Antiques Roadshow expert inspires Liverpool record museum

A floor above The Musical Box in Liverpool has been converted into a museum

The owners of a 76-year-old music shop have been inspired by a BBC Antiques Roadshow expert to open up its treasure trove of records and set up a museum.

The Musical Box in West Derby Road, Liverpool has had legions of fans since opening in 1947, including singer Elvis Costello who grew up in Merseyside.

Antiques specialist Wayne Colquhoun suggested the shop owners convert an upstairs floor into a museum.

Owner Diane Cain said: "He looked around and it was full of stock."

She told BBC Radio Merseyside that her late mother Dorothy, who set up the store, "over-ordered on everything - that's why we've got so many".

"We didn't have much money but we had loads of records. They were everywhere - on the landing - oh, just everywhere.

"My mum was fanatical about music."

Art Deco chairs have been used to recreate the living room of the owner's mother

Ms Cain said: "All the music came from the USA in those days.

"We didn't have soul, country, rock 'n' roll or blues even. We had a bit of jazz, but the Americans provided the music."

She said she was so "enthusiastic" about music that she left her local grammar school to sell the records.

She said her mother "couldn't stop me" and recalled selling her first record at the age of 13, although she cannot remember whether it was by Hank Williams, Al Jolson or Bing Crosby.

Elvis Costello (in green) is a fan of the shop owned by Diane Cain and her family

Ms Cain's family spent 14 months restoring their former stockroom into a museum of records and memorabilia that opened on Saturday.

"We've got customers we've known for 50 years or more and they're still coming in," said Ms Cain.

"It's wonderful. I love my customers. We get visitors from everywhere now."

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