[TPIN] Benge workshop preservation not impossible

[Michael Bryant]

Lou, Richard, TPIN,

I've just returned to TPIN, after having put my Digest on hold for  
three or four years. Here is a scenario that could offer a fair  
chance of saving the Benge garage. This notion does assume that the  
house and garage are not fated to be preserved on the original lot.  
It also is largely dependent on NAMM Foundation's Museum of Music  
Making in Carlsbad (exactly 100 miles south on Interstate 5) coming  
around to think that having the Benge workshop at the facility would  
enhance their facility... fit their mission. This part doesn't seem  
to me to be a stretch. It not only fits, it is a rare, rare  
opportunity at a total fit. It very nicely embodies the one-man (or  
two man...) musical instrument workshop model that existed for  
literally centuries. It is where these manufacturers came from.

A.	First, invent the detailed, workable version of the cooperative  
plan to preserve the Benge garage/workshop by relocating it. Not easy.

B.	Then the cooperative/consortium of interested parties (a willing  
NAMM Foundation,TPIN,ITG,NAMM member businesses,++++) acquires the  
Benge Garage/workshop from the presumed developer. This is the very  
easy/inexpensive part... Such buildings in the path of development  
can go for $1.

C. 	Move it. Not hard, compared to part A.



Strategies:

1.	Flesh out this notion, a lot. (a little working group, an active  
offline discussion forum (not clogging TPIN), a couple site visits,  
make contacts, roughest moving cost estimate). Ferret out monkey  
wrenches and adapt to them (eg. maybe, 'absolutely no room on the  
Carlsbad property even though they had real interest). Draft the  
proposal.

2.	Think up variations. (eg. If not Carlsbad, where else nearby... ?)

3.	Build the 'consortium' along the way, for more and better ideas,  
more necessary interest.



Then, maybe, busloads of children (including any of us!) will have a  
richer visit to the Museum of Music Making. NAMM... originally the  
'National Assn. of Music Merchants,' now just 'NAMM' with full name  
the International Music Products Association. Their annual trade show  
is in Anaheim, Calif., also right on Interstate 5, and just 65 miles  
north of their Foundation's museum in Carlsbad. Music Products  
Association



In addition to Lou bolding saying 'It would make a wonderful museum,'  
I was prompted to write this today because while away from TPIN, I  
was busy exploring the Rockies with retirement in mind. Last December  
I bought a 20' x 30' 1930's log cabin that had to be moved. I found a  
superb house moving contractor. He moved it, and is storing it. It  
went smoothly. Fifteen miles crawling out a dirt road. Then 50 miles  
along a Montana interstate. The best you can hope for in moving a  
building is to have no need along the way to raise power lines out of  
the way. That adds serious money to a move. No need in my case.

Finally, I only really became aware of the Carlsbad music museum when  
our own Richard Radosh gave his group's concert date there, Saturday,  
October 4th. It is Richard, with Trumpets R Us. Yes, this very  
Saturday. It's a sign...

Perhaps the most hopeful thing I see for this unlikely undertaking is  
the resourceful and varied membership in TPIN... for instance the  
overlap with ITG, actual makers, retired makers, performers,  
historians. Formidable potential there. The trumpet, brass, music all  
in common.



It's good to be back,

Mike Bryant

(with 1122 W Burbank Blvd stamped on one bell, a 'Burbank', actually,  
not a Benge.)

Petaluma, Calif.





On Sep 29, 2008, at 6:16 AM, tpin-request at tpin.okcu.edu wrote:

> Date: Sun, 28 Sep 2008 06:29:53 -0400
> From: "Louis A. Spagnola" <louspag at msn.com>
> Subject: RE: [TPIN] Ultimate Benge momento
> To: <jfdonaldsn at aol.com>
> Cc: tpin at tpin.okcu.edu
> Message-ID: <BAY136-W44F536716241C7434E8C1FB6410 at phx.gbl>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> It would make a wonderful museum.  1.5 mil is cheap for that area.
> I would bet that a little cleaning up would make it look great.
> The location is super.
> I'm sure some big business will level everything and all that  
> history will be lost.
>
> It's so sad to think that a Best Buy or Staples could be there in  
> the near future.
>
> Lou
>
> Louis A. Spagnola 12 Elliston Court Exton, PA 19341 (610)647-1336  
> LouSpag at msn.com
>
>
>
>> From: JFDonaldsn at aol.com> Date: Sat, 27 Sep 2008 21:01:18 -0400>  
>> CC: tpin at tpin.okcu.edu> Subject: [TPIN] Ultimate Benge momento> >  
>> > Not surprisingly, since Donald Benge died last year, the Benge  
>> family > home/shop is for sale. For all those Benge nuts who have  
>> 1122 W Burbank Blvd stamped > on their bells, here's the ultimate  
>> souvenir, listed at a cool $1.5 million. > It's California,  
>> remember.> > The garage was the shop where the horns were made.  
>> Donald Benge lived there > until his death. The lawn could use  
>> some work. > > http://www.loopnet.com/property/15878241/1122-W- 
>> Burbank-Blvd/> > It is apparently being sold for the value of the  
>> lot, so look for the house > and garage to be torn down shortly.>  
>> >     Jim Donaldson    >     Denver Colorado>     http:// 
>> www.dallasmusic.org/schilke/>     http://www.dallasmusic.org/ 
>> gearhead/> > > > **************> Looking for simple solutions to  
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