I've noticed several instances now, where something sits around for years and years, and then suddenly BLAM - faster than you can blink your eyes, the thing is being disposed of. Very commonly the thing is not well advertised, and certainly there's no time for museums to get word, the relevant committees and boards to meet, and them to allocate money or fundraise.

I've seen a recent instance of where I asked several times to buy the thing, and everytime the answer is "no, we're not really interested." And then suddenly, complete whiplash.

So why do people sit for years or even decades on assets they can't care for and aren't going to use... and then suddenly get fire in pants to get rid of it on a short fuse?

How do we as museums deal with that?

"I've heard this song before" (and even contributed to hasty fund raising drives brought on by these situations). Here are a few possible reasons (please feel free to add others):

1) Change of ownership or management. Old guy who was running the place retires or dies, and new owner or boss decides to clean house. Often seen in family-run companies.

2) Land becomes too valuable for storage of "junk". A situation peculiar to Southern California is movie back lots being cleaned out for commercial development. The "old school" prop departments were a lot like railroads in their "Don't throw that away! We might need it." mindset.

3) Legal department cites "attractive nuisance" and "liability" laws.

4) Formerly rural areas become suburban, and new neighbors complain to the city that "old rusty railroad cars lower our property values."

_________________
Bob Davis
Southern California

Quote:
So why do people sit for years or even decades on assets they can't care for and aren't going to use... and then suddenly get fire in pants to get rid of it on a short fuse?


As we all get older, private owners need to plan ahead. I know of one collection that had to be dealt with asap in the last year when the owner died suddenly and unexpectedly. The owner had begun to disburse some items, a few at a time - but that was a drop in the bucket compared to the size of the collection. I think most museum members know who has this kind of stuff in our respective organizations and the trick is to gain the confidence of the owners so that advance planning can be done. The situation cited here was sad for many reasons, but probably more typical than we care to admit.

Quote:
How do we as museums deal with that?


If this question pertains to big stuff like equipment, a board should develop adequate cash reserves so it is possible to forward fund an "emergency" acquisition while the real fundraising is underway. Having the discipline to set aside funds and leave them alone is the trick. Based on recent experience with the Trolleyville collection and our sweeper swap, I'd submit $20,000 as a starting point for an "advance collections fund" or general reserve that can be used.

Wesley

Reading 2000 series ''blimp'' coaches, as used on the King Coal, Schuylkill, and Wall Street trains.

RCT&HS has acquired the car-body of Grill Car #2060, in ''relatively'' good shape since it was heated as a Diner for many years.
But it is missing trucks and couplers/draft gear.

There were three 2000 series cars in Scranton, that had been gutted of most their interiors, but externally they were complete.
All the parts we needed to put in a blender with the 2060.
We tried for many years to make a deal for 1 or all three. Suddenly...gone!

Coach #2002-(?) on the Housatonic RR... was 1 of 6 cars last used on the Reading's ''Push-Pull'' train with an FP-7 on each end.
For a time, the cars were leased to ConnDot. 5 of the 6 currently have a good home at Danbury.
The 6th (2002) had been donated to a town along the HRR for display, but they had changed their mind.
We were trying to get this car, or at least trucks and parts. Suddenly...gone!

Of the tons of RDG coaches that still exist, only these have the correct trucks for the 2060.

We have had communications with the good folks at Danbury.
(any of the Danbury gang reading this, ''Hi'' from the Reading gang!)
Eventually, they ''might'' want to part with one of their 2000 series cars. If and when they do, we will be greatly appreciative!

Realistically, you have three options:

1) You walk up with a suitcase full of $100 bills, or bars of gold, an attractive young woman, your secret BBQ or chili or homebrew recipe, whatever they'll trade.

2) You make yourselves an attractive and appealing option to scrapping. In the real world, this has less to do with reciting the tax codes about donations to them, and FAR more to do with running a "tight ship" financially, presenting yourselves as reliable and trustworthy stewards of artifacts, demonstrating a good relationship with the public, fulfilling a worthy educational and historic-preservation role, not looking like an "exclusive club" or a "rich man/men's plaything," etc.

3) Bribery, blackmail or extortion. (Okay, scratch that off the "realistic" list.)

Neither 1) nor 2) guarantee desirable results, by any means. But, frankly, those are your only two legal options.