EEPOET OF NATION- AL MUSEUM, 1915. . 27 



suited not only in securing many interesting specimens for the 

 Museum but also in obtaining information regarding the existence of 

 others which are especially desirable. 



Musical instruments. — ^Last year was a signally propitious one for 

 the section of musical instruments, which received from a single 

 source, as described below, a much more extensive and far richer ad- 

 dition to its collection than ever before. The other accessions com- 

 prised a reed hand organ and a pianola with six music rolls, the gift 

 of Mrs. Julian James, of Washington; a musical instrument, sup- 

 posed to be Javanese, contributed by Mrs. John Crosby Brown, of 

 New York; three violins used by G. Napoleone Carozzi, donated in 

 his name by his widow, Mrs. Mary W. Carozzi, of Portland, Oreg. ; 

 and an old Maya drum, called Sacatan, presented by Mr. Arthur P. 

 Eice, of Brookline, Mass. 



The important contribution first referred to was a gift from Mr. 

 Hugo Worch, of Washington, of a large series of antique pianos of 

 both foreigTi and American make, including a number of examples 

 manufactured during the latter part of the 18th century. It was 

 about 25 years ago that Mr. Worch began the assembling of these 

 instruments, with the view of preparing a history of the American 

 pianoforte ; and in order to secure to the public the permanent pres- 

 ervation of these valuable objects, which have been gathered with- 

 out regard to time or expense, he generously tendered to the Museum 

 the entire collection or such part of it as could be accommodated. In 

 the selection that is being made, special attention is paid to those 

 items of native makers whose reputations are closely linked with the 

 progi-ess and development of the American pianoforte industry. 

 They illustrate particularly the important steps that have been taken, 

 with such intermediate gi-adations as seem most worthy of being rep- 

 resented. During the year the installation has been steadily progress- 

 ing, the first gallery in the rotunda of the new building having been 

 assigned to this purpose. Seventy instruments have already been 

 definitely selected, though not all of these had been delivered at the 

 close of the year. As Mr. Worch has desired to have the cabinet work 

 of all restored as nearly as possible to its original condition, it will be 

 realized that some time must elapse before the entire arrangement 

 can be perfected; but nevertheless a large part of the selection will 

 be kept on view, whether restored or not. While only a few of 

 the instruments remain in a playing condition, the mechanical parts 

 are all sufficiently well preserved to demonstrate their character and 

 variations. 



To the instruments themselves will be added several hundred pho- 

 tographs, showing every phase of the pianoforte industry prior to 

 1850, making the collection the largest and most unique of its kind. 



