Nickelodeon News Fall 2006

reproducing technology. A Knabe piano This has been a transitional year for with Ampico technology and an Aeolian us, as we changed many things in an effort piano with Duo-Art technology had to reduce debt and increase attendance. previously been donated. The Sohmer is After two consecutive years of playing well and is included in our standard serious deficit operation the Board of tour. The other two need restoration and are Directors reluctantly made several changes on our “to do” list. When restoration is related to personnel. Most fringe benefits completed this will give us one of each of were eliminated. The full time Executive the reproducing piano technologies. Directors position was eliminated, and, at Our Hammond Organ and Reed least for the short term, replaced by an Organ collections have grown with the unpaid volunteer position. This leaves us donation of several models we did not have. with one paid part time employee, and about Financially this year has shown 35 volunteers staffing the Museum. improvement for us, with reduced expenses In hopes of increasing the number of and increased income pulling us out of the people we serve we opened the basement red. Our gift shop has lowered prices on exhibits as a self guided tour area with no many items, and added several CDs of our admission charge, and instituted a monthly own instruments which have sold well. Bus mini-event which highlights one area of our tours are up almost 50% over last year. The collection in an hour long presentation with debt has been reduced by about half, though no admission charged. the interest rate increase from 3% to 8.5% In a plan to reduce expenses we have has more than wiped out all the savings in revised the heating system, eliminated half debt service expense. of our phone lines, changed some of our The building celebrates its 100th office equipment, and placed a high birthday this fall, and in preparation for emphasis on reducing our outstanding debt whole building tours we have removed so as to reduce the interest charges. about six tons of G C Murphy shelving, old Our collection of musical steam radiators, and disconnected piping instruments continues to grow through from the upper floors. donation by Museum supporters. We have Other building improvements made received a Sohmer piano with Welte Mignon this year include a partition on the second floor between what will eventually be a elevator to serve all four floors. All this has public display area, and the staff areas, done been done except for the elevator. with volunteer labor. A grant to create The cost of a new elevator is in the corresponding zone heating areas has been $200,000 range. Grants are possible to cover received and the work completed, so we will much of the cost, but our chances of getting be able to do office and maintenance work such grants are greatly improved if we raise this winter in reasonable comfort at a low a significant part of the money ourselves. heating cost. Before we can get serious about this effort As you are aware we house the we need to reduce our present debt which largest collection of its kind in the USA now stands at about $35,000. open to the public. Our various collections We need your help with these are numerous enough so that many items are efforts. If each of you getting this newsletter in storage because we do not have enough sends us $10 it will be a major start to space to display them in the areas now open wiping out our debt, and bring us closer to to the public. starting to accumulate the seed money for Several years ago we received the elevator. approval from the state to open the third and Of course if you want to contribute fourth floors to the public, contingent on more we would be very pleased, and if those required building modifications. These of you not now sustaining members choose included adding enclosed stairways, to join us as members we would be installation of a sprinkler system on all overjoyed to welcome you. floors, revising the electrical system on the second floor, and adding a passenger

Please consider cutting off the bottom portion of this page, filling in the appropriate blanks, and returning your tax deductible donation in the enclosed envelope. Thank you for your past interest and we look forward to hearing from you.

Yes, I’d like to be included in the DeBence Antique Music world family Enclosed is my donation of $10 (or more) for debt reduction $35 Individual membership (Free admissions for one year) $50 Family membership ((Admissions for up to 4 family members for one year) $100 Edison Club membership (Admission for up to 4 for one year plus one CD) $250 Music Box Club membership (Admission for up to 4 for one year plus two CD’s) $500 Nickelodeon Club membership (Admission for up to 6 for one year plus two CD’s) $1000 Calliope Club membership (Admissions for up to 6 for one year plus special benefits) Donation in other amounts will be gratefully accepted for: General expenses or The Elevator Fund

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