fixed one of Tom's tubas, today...

[Three Valves]

Can’t argue with science!!

[tbonesullivan]

I'm not entirely up on the nomenclature, but I think pretty much any "H.N. White" marked trombone is "pre-King". "The King" was pretty much the first trombone design to come out of H.N. White's workshop, in 1894, when he was 21 years old.

[tbonesullivan]

Oh dang, that IS early, even for a King. According to the website, the slides until 1908 were made by H. N White himself. Looks to be in GREAT shape for being as old as it is. I've seen many a brass instrument far younger that has been trashed to hell and back.

[bisontuba]

Its owner should donate it to a museum.

yeah...Most stuff donated to most museums is sold and turned into "non-profit" cash.

No...wrong!

[tbonesullivan]

Its owner should donate it to a museum.

yeah...Most stuff donated to most museums is sold and turned into "non-profit" cash.

No...wrong!

Depends on the museum. I work in the antiques business, and we definitely have had a large number of "de-acquisitions". At some point if they end up with 10 of almost the same thing, there is no reason to keep them all. Most museums are not the smithsonian, and have limited space to store their collections.

[bisontuba]

yeah...Most stuff donated to most museums is sold and turned into "non-profit" cash.[/quote]

No...wrong![/quote] Depends on the museum. I work in the antiques business, and we definitely have had a large number of "de-acquisitions". At some point if they end up with 10 of almost the same thing, there is no reason to keep them all. Most museums are not the smithsonian, and have limited space to store their collections.[/quote]

Hi-
Better be passed by a museum's BOD AND the donor has to sign off on a de-acquisition to be legit....

[bisontuba]

I figure if something is worth a museum having, it's worth the museum's financial supporters BUYING - just like everyone else buys the things of which they desire possession.

After all, if it's NON-profit they seek, they need to spend all their money up - and then some, yes?

Just like a symphony orchestra, an institution's endowment and
friends help out a museum, but donors are a life blood too.....following a well thought out mission and vision statement is crucial also....

[bort]

Hi-
Better be passed by a museum's BOD AND the donor has to sign off on a de-acquisition to be legit....

And the donor? Why? Isn't a donation, by definition, a transfer of ownership? How is it not property of the museum, for them to do whatever they want with it?

[bisontuba]

Hi-
Better be passed by a museum's BOD AND the donor has to sign off on a de-acquisition to be legit....

And the donor? Why? Isn't a donation, by definition, a transfer of ownership? How is it not property of the museum, for them to do whatever they want with it?

It depends on the directions and intention of the owner. Some will include certain stipulations.
Talk to Steve Dillon about museums......
In the meantime.....

Federal, state, and local tax laws provide a substantial benefit to most museums, as these laws can grant tax-exempt status to charitable organizations operating for educational purposes. Federal tax-exempt status means that a museum may be exempt from paying federal income tax on income related to the museum’s exempt purpose. Many state and local jurisdictions also grant income, sales, and/or property tax exemptions, and donations to the museum (monetary as well as objects donated to the collection) may be deductible from the donor’s income taxes. Museums have agreed to perform a public service, and in return they receive this significant public support.

It’s at the state level, however, that nonprofit organizations (including museums) are regulated. State law regulates their activities, defines the responsibilities of their leaders, and protects the charitable assets. As a charitable organization created to provide a public service, a museum’s assets belong to the beneficiaries of the charitable organization (the public), under the stewardship of the museum’s governing body. Each state attorney general oversees nonprofit organizations on behalf of the public and has the power to review and challenge a museum board’s decisions.

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) establishes financial accounting and reporting standards for for-profit and nonprofit organizations. These standards promote consistency and transparency in financial reporting. In particular, FASB sets accounting requirements for all entities, profit or nonprofit, that receive or make contributions. Generally, if a museum receives a contribution of money, the donation is recognized as revenue. But thanks to a FASB exception for museums, if a museum receives donated objects for its collection, the museum is NOT required to recognize this gift as revenue, nor capitalize it, provided that the museum meets specific requirements, including the use of proceeds from the sales of collections items.

If a museum sells even a part of its collection for operating expenses, the entire collection could be determined to be financial assets. If this were to happen, the museum would bear the costly burden of regularly establishing and updating the fair market value for each item in its care. Likewise, this action by one museum could jeopardize the FASB exception for all museums.