Museums, Good or Bad?

[Tom Wesenberg]

The day before I was at the Gilmore museum for the Model A grand opening, I heard a comment that someone thought that museums were a bad thing because they simply hoard cars and keep them out of people's hands. Thus they had no interest in donating to the museum.

I'd never heard a comment like this before, and I couldn't disagree more with their thinking. Museums are a great place to preserve history and make cars available for ALL to see. Most of the wonderful cars on display at the Gilmore would probably be under lock and key and never driven, if in private hands. Actually many of the cars on display are owned by private individuals and are proudly on display for all to see and enjoy.

If Henry Ford hadn't built his wonderful museum I'd guess most of the things on display would have been turned to scrap and made into some modern junk, not worth looking at.

Anyway, I don't suppose what I say will change minds, but I think museums are great and I want to include the Gilmore in my will.

[Keith True]

I got a rude awakening about museums when I was about 18 or 19 years old.My girlfriends family were auctioneers,dealers,brokers,insures,etc.for antiques.They drilled it into me that the vast majority of donated stuff gets peddled off for cash.So many people have the idea that if they donate their stuff it will be preserved for others to enjoy.Where I got my shock was at an old house in town there was a Hupmobile and an Auburn.They were parked there in 41,and nicely stored.Extremely well preserved.The woman there had never driven,they were her late husbands and fathers cars.She donated the cars and a lot of historical stuff about the war to the Smithsonian.They came out and took dozens of pictures,and I got hired to make sure the cars would roll onto a trailer.A truck showed up for them,it was an antique car dealer from New Jersey that had bought them from the Smithsonian just by the pictures.He bought them cheaply,sight unseen,and the Smithsonian had a little bit of cash without a lot of effort,just a rep flying in and taking pictures.The buyer laughed and said,I bet you thought that these cars were going to be preserved and shown off to the general public.He then told me that they get hundreds of cars donated just like that,with the donor never knowing that his pride and joy will just be peddled off to the highest bid broker.

[J Franklin]

I once bought a car from the Peterson museum in Los Angeles. It was surely not up to display standards. The donation to the museum and subsequent sale helped keep things running, and the car did not go to a scrap yard. The donor was able to take a tax wright-off. We all need to think through our needs and motives for the actions we take and act accordingly. I personally love museums of all kinds.

[luckyal]

There are indeed good and bad. I think the concept is great and I also donate to them. As long as they are not misreperesented for persoanl gain we can all surely benefit from their existance. They have my vote for sure ! The Gimore certainly has my support.
Al
( Tax deductibel also )

[Jim Parker Toronto]

My grandson and I loved the new Ford Museum, there was so much there as well as a small history lesson for him that included Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and Harvey Firestone. It was hard to explain that it was a Model A Museum, that there was other cars inside as well. It was a wonderful worthwhile trip for both of us. Old Blue ran 694 miles round trip effortlessly, and without a problem. The only disappointment for me was when I saw the chopped coupe with a chevy engine was allowed to go in with the original A's. There was another sedan there that had a 289 and an automatic in it, but the outside looked close to original, and it seemed the driver had a medical condition that would not let him shift gears, so....in my books, he gets a pass.

[Ross/Kzoo]

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Originally Posted by J Franklin

I once bought a car from the Peterson museum in Los Angeles. It was surely not up to display standards. The donation to the museum and subsequent sale helped keep things running, and the car did not go to a scrap yard. The donor was able to take a tax wright-off. We all need to think through our needs and motives for the actions we take and act accordingly. I personally love museums of all kinds.

I would think that your transaction would be SOP for museums. There's no way that they could display everything that was donated to them. They have to make decisions on what will be displayed and most visitors appreciate seeing the best of the best.

[theHIGHLANDER]

Originally Posted by Jim Parker Toronto

My grandson and I loved the new Ford Museum, there was so much there as well as a small history lesson for him that included Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and Harvey Firestone. It was hard to explain that it was a Model A Museum, that there was other cars inside as well. It was a wonderful worthwhile trip for both of us. Old Blue ran 694 miles round trip effortlessly, and without a problem. The only disappointment for me was when I saw the chopped coupe with a chevy engine was allowed to go in with the original A's. There was another sedan there that had a 289 and an automatic in it, but the outside looked close to original, and it seemed the driver had a medical condition that would not let him shift gears, so....in my books, he gets a pass.

Is the fact that the early Fords are an icon of more than one genre a bad thing? Had it been a Deuce museum...

[msmaron]

As some know that comment that Tom posted came from a Club member in MY Illinois Region, Absurd and embarrassing to say the least!.. In fact actually a very ignorant statement..Museums and this museum is magnificent. Institutions as these are the future for our generations.. and as far as the hording...gosh glad someone horded the declaration of independence and the constitution while they were at it !!

[Doug in NJ]

Here's a story about how the Brooklyn Museum (a big art museum) got in 1932 a bequest of large art collection from a wealthy businessman and collector. But a lot of the stuff turned out to be fake or of poor quality, and a condition of the donation was that they could never sell any of it:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/16/ar...rned.html?_r=0

Doug

[Ross/Kzoo]

I took a tour of a museum a couple of years ago and they showed us the out buildings with tons of trashy pieces in it. I asked what was to happen to these donated items and was told that they would be donated or sold to continue the ongoing expenses of the museum.

So the museums may not want that inner tube that you took out of your Model A in 1935.

[J Franklin]

That inner-tube just may end up in a depression era garage exhibit. One thing good about donating to a museum is if the item is eventually sold to raise working capital the museum staff should be able to find the right match for the item, or offer it in the right category.

[Roadster62]

The GREAT museums were started by people with a passion for the cars, these are the ones i enjoy seeing. Any time there is a commettie running things, tax writeoffs, back door deals, National Club funding things I tend to avoid them. There is one that I'll never set foot in based on the way it was founded and currently funded. I hope to see all of the Gilmore collection some day. Bob

[Tom Wesenberg]

Be sure to arrive early, as there's a lot to see. You can also take a lot of detail shots to help with restoring a car. Bring a picnic lunch as they have tables for you to sit at, and beautiful shade trees.

[59mgaguy]

There is no Easter Bunny or Tooth Fairy. Museums are a business and your gifts to them are theirs to use or sell as they see fit. I've been to the auctions at Henry Ford's Museum where they've been getting rid of their cars to the highest bidder. And Crawford in Cleveland has always been selling of their donated cars. Crawford also had parties where their guest has taken the cars for the day. One over heated and the fool using the car poured water over the over heated engine and cracked it. Myself, if I was to give any of my cars to a museum it would be to AACA. But I am not naive to believe that they would keep it for others to enjoy till the end of days.

[31 Woody]

With millions of Model A's built, I am not at all worried about them all getting hidden in museums. While I have mixed feelings about them selling a car very quickly without ever taking it into inventory, I do see the value for them to generate operating capital by selling excess inventory. This keeps the museum in the black, allows them an opportunity to change up displays to keep it fresh, and may keep admission prices down a bit.
Dave

[luckyal]

59mga What a new perspective for me. I have donated three cars to museums and now I will check to see that they still are on display !
Thanks Al

[al's28/33]

Sell your cars to the highest bidder instead of donating them to anyone, at least you can then spend the money on yourself rather than letting the museum get the proceeds.

The Harrah's Car Collection in Reno, Nevada was one of the largest in the world until they decided to scale down and many original classics were sold off to private collections. Now known as the National Car Collection, I think they still have revolving display cars that have come and gone.

[jkeesey]

A buddy of mine loans his truck to a museum every winter and gets it back in the spring. Its like a free winter storage.

[Chuck Sea/Tac]

Originally Posted by theHIGHLANDER

Is the fact that the early Fords are an icon of more than one genre a bad thing? Had it been a Deuce museum...

That's not a bad thing, however, the MAFFI museum is dedicated to original model A's. chuck

[luckyal]

I checked my donation agreements and bottom line, the cars are theirs to do whatever necessary for the efficient operation and maintenance of the museum. Maybe I was naive but I thought they would be there forever ! Live and learn I guess !
Al