THE Musical Museum based in Brentford, Middlesex, which houses a world class collection of automatic musical instruments, will open for a special season in 2004. The season will be held in the old church it has occupied on what was originally a temporary basis, since 1963. This week, the Times took a look around the premises.

When the museum closed at the end of 2002 it was to undertake some very essential work in order to prepare the collections for the move to the new premises currently being specially constructed for it. "It would not have been possible to do this work with the museum being open to the public" explains Michael Ryder, Chairman of The Musical Museum. "However, because the extensive work was successfully completed on time and as a result of an unexpected delay in the construction of the new building, we have decided to open the museum on a limited basis during this year. One of the prime objectives of the opening is to seek the views of the public on matters related to the new museum."

The instruments are being re-arranged so that they form a space very similar to one of the several new galleries of the new building. Two artificial walls have been created so that colour schemes, recommended by a design consultancy as part of a major design package, can be tried out. Similarly, graphic designs, information panels and other essential features of the new galleries will be tested in order to gauge public reaction to these new ideas.

A special large-scale model of the building has been created which will allow the public to see the three-floor layout of the new building. The ideas from the design study will also be on display.

The museum will be open every Saturday and Sunday afternoon from April to October from 2.00 5.00pm when live demonstrations of the instruments will be heard. Unlike previous years, it will not be open on Wednesday afternoons in July and August. Privately booked party visits are welcome at other times by arrangement and there will also be a special concert season during the summer.

Because the museum is run entirely by volunteers, more help is urgently required. Anyone interested in helping in the shop, as demonstrators, or to undertake general administrative work, data input work (basic IT skills required), fund-raising, those with building trade skills or offering general voluntary help, should contact the museum on 020 8560 8108 or call in on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon.

The museum will close at the end of October and does not expect to be open to the public until late 2005 or early 2006 in the new building. "So now is a good time to see the plans for the new development and give your reaction to the proposals. After all, the new Musical Museum is designed to be a community asset, benefiting everyone in Brentford" says Michael Ryder.

Work on the new site started in January 2004 and will carry on throughout the year.

Full details of the museum can be found on the web site www.musicalmuseum.co.uk