Dear Folks,  I haven't heard about this through any of the usual
musical instrument sources but found an advertisement in "Hemmings
Motor News" for an auction April 18 and 19, 2008, of all the
collections plus the home of Walt and Ellen Bellm.

Walt had been very active in MBSI many years ago and I think might have
been it's president for a time.  In retirement, they bought Horne's
Automobile and Music Museum in Sarasota, Florida, renaming it Bellm's
Auto and Music Museum.  Walt supposedly bought the business when he was
interested in purchasing a specific antique automobile but he ended up
buying everything.

The advertisement was in Hemmings because Kruse Auctions deals primarily
with antique and collector cars although there are no cars shown in the
ad.  You can access auction information at:

  http://www.kruse.com/auctions/bellm08/index.asp  and
  http://www.kruse.com/auctions/bellm08/inventory.asp?AUC_CODE=BELLM08

If anyone knows how Walt and Ellen are doing or why they might be
selling out, some of the rest of us would be very interested to hear.

Regards,
Bob Conant
Bradenton, Florida