This is a brief account of author/conservator's role in the museum's proj ect to restore the 130-year-old gamelan, a Javanese orchestral ensemble. The gamelan instruments consist of metallophones, string and wind instruments, gong and drums made from varied materials including wood, cloth, rope, glass, metals, leather, parchment and plant reeds with several layers of oil paint. A future issue of the bulletin should contain the complete conservation report. -- AATA