For me I think if you take along pictures or examples of your work, perhaps even write in advance and explain your interest and what you hope to discover and maybe even make an offer in return, you will increase your chances dwardo. I got really lucky in one place just chatting to a curator. I spent a long time looking at an exhibit and he approached me and asked if I understood what I was looking at (very nicely). I explained my interest in the subject but that I couldn't understand how a particular item worked. Cue the keys coming out - a search for a pair of gloves and us both handling it etc. I took him shooting some hostoric rifles later as a thank you
. A member of the Royal Armouries and he had never had the chance to shoot, side by side, the rifles of WWI - shameful! We soon fixed that
A buddy of mine had an interest in artillery pieces and wrote in and explained what he wanted to know - some time passed but he was invited along and allowed to get "hands on".
I can only imagine, as Toddy says, the chance of an informed discussion between educated enthusiasts probably is nice for the museum staff from time to time.
Hope you get an opportunity to handle one dwardo - and maybe make one!
