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Proposed MBSI Museum In Columbia, PA
By Jim Canavan

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

(Message sent Mon 18 Nov 1996, 14:00:50 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  Columbia, MBSI, Museum, PA, Proposed
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