Greetings,  I have been lurking in this forum for the better part of
two years without participating due to workplace time pressure and have
found MMD to be a gold mine of useful data and sage counsel.  Now it's
time to make my introduction and ask a question.

I am an electrical engineer specializing in underwater acoustics and
have spent the last 36 years helping the US Navy design and test SONAR
systems.  My main hobby is Mechanical Music and I am now rapidly boring
into the world of MIDI music.  At present I have a very small collection
consisting of two pianos; an upright Steck pedal/electric Duo-Art and
a 5' 4" Chickering Ampico A.

I am also an MBSI member and a member of the Potomac Valley Theatre
Organ Society.  In a little over a week my wife and I will attend our
first AMICA convention.

A few weeks back there was a notice in the MMD concerning a 1920s
vintage Tangley Calliaphone that was for sale.  A photo was available
via e-mail.  Deciding to pursue this further I asked for the photo and
received it.

To my surprise it showed the instrument installed in a rather large
and elaborate circus wagon with a woman standing beside it.  Assuming
that the woman was about five feet tall it looked as if the top of the
facade might be 10 to 12 feet high.

I contacted the owner and was told that she had no idea of its dimen-
sions.  She stated that the unit was in excellent playing condition
when last operated but that was over two years ago.  She also agreed to
have a friend who knows the instrument record a selection on a cassette
tape and determine its dimensions as well as answer a few other
questions that I had posed concerning its ability to be licensed and
towed on the highway.

Thus far I have received no further communication from her.  It is
possible that she has sold it to someone else.

If I can identify a place where I could store the unit at a reason-
able rental rate I will continue to pursue the issue and will travel
to where it is now stored (a dairy garage) to check it out.  It is
unlikely that it would fit in a standard garage; an old but watertight
and secure barn might be the best bet.  The wagon appears to be open
at the top.

So here's the question:  Does anyone out there in MMD-land know of a
place in either the Baltimore-Washington, Penn Yan NY or Elmira NY
regions that might qualify as a storage space?

Thanks in advance for any ideas that you would be willing to share
via e-mail.

Tim Lynch
Bowie MD
lyncht@orc.com

 [ Welcome to MMD, Tim.  Somewhere in the Central Valley of California
 [ is reputed to be a fine pipe organ installed in the loft above an
 [ operating (and large) cow barn!  I wonder if the owner of the
 [ calliope ever entertained the herd!  Good luck with your purchase.
 [ -- Robbie