶
CYBRFLASH@aol.com¶
Alexandria, VA