>   Former Bovey Collection Now a Disgrace
>
> The thing that disgusts me is not the poor musical condition of the
> instruments but the fact that the signage on them, apparently posted
> -- or at least sanctioned -- by the Montana Heritage Commission,
> pokes fun at the instruments and ridicules their performance.

Thank you, Matthew and Tim, for bringing this to the attention of the
MMD readers.  It is appalling that instruments are on public display in
the condition they are, but to have signs attached encouraging ridicule
and perpetuating one of the greatest misconceptions many people have
that these instruments are loud noise makers and always out of tune is
hideous.

Locations such as this do a great disservice to our hobby, not only in
the poor conservation of valuable musical instruments and misinformation
to the public but also serve to hurt the hobby financially.

"How," you might ask?  After visiting such a exhibit, how could we
ever hope to attract new blood (collectors) to the hobby and with them
investment in instruments and rolls -- keeping our hobby alive for
generations to come.

Better for such places to be closed and the instruments sold to private
collectors who will see these instruments restored than to keep a place
like this open and continue the wear and tear on the instruments, not
to mention on the hobby and any hope of its future.

Stephen Kent Goodman