I was saddened to learn today of the passing of my friend
Nisan Cohen, the founder of the Nisco museum in Ein Hod, Israel.
He was 97.

I remember back about 25 years ago when he told me his crazy idea to
sell his house and open a museum of automatic musical instruments in
Israel. And then he did it!

He became an instant star with his enthusiasm and knowledge, and his
ability to spin a tall tale to enthrall his audience: "The orchestrelle
was destined for the Titanic", “This was the last music box manufactured
by the company”...

He played a 78 disc of "Hatikva" [the national anthem of the State of
Israel] and suddenly it was "the oldest recording." He knew that some
of it was P. T. Barnum but he had everyone that visited believing --
and most importantly they all understood the wonder of automatic music
and the beauty.

He bought my first reproducing piano, a 1923 Knabe, and a rare copy
of "Hatikva" recorded for the Ampico. He expanded the collection and
added some very exciting pieces: a working Orchestrelle Model XY, a
Welte-Mignon reproducing system in a Mason & Hamlin upright, a Seeburg
orchestrion, and more high quality music boxes.

He reinvented himself with a career making a documentary about cancer,
and a wound-up toy store in downtown Manhattan.

He is survived by my friend, his daughter Sivan Rachel Cohen.

Eli Shahar