Concerning Virginia City, Montana, it is virtually impossible for even
the best-intentioned tourist attraction to keep large automatic musical
instruments operating properly and in tune.  At one time I had a very
close connection with the Disney folks (and later I wound up buying
their collection, in partnership with Marty Roenigk).  In Disneyland,
Anaheim, Calif., they once had a Wurlitzer Mandolin Quartette outdoors
on a sidewalk which was played so much that the felts were worn down
to the wood each year.  They were not able to maintain any instruments
properly, simply because of the extreme wear and tear they received.
The same was true at Knott's Berry Farm in Southern California.

The answer to this may be to display the instruments continually,
perhaps play good recordings for the public (better than no music at
all, or woefully out-of-tune music), and then on occasion, perhaps
once each day, have a live demonstration.  There are _some_ kinds of
automatic musical instruments that are rugged enough to be played
frequently, such as, perhaps, Tangley calliopes and certain band
organs; playing via MIDI would simplify problems with rolls and
tracking.

A few years ago Tim Westman (of Mechanical Music Press; see web site)
adapted my Wurlitzer theatre organ Style 135, just one of three (to
my knowledge) remaining with an _original_ piano with roll-player in
the console, to operate on a MIDI system in addition to rolls.  The
results were marvelous, and by proper tweaking and scaling, it plays
Weber Maesto, Link, Welte, Wurlitzer Concert and Mandolin PianOrchestra
and other rolls, fairground organ music books, some new dynamic
arrangements by Art Reblitz and more, in addition to being able to
record live performances.  Tim sells a two-CD set featuring it.

Best wishes,
Dave Bowers