Hi folks (particularly Steve Goodman):  Jake DeBense operated a museum
containing all sorts of things (musical and non-musical) outside Franklin,
Pennsylvania, until he passed away several years ago.  The city of
Franklin finally bought the estate and placed all the musical items in
a large city museum in the middle of town, near the hotel.  I donated a
two-hour video-tape of Jake demonstrating all of his wonderful stuff,
which plays in the lobby of the city museum.

The best sounding machine on the videotape was a magnificent Berry-Wood
Style A.O.W.  I tried to buy it from Jake but his wife (apparently the
business person in the family) firmly said "No!" but offered the entire
collection for $2 million.

I saw the Berry-Wood in the Franklin museum several years ago when I had
some Pianomation business with the nearby Story and Clark Piano factory.
Almost all of the machines in the museum, including the Berry-Wood,  were
"not working right now" so it was a very disappointing tour.  However, I
am sure the museum would be glad to allow someone to take pictures of the
machine, inside and out.  They may even lend the rolls for recutting or
have extra ones that they might sell.  I understand that the city museum
is not doing as well as expected but let's hope it survives.

I am a member of several chapters of the MBSI and it seems that the
Mid-America Chapter is planning a trip to Franklin to see the collection
in the very near future.  The MBSI members of the Digest can certainly
correct me if I am wrong, but that might be a quick way to get all the
pictures you need.

You have an extremely rare orchestrion, I believe!  Good luck with the
restoration.  I would love to see it and hear when you finish.  We have
had about 25 different orchestrions in our collections over the years but
never a Berry-Woood A.O.W.

Regards to all,

RIck Cooley¶
RCCXX@AOL.COM