Where
Brentford, London
What
A purpose-built museum to house self-playing musical instruments. After closing for five years, the musical museum has just reopened in its £1.8m new home on Brentford High Street, West London
Opened
First in 1963 in an Ealing church. Reopened in November 2007 in its new premises in Brentford, Middlesex
Collection
There are 250 musical instruments including 13-ft high pipe organs, grand pianos, engraved musical boxes from the 1890s and the "Mighty Wurlitzer".
The museums covers four floors. It includes illustrations showing the original setting for the musical instruments, a recreation of an outdoor scene displaying and playing street instruments, displays of musical ephemera and a collection of needle tins for old gramophones.
The third floor library houses 30,000 music rolls, along with examples of how the instruments were powered. The fourth floor, which is yet to open, will be the temporary display space
Help at hand
Just employed its first paid general manager alongside 30 volunteers. The museum is also looking to recruit a caretaker, catering manager and education officer
Budget
The Heritage Lottery Fund provided £1.8m for the fit out of the new museum. Barratt Homes provided the building. The general manager will be responsible for fundraising
Visitors
A wide audience, from pensioners to coach parties. Now the new building can be heated and the museum opens every day except Monday (previously only open weekends), visitor numbers are expected to rise
Survival tip
Richard Cole, the curator, says the museum has built up "a group of people who love the collection passionately. A good following of people who come along and support our weekend concerts"
Highlight
Cole says moving into the new home is "a dream come true". And of course the second floor 230-seater concert hall with stage and orchestra pit from which the Wurlitzer rises to entertain people. Concerts will resume in the spring
Sticky moment
"There have been lots, unfortunately," says Cole. "The roof leaked one winter and put instruments out of service." Cole describes the cost of materials as "horrendous"
Current project
Spending time settling into the new building. Restoring and rewiring the Wurlitzer organ that was dismantled during the move
www.musicalmuseum.co.uk
Brentford, London
What
A purpose-built museum to house self-playing musical instruments. After closing for five years, the musical museum has just reopened in its £1.8m new home on Brentford High Street, West London
Opened
First in 1963 in an Ealing church. Reopened in November 2007 in its new premises in Brentford, Middlesex
Collection
There are 250 musical instruments including 13-ft high pipe organs, grand pianos, engraved musical boxes from the 1890s and the "Mighty Wurlitzer".
The museums covers four floors. It includes illustrations showing the original setting for the musical instruments, a recreation of an outdoor scene displaying and playing street instruments, displays of musical ephemera and a collection of needle tins for old gramophones.
The third floor library houses 30,000 music rolls, along with examples of how the instruments were powered. The fourth floor, which is yet to open, will be the temporary display space
Help at hand
Just employed its first paid general manager alongside 30 volunteers. The museum is also looking to recruit a caretaker, catering manager and education officer
Budget
The Heritage Lottery Fund provided £1.8m for the fit out of the new museum. Barratt Homes provided the building. The general manager will be responsible for fundraising
Visitors
A wide audience, from pensioners to coach parties. Now the new building can be heated and the museum opens every day except Monday (previously only open weekends), visitor numbers are expected to rise
Survival tip
Richard Cole, the curator, says the museum has built up "a group of people who love the collection passionately. A good following of people who come along and support our weekend concerts"
Highlight
Cole says moving into the new home is "a dream come true". And of course the second floor 230-seater concert hall with stage and orchestra pit from which the Wurlitzer rises to entertain people. Concerts will resume in the spring
Sticky moment
"There have been lots, unfortunately," says Cole. "The roof leaked one winter and put instruments out of service." Cole describes the cost of materials as "horrendous"
Current project
Spending time settling into the new building. Restoring and rewiring the Wurlitzer organ that was dismantled during the move
www.musicalmuseum.co.uk
