I wholeheartedly agree with and support the position Christiene Taylor
expressed regarding our kids and their active involvement and exposure
to our mechanical music treasures.

From her infancy, my daughter, Lara, has seen, heard, and touched
(yes!) many of the music boxes that have passed through my workshop.
She used to love to sit on her Daddy's knee and "supervise" the
re-pinning process.

At some point around two or three, she announced she wanted to help
me insert the pins.  Rather that tell her she was too little, too
young, or might damage something, I set up a special part of my
workbench with a small, scrap cylinder, and encouraged her to practice
on that.  She rapidly picked up the skills and was quite proud of
herself after learning not only to insert and snap off the new pins,
but also to carefully tap them home with one of my special depth
punches.

Lara is now a few days shy of nine years old, but she is still
interested in many aspects of the restoration work I do and has
developed a keen appreciation of the workings of many different
forms of antique music boxes.

I would encourage everyone who has children who are bright and curious
to expose them to as many antique instruments as possible.  We MUST
foster the interest and appreciation of future generations in order
that our precious treasures continue to survive after we are no more.

So many kids today know only the "stuff" that is broadcast from radio
stations and passing car windows.  What a tragedy for these young
people to grow up ignorant of the rich heritage of mechanical music
we all know and love.

Reg Smith
Perfect Pitch Restorations
Athens, GA