Volume 64, No. 4 July/August 2018

Mechanical Music Mechanical Music
Journal of the Musical Box Society International
Devoted to All Automatic Musical Instruments

Volume 64, No. 4 July/August 2018

July/August 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 3
Volume 64, No. 4 July/August 2018
5 PresidentÕs Message
7 EditorÕs Notes
53 In Memoriam
37 Golden Gate
40 National Capital
43 Northwest International
46 Southern California
51 National Capital
MBSI NEWS
FEATURES
CHAPTER
REPORTS
22 – Name that Tune
Clay Witt discusses his methods for
tracking down the tune names and
composers featured in a new-to-him
Nicole Frres cylinder box.
On the Cover
A rare Lochmann Automat 150 in
Jim Lowell and Linda RickertÕs
collection. The box was on display
during a Southern California
Chapter meeting. For more, see
Page 51.
MECHANICAL MUSIC
Journal of the Musical Box Society International
Editor/Publisher
Russell Kasselman
(253) 228-1634
editor@mbsi.org
MBSI Editorial Office:
Iron Dog Media
130 Coral Court
Pismo Beach, CA 93449
editor@mbsi.org
Publications Chair
Bob Caletti
All manuscripts will be subject to editorial
review. Articles submitted for publication may
be edited or rejected at the discretion of the
Publications Committee and the Editorial
Staff. The article will not be published with
significant changes without the authorÕs
approval. All articles are considered to be the
authorÕs personal opinion. The author may be
asked to substantiate his/her statements.
Mechanical Music (ISSN 1045-795X) is published by
the Musical Box Society International, 130 Coral Court,
Pismo Beach, CA 93449 six times per year. A Directory
of Members, Museums and Dealers is published
biennially. Domestic subscription rate, $60. Periodicals
postage paid at San Luis Obispo, CA and additional
mailing offices.
Copyright 2018. The Musical Box Society International,
all rights reserved. Mechanical Music
cannot be copied, reproduced or transmitted in
whole or in part in any form whatsoever without
written consent of the Editor and the Executive
Committee.
MEMBERS: SEND ADDRESS CORRECTIONS TO:
MBSI, PO Box 10196,
Springfield, MO 65808-0196
Or, make corrections on the website at www.mbsi.org.
POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO
MBSI, PO Box 10196,
Springfield, MO 65808-0196
Devoted to All Automatic Musical Instruments
MBSI has replanted 16 trees so far as part
of the Print ReLeaf program.
10 Nickel Notes
22 Name that Tune
27 The Hunt
31 Mechanical Music Radio
33 Music in the Motor City

The World of Mechanical Music The World of Mechanical Music
Copy this page, and give it to a potential new member. Spread the word about MBSI.

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A
A
fascinating hobby! It combines all the appeals of
art, history, craftsmanship, and music all into one.
Automatic music doesnÕt just sit there; it is ever
willing to perform for those who care to hear it. Play an
automatic music machine in a room full of people and all
else will stop as the machine enraptures the audience with
the sparkling melodies of yesteryear!

A ÒMusic BoxÓ is any sort of automatic music instrument
that plays music via the plucking of teeth on a tuned steel
comb through various mechanisms; musical automata;
orchestrions; player and reproducing pianos and organs;
phonographs; and self-playing stringed, wind, and percussion
instruments of any kind.

The Musical Box Society International, chartered by the
New York State Board of Regents, is a nonprofit society
dedicated to the enjoyment, study, and preservation of
automatic musical instruments. Founded in 1949, it now
has members around the world, and supports various

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Member Benefits

Six magazines annually Ñ Mechanical Music plus the
Directory of Members, Museums, and Dealers (published
every two years). Membership also entitles you to participate
in the Annual Meeting and to join regional chapters.
New members receive a welcome letter, a Goods & Supplies
Order Form, Directory of Members, Museums, and
Dealers, and a list of the regional chapters.

educational projects.

Regional chapters and an Annual Meeting held each year
in different cities within the United States enable members
to visit collections, exchange ideas, and attend educational
workshops.

Members receive the scholarly journal, Mechanical
Music, which also contains advertising space for members
who wish to buy, sell, and restore mechanical musical
instruments and related items; the Directory of Members,
Museums, and Dealers.

The only requirements for membership are an interest in
automatic music machines and the desire to share information
about them. And youÕll take pride in knowing you
are contributing to the preservation of these marvelous
examples of bygone craftsmanship.

More Information:

Phone/Fax: (417) 886-8839

Email: jbeeman.mbsi@att.net

4 MECHANICAL MUSIC July/August 2018

By Clay Witt

MBSI President

The year is rapidly moving on. (DonÕt
they all?) When you receive this issue
of Mechanical Music our next annual
meeting, this year in Detroit, MI, will
not be far away. Everyone should
have received a registration packet by
now and I hope you will be sending in
your confirmation soon if you havenÕt
already done so.

If you have never been to an annual
meeting you are in for a treat. Our
local chapters who put them on Ð this
year itÕs the Mid-America Chapter Ð
work incredibly hard to make each
meeting a memorable experience.
These meetings not only enable you to
visit different parts of our great nation
but they provide access to see some
of the best mechanical music collections.
There is a large mart where you
can see interesting instruments and
mechanical music memorabilia and
perhaps find that item on your bucket
list that you just need to acquire.
There is good food and entertainment
and informative workshops taught
by knowledgeable people who can
answer your mechanical music questions.
Best of all, there are lots of other
mechanical music enthusiasts to meet
and talk to. ItÕs a great way to catch up
with old friends and make new ones.

I wanted to bring you up to date on
a project mentioned in my PresidentÕs
Message in the January/February 2018
issue of Mechanical Music. I related
then that MBSI and the Musical Box
Society of Great Britain (MBSGB)
were encouraging publication of an

English translation of Dr. Helmut
KowarÕs book ÒSpielwerke aus Prag
und WienÓ (Musical Boxes of Prague
and Vienna). At its March mid-year
meeting our trustees voted to pledge
$2,000 from our Heintz Publications
Fund toward the 5,000 euros needed
to bring the project to fruition.
MBSGB had previously pledged 500
euros. (See Ò2018 Mid-Year Trustee
Meeting Minutes,Ó section 2, on page
10 of the July/August 2018 edition of
Mechanical Music for details.)

Now there is another exciting development.
We have been informed that
MBSGB, at its recent annual meeting,
decided to pledge half of the required
5,000 euros if we would do the same.
Our board took the challenge and
approved upping our pledge to 2,500
euros. Thus the chances are good

that this project will move forward.
I have no projected publication date.
The current German language edition
will need to be translated and we
understand that Dr. Kowar intends to
expand the English language version
and bring it fully up to date. We will
keep you posted.

A video of a workshop presentation
by Dr. Kowar on this subject is available
in the Video Library section of the
membersÕ only area of our website.
Look under the ÒCylinder BoxesÓ
section of the index of the videos for
ÒHistory of Music Box Movements from
Prague and Vienna – Dr. H. Kowar.Ó

Finally, did you know that there is
now a website, Mechanical Music
Radio, broadcasting mechanically
produced music 24/7? Read more
about it on Page 31 of this issue.

WE WANT YOUR STORY!

Every mechanical musical instrument has a tale to tell. Share the history of people
who owned your instrument before you, or the story of its restoration, or just what
makes it an interesting piece. Send stories via email to editor@mbsi.org or
mail your story to Iron Dog Media, 130 Coral Court, Pismo Beach, CA 93449

.
.
..
¨.
(INTERNATIONAL)
ORGANIZED IN 1949
DEVOTED TO ALL MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
.
.
..
¨.
(INTERNATIONAL)
ORGANIZED IN 1949
DEVOTED TO ALL MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Musical Box Society International
P.O. Box 10196
Springeld, MO 65808-0196
Phone/Fax: (417) 886-8839
Musical Box Society International
P.O. Box 10196
Springeld, MO 65808-0196
Phone/Fax: (417) 886-8839
MBSI MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
EACH ONE/REACH ONE NEW MEMBER
MBSI is pleased to offer new members a $15 discount off their rst year of membership dues. You
are considered a new member if you have not been a member in the past three years. This discount
is also available on our website, www.mbsi.org.
Current MBSI members who sponsor a new member will receive a $5 discount off their next yearÕs
MBSI membership renewal for each sponsorship. Attach a copy of the discount voucher below to a
copy of the membership application form from Page 4 of this issue of Mechanical Music. Place your
name as ÒsponsorÓ on the application form.
Please make copies of these forms as needed and send the completed forms with checks to the MBSI
administrator at the address listed below.
Dues Voucher Ð$15
New U.S. members may join MBSI for one year at $45 (instead
of $60); Canadians $55 (instead of $70; and, other International
members at $60 (instead of $75). This certicate must accom-
pany payment and a copy of the completed membership
application from page 4 of this issue of Mechanical Music.
New Member Name(s):
Expires: 01/01/2019
Authorized by MBSI Administrator
NEW MEMBER
GIFT CERTIFICATE
New members are those who have never been members
of MBSI or those who have not been members for three
years prior to submission of this voucher.
New members are those who have never
been members of MBSI or those who
have not been members for three years
prior to submission of this certicate.
Gift Membership Name
Sponsor
Address, City, State, ZIP
Phone Email
Please mail this form together with your check made payable to ÒMBSIÓ to the MBSI Administrator at the address listed
above. Memberships are $45 for U.S. residents, $55 for Canadian residents, and $60 for International residents.
SPECIAL OFFER: Purchase one or more rst-year MBSI gift
memberships at $45 each U.S., $55 Canadian, or $60 other Interna-
tional and you will receive $5 off your next year’s MBSI membership
renewal for each ÒNew MemberÓ gift.
.
.
..
¨.
(INTERNATIONAL)
ORGANIZED IN 1949
DEVOTED TO ALL MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
.
.
..
¨.
(INTERNATIONAL)
ORGANIZED IN 1949
DEVOTED TO ALL MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Musical Box Society International
P.O. Box 10196
Springeld, MO 65808-0196
Phone/Fax: (417) 886-8839
Musical Box Society International
P.O. Box 10196
Springeld, MO 65808-0196
Phone/Fax: (417) 886-8839
MBSI MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
EACH ONE/REACH ONE NEW MEMBER
MBSI is pleased to offer new members a $15 discount off their rst year of membership dues. You
are considered a new member if you have not been a member in the past three years. This discount
is also available on our website, www.mbsi.org.
Current MBSI members who sponsor a new member will receive a $5 discount off their next yearÕs
MBSI membership renewal for each sponsorship. Attach a copy of the discount voucher below to a
copy of the membership application form from Page 4 of this issue of Mechanical Music. Place your
name as ÒsponsorÓ on the application form.
Please make copies of these forms as needed and send the completed forms with checks to the MBSI
administrator at the address listed below.
Dues Voucher Ð$15
New U.S. members may join MBSI for one year at $45 (instead
of $60); Canadians $55 (instead of $70; and, other International
members at $60 (instead of $75). This certicate must accom-
pany payment and a copy of the completed membership
application from page 4 of this issue of Mechanical Music.
New Member Name(s):
Expires: 01/01/2019
Authorized by MBSI Administrator
NEW MEMBER
GIFT CERTIFICATE
New members are those who have never been members
of MBSI or those who have not been members for three
years prior to submission of this voucher.
New members are those who have never
been members of MBSI or those who
have not been members for three years
prior to submission of this certicate.
Gift Membership Name
Sponsor
Address, City, State, ZIP
Phone Email
Please mail this form together with your check made payable to ÒMBSIÓ to the MBSI Administrator at the address listed
above. Memberships are $45 for U.S. residents, $55 for Canadian residents, and $60 for International residents.
SPECIAL OFFER: Purchase one or more rst-year MBSI gift
memberships at $45 each U.S., $55 Canadian, or $60 other Interna-
tional and you will receive $5 off your next year’s MBSI membership
renewal for each ÒNew MemberÓ gift.

EditorÕs Notes EditorÕs Notes
By Russell Kasselman

MBSI Editor/Publisher

Last issue, we ran a series of photos
taken by Walter Nuss at the 25th
Annual MBSI Meeting in Saddlebrook,
NJ. The year was 1974, and newly-
minted MBSI member Bill Endlein
had just gotten his driverÕs license.
He used that license to drive to his
first annual convention of mechanical
music enthusiasts. Bill called me
recently to answer the question posed
above the photos, ÒRemember these?Ó

Bill provided several names to
go along with the images that are
reprinted on pages 8 and 9 of this
issue with captions this time. IÕd like
to extend a big thanks to Bill for calling
in with the information, as it helps
in the continuing quest to document
the history of this organization and its
members.

This was a simple and easy exchange
between Bill and I, but it starkly highlights
a fact that I feel might too easily
become overlooked the longer I serve
as the editor/publisher for the Musical
Box Society International.

The fact is, IÕm not a mechanical
music expert. Now, many of you
might chuckle a bit to yourselves at
that statement because that fact is
so obvious to you. My column does,

however, appear here on a regular
basis, and that potentially creates a
situation where people who havenÕt
been around this society for a long
time might assume that I know more
than I really do.

The truth is, IÕm an expert at
gathering, editing, and presenting
information from the real mechanical
music experts, and thatÕs you. You are
the collectors, researchers, restorers,
music makers, and even manufacturers
of new instruments. You are the
heart and soul of the MBSI and I really
want to hear more about you and from
you.

IÕm thrilled to be entrusted with the
job of gathering that information and
presenting it via this publication and
the society website. I heartily encourage
you to share your stories with me
so that they can be set down in print
and saved for future generations to
learn from and continue to enjoy this
hobby. ThereÕs no need for you to be
an expert writer. IÕm here to help with
that part of things.

So, what do you know that might
help other mechanical music enthusiasts
grow and learn? Call me. Email
me. IÕm ready and willing to help
record what you know so that others
can continue the mission of MBSI to
preserve these wonderful instruments

MAILING ADDRESS
MBSI Editorial/Advertising
130 Coral Court
Pismo Beach, CA 93449
EMAIL ADDRESS
editor@mbsi.org
PHONE
(253) 228-1634

and educate future generations to do
the same.

IÕll be looking forward to hearing
from you soon.

Welcome new members!
April 2018 May 2018 Each One
Frank Fulkerson Julianna & Catherine Dickenson
Toledo, OH St. Francis, MN Reach One
Oliver Kyburz Yi Peng Li New MemberLeimbach, Switzerland Tian Jin, Tian Jin
Michael Stambaugh Steven Mansee
Shaker Heights, OH Chicago, IL
Kenneth Lauderback Robert Andersen & Donald Johnson
Milwaukie, OR Rochester Hills, MI
Teresa & John Ghazoul
Bellville, OH
Steve Robertson & Kym Reinstadler
Ann Arbor, MI

July/August 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 7

Remember these?

Photos from the 25th Anniversary MBSI Annual Meeting in 1974, Saddlebrook, NJ

Walter Nuss, J. Lawrence Cook, and Jack Hardman in the hos

pitality room.
Durward Center and Mike Kitner making a presentation at the
annual meeting.

Durward Center during his presentation at the annual meeting.

Sandy Litman (third person from the left) listens to a J.
Lawrence Cook roll.

Bob Glasgow (second from left), Sandy Litman (third from left),
Pam Ryder is on the left. and Joe Rush (behind Sandy).

Elise and Marty Roenick (far left) with an unknown group.

Walt Bellm and E.W. McKinnon with Tony (unknown last name).

Kevin SheehanÕs Wurlitzer 146 mounted on a 1920 TT Ford
truck and powered by a period domestic hit-and-miss
one-lunger. Kevin says ÒLinda and I brought the rig to the convention
on a flat bed trailer.. I remember overhearing Arthur
Ord-Hume remark to a guest who was listening to a tune,ÕWe
donÕt have anything like THAT in England!Õ Fond memories.Ó

Hans Fryberg (left) and David Bowers enjoying refreshments.

Dave Beck, Lee Munsick, Judy and Allan Kenisburg share a
laugh outside.

Greg Schmidt is in the background with glasses. Fred Freid
is looking at the book. Larry Dupon, also wearing glasses, is
gesturing with his hand in the background.

Rob and Ginny McMullin enjoying the day.

Nickel Notes

By Matthew Jaro

In this edition of Nickel Notes we
travel to the beautiful home of Paul
Ciancia in Northern New Jersey. Paul
has been an MBSI member since 2009
and an Automatic Musical Instrument
CollectorsÕ Association (AMICA)
member since 1970. His collection is
wonderfully displayed and consists
of reproducing pianos, nickelodeons,
orchestrions, antique phonographs
and antique radios.

Beginnings

PaulÕs interest in mechanical music
stems from his interest in music as
he was growing up. His father played
the piano and the accordion; his uncle
played violin and guitar; his grandfather
loved opera. Paul was very much
surrounded by music. He took classical
piano lessons for about 10 years.
He was also interested in all sorts
of mechanical and electrical things.
When he was in grammar school, he
would walk home and pick through
the trash looking for TVs, radios and
any other interesting items. (This
really brings back memories, because
I did exactly the same thing when I
was that age).

PaulÕs family had a farm in north
Jersey where they would go for the
summers. There was an old Milton
upright player piano in the living
room that didnÕt work. He looked
at the tracker bar and gazed at the
other components wondering how
you would get music out of this thing.
That probably planted the seed since
this was the natural intersection of
an interest in music and an interest in
mechanics.

By the time Paul went to college,
the bug really bit and he went to a

Paul Ciancia with his Seeburg G.

couple of piano dealers in New York
City (where he was going to college).
One was the Lincoln Piano Company
on Third Avenue. They had a lot of
player pianos Ð in the basement,
upstairs, and everywhere. Back in
the late 1960s, nobody really wanted
them, and he was probably getting
them for free. Paul went there with
very little knowledge of pianos, but
there was somebody working for
Lincoln who steered him onto what
he thought was a good piano. It was
a Stroud Themodist. Although it was
painted white, internally it was very
clean and all original. Paul bought
that piano for $150 and then went to
the store with a friend and a pickup
truck, having no idea how much those
things weigh. The dealer said, Òthere
is no way that you and your friend
are going to be able to put this on the

truck.Ó They had two planks, and they
thought they could roll it up onto the
back of the truck like it was a piece of
furniture. So he ended up having the
piano delivered. That piano mover is
still doing his moves today.

Paul took the piano apart. He went
to the library to see if there was any
information available. Just by luck,
the recently published book by Larry
Givens on rebuilding the player piano
was on the shelves. He read it coverto-
cover several times and thought
that he was now prepared. There was
also the Duffy Player Piano Company
in Palisades Park, NJ. John Duffy, who
passed in 2012, was a tugboat captain
before entering the player piano business.
He opened the business in 1960
because of a resurgence of interest in
players and sold it in 1969 when he
returned to sea as a captain for the

10 MECHANICAL MUSIC July/August 2018

An Edison Idelia in PaulÕs collection. An Edison Idelia in PaulÕs collection.
Part of PaulÕs antique radio and phonograph collection.

An Edison Home model with polyphone horn.

Circle Line Tours in New York City. ask lots of technical questions. At
His player piano company continued first, they thought he was a competi-
with new ownership into the 1980s. tor. Eventually, they warmed up and
Anyway, Paul would visit DuffyÕs and helped Paul out a great deal.

Radios

In addition to mechanical music,
Paul has an extremely impressive
and beautiful antique radio and phonograph
collection. The first radio
he bought was at an antique car flea
market. Then he started advertising
for radios in the local shopper paper.
ThatÕs how he ran into Bart Off. Bart
had radios and wanted a piano Ð Paul
had pianos and wanted radios! Since
they both wanted good prices for their
items, they simultaneously decided to
trade. Paul was in medical school and
found an Aeolian upright in a church
hall. He made a deal with the church
to replace it with a straight piano. That
became BartÕs first piano. Paul didnÕt
see Bart again for nearly 30 years.
They met up again about eight years
ago at Glenn ThomasÕs Christmas
party. Glenn has an impressive collection
of mechanical music and also
currently serves as the editor of the
AMICA Bulletin.

Collecting and Restoring

The first restoration project apart
from player pianos was a reproducing
piano. One of the people Paul went to
school with had a Stroud upright Duo-
Art. It sat in the friendÕs basement for a
number of years and Paul was anxious
to try restoring a reproducing piano.

July/August 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 11

So, he swapped a working player
piano for the unrestored Duo-Art.
His next acquisition was a Steinway
XR Duo-Art that he obtained from
Lincoln Piano in New York City. The
restored piano was sold through Duffy
to Michael Bennett (the director of
ÒA Chorus LineÓ). It finally came to a
point that Paul was too busy at school
to keep rebuilding pianos.

In 1972 Paul saw Harvey RoehlÕs
book ÒPlayer Piano TreasuryÓ and took
a trip up to Binghamton, NY, to see the
collection. That was his introduction
to coin-operated pianos. The Seeburg
G and the Reproduco piano-pipe organ
really struck him. Paul said Harvey and
Marion were really great. They served
him and his friend lunch, played all
the instruments, and did what they
could to nurture his interest. Paul
remarked that everyone in the hobby
was extremely helpful in trying to get
newcomers cultivated and entrenched
in the hobby. When the ÒEncyclopedia
of Automatic Musical InstrumentsÓ
was published, it gave a jump start to
interest in the field. Similarly, during
the last several years there were a pair
of authors that put together a series
of books on phonographs, ephemera
related to phonographs, photographs
of collections, etc. This reignited
PaulÕs interest in phonographs.

The Reproduco Piano-Pipe Organ

PaulÕs Reproduco was purchased
from G.W. McKinnon in 1973. It was a
consignment item in his catalog. The
instrument was in Greene, NY, near the
Pennsylvania line. McKinnon wanted
Paul to buy it sight-unseen, but Paul
didnÕt like that idea and went to look
at it. The machine dates to 1927 and
originally came out of TeglerÕs Mortuary
in Damascus, PA. It went to a local
church, and the consigner got it from
the church. G.W. McKinnon had done
some restoration on it and it played
pretty well. Paul brought it home
and enjoyed it for more than 30 years
before sending it to Alan Lightcap for
restoration.

The Steinway XR Duo-Art Piano

The Steinway XR piano that Paul
currently owns was acquired in 1977
from Tom Ahearn, who was living in

The circa 1927 Reproduco Piano Pipe organ restored by Alan Lightcap.

A closeup shows the detailed carving on the Steinway XR Duo-Art piano.

Boston, MA, at that time. Paul wanted Bernard Kritzman. Bernard had a story
an art case piano. He initially went to to go with the piano. It was bought by
New York City to look at a Jacobian a wealthy individual for his new bride.
XR owned by a piano tuner named She died shortly after they were wed.

12 MECHANICAL MUSIC July/August 2018

The Steinway XR Duo-Art in all its glory.

The double Mills Violano Virtuoso that came out of a Nebraska
farm hand house and was completely dismantled before being

restored.

A closeup showing the detail on the violin and playing mecha-
nisms in the double Mills Violano Virtuoso.

The piano was covered up and never
played again. Bernard found it, had
it restored and was asking $12,000
for it in 1972. Needless to say, Paul
continued to look. He came across
the Spanish style XR he has now and
bought it in unrestored condition. He
had the piano professionally restored
in New York City and restored the
player mechanism himself.

The Mills Violano Virtuouso

Paul bought a single Mills around
the same time as the Reproduco. He
bought it from a collector in Long
Island, NY, who got it from the collection
of Walt Kehoe. Paul had the
machine for several years, when he
decided he would like to upgrade to a
double Mills. He advertised in the club
publications for both a double Mills
and a Seeburg G. The Mills that Paul

currently owns came from a farmer
in Montana. He had it in a building
where his farm employees lived. The
farmer had purchased it from a junk
store in Nebraska in the 1950s. Instead
of going to look at it, Paul asked for
extensive pictures and specific closeups.
It looked pretty good, so he went
for it.

Paul dismantled it entirely. He had
the piano restrung professionally.
The sound board was in perfect condition.
The case was professionally
refinished. Paul dealt with all of the
electrical components himself. That
was about three yearsÕ work. The
only things that really needed to be
replaced were the weight arms. He got
a new set from Chuck Pfeiffer. Before
the days of Terry Haughawout, Chuck
was THE person for Mills restorations.
Paul still had to find a converter. He

got the large converter for the double
mills from Chuck Commerford in
Missouri. Chuck Pfeiffer proved to be
very helpful as was Art ReblitzÕs book
published with Mike Kitner.

The Seeburg Style ÒGÓ Orchestrion

The Seeburg G came from Bob
Avary, a collector then living in
New Mexico in the early 1980s. Bob
answered one of PaulÕs ads. Bob sent
pictures of the machine. The case was
refinished. Art Reblitz had restrung
the piano, rebuilt the piano action, and
re-gilded the plate. In the pictures, all
of the mechanisms had been taken
out of the piano and spread out on
bed sheets. Not knowing whether
everything was there and even if it
belonged to the same instrument, Paul
contacted Art Reblitz. Just like Harvey
Roehl, Paul had heard of Art but never

July/August 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 13

met or dealt with him. Again, like
Harvey, Art was extremely helpful. Art
knew Bob and said Paul could trust
him as a collector. Art also confirmed
that everything Bob was showing in
the pictures belonged to the machine
being sold. With that, Paul went ahead
and purchased the machine. Since the
piano was recently redone, Paul chose
to restore the Seeburg G before the
Mills. He redid the pneumatic work
and re-plated the metal parts. There
was a lot of cosmetic work involved,
but it got finished in 1985. Several
years ago, Paul had Alan Lightcap
replace the pin block and the sound
board. (Art and Bob had decided not
to undertake those tasks in the 1970s,
but by 2007 they needed replacement.)
Alan also restored the pump and pipe
chest. It also got a professional refinishing
job.

The Aeolian Concertola

One of the great highlights of PaulÕs
collection is a beautifully restored
Aeolian Concertola. For those unfamiliar
with this (including me!), the
Concertola is a machine that can play
as many as 10 Duo-Art rolls. You can
select any roll to be played by pushing
a button. The tempo is automatically
set by extra holes in the beginning of
the roll. The machine moves the roll to
the tracker bar, threads the roll onto
the take-up spool, sets the tempo,
plays the roll and rewinds it at the end.
The unit is physically separated from
the piano.

The Concertola was purchased
from Paul Manganaro in 1986. Paul M.
said he got a call from the owner who
lived in Florida. The owner said he
really didnÕt know what the machine
was, but he thought it was some kind
of juke box. As the owner was in the
process of describing it to Paul M.,
he knew immediately what it was.
So, Paul M. bought it and brought
it to East Rutherford, NJ, where he
was living at that time. Paul C. saw it
in Paul M.Õs shop and thought it was
a fascinating piece of machinery. He
thought about it for a while and then
bought it. Paul C. had never seen one
before and nobody knew much about
them.

It was pretty rusty, being a

The Seeburg G that Paul purchased after consulting with Art Reblitz to be sure all
the parts shown in the pictures from seller Bob Avary.

combination of brass parts and
brass-plated steel. Paul started on this
project in the late 1980s, after he finished
restoring the Mills. He decided
to take on the changer part first. When
he moved in 1991, the project stopped
and didnÕt get restarted for another
10 years. Alan Lightcap had restored
Bob GilsonÕs Concertola, so Paul gave
Alan this one to do as well. Alan did

the contact chest, all the pneumatic
components, and the pump. Then he
put it together and got it working.
There were some blueprints available
and all the parts were there.

The cabinet was basically falling
apart and there were pieces missing
so Paul and Alan decided to display it
without a case, leaving all of the intricate
and beautiful machinery visible.

14 MECHANICAL MUSIC July/August 2018

The finished Aeolian Concertola, one of only 14 known to exist and one of only 10 to be connected to pianos.

July/August 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 15

A view of the roll frame before restoration.

The Aeolian Concertola when Paul bought it.

The restored roll frame loaded with rolls ready to play.

A closeup view shows the tracker bar.

A closeup of the roll pull tabs attached to the roll frame.

The well-ordered pneumatic tubing under the roll frame. The tune-selector mechanism for the Aeolian Concertola.

16 MECHANICAL MUSIC July/August 2018

Paul with the Hupfeld Phonoliszt Violina he purchased from Doyle Lane and then had restored to a magnificent condition.

There are 14 Concertola units
known. Of the 14, 10 are connected
to pianos (but not necessarily Con-
certola pianos). PaulÕs is connected to
the Steinway Duo-Art piano. Of the 10
connected to pianos, only about five
are working. You can see that there
are many steps from when you press
the selector button, to the point where
it rewinds and shuts off. ItÕs a very
complex device.

The Hupfeld Phonoliszt Violina

The next machine to come along
was the Hupfeld Phonoliszt Violina.
I love it when people say Òit came
alongÓ, like a Phonoliszt might follow
me home someday! The first time
Paul had seen a Phonoliszt was at

the Murtaugh Guinness collection
during a local MBSI meeting (one of
the first Paul attended). Alan Lightcap
was there because he had restored
virtually all the instruments in the
Guinness collection. Paul heard the
machine and was hooked. He began
a lengthy search for a Hupfeld. He
contacted some of the European
dealers and the prices were already
out of reach: $70,000 in 1982 was far
more than he could spend. The Hupfeld
Paul owns now came from Doyle
Lane. Jerry Cohen had it before Lane.
Jerry got it from Hathaway & Bowers,
who in turn got it from the Cliff House
in San Francisco. It was purchased
by the Whitney Brothers, who ran the
Cliff House in the 1930s-1940s. It was

probably imported by Ernest Bšcker
of New York in the early 1910s. Most
likely it was on the West Coast its
entire life. In the book ÒPut Another
Nickel InÓ by Q. David Bowers, there
is a picture of the machine in the Cliff
House workshop partially disassembled
(and the Seeburg H next to it is
probably my machine, ÒOld SilverÓ).
Hathaway & Bowers did the original
restoration for Jerry Cohen. Jerry
had the machine until his fire in the
late 1970s. The machine was then
purchased by Chuck Pfeiffer who sold
it to Doyle Lane.

Doyle sat with the machine for about
15 years. Paul contacted Doyle in the
late 1980s, but Doyle had no interest in
selling it. So, Paul continued looking.

July/August 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 17

The keyboard was restored with matching ivory keys to ensure authenticity.

A closeup shows the pristine condition of the violin mechanisms.

In 1987 Paul went to the Charlie Smallwood
auction in San Francisco, CA.
There was an early Model B missing
some of its panels. It had a lot of rust.
It had been stored in a warehouse
for decades. Rodents had gotten into
it. The piano action was nothing but
chewed up felts, rusted iron and a
lot of mouse droppings. It was rough,
but Paul wanted it really bad. The
pre-auction estimate of $35,000 was
passed and it was hammered down
at $90,000. Paul dodged a bullet, but
missed another opportunity. The
search continued.

Siegfried WendelÕs replica Phonoliszts
then came on the scene. Paul
looked at them but still favored owning
an original machine over a replica.
Just around that time Doyle put out
a flier announcing that he was liquidating
much of his collection. Paul
immediately tore open the flier, flipped
through it and found that the Phonoliszt
was there. The description said
it had been in the Cohen collection.
No price was listed. He immediately
called Doyle who said he had been
bombarded with phone calls and the
first person there with a check could
have the machine. Paul asked for a little
time. He said he would send Doyle
$1,000 as a non-refundable deposit
and he would have two days from that
point to pick it up. Overnight, Paul
decided it would be best to drive up
to Vermont and look at the machine
before diving in headfirst. He brought
his $1,000 with him just in case. It
was January and it was snowing very
hard, but he felt he had to get up there.
Luckily, the snow tapered off and he
made it the rest of the way to Vermont.

On arriving, Paul went into a brick
mill building and saw the piano part of
the Phonoliszt with only the sides and
the back. No strings, no plate, no key
bed. Doyle appeared and they took a
tour of the three-story building looking
at all the parts. The piano plate
was here, the piano action was there,
the violin mechanism was upstairs.
Fortunately, the piano stack was out
of the machine but in one piece. The
violin chassis was in one piece. Paul
didnÕt have knowledge deep enough to
know if all the parts were there or if
the damage could be restored. He gave

18 MECHANICAL MUSIC July/August 2018

The violins with bows restored by Art Reblitz in a 40-hour specialized process using
a jig built specifically for the task.

his deposit and said he would have to
return with his expert, Alan Lightcap.
Doyle said, Òthere is a guy standing
right behind you ready to buy.Ó So Paul
and Alan made the trek back up. Alan
said to Paul, ÒitÕs all complete,Ó and
thus with AlanÕs blessing, Paul bought
the machine. Alan could not take on
the restoration project at that time.
Similarly, Art Reblitz and Ron Cappel

were both busy, so Paul decided to
proceed on his own.

The first parts to be worked on were
the violin components. The bow consists
of two concentric rings that must
move freely to operate. The two rings
were stuck together, but once they
were pulled apart and cleaned, they
operated correctly. The drive wheel
that turns the bow was warped and

had to be recast. Art Reblitz put the
horse hair on the bow using a special
jig he made (talk about a specialized
niche: re-hairing Phonoliszt bows!).
It took about 40 hours to do the job.
Art said it was a very demanding task
with a specific order of operations
to go through. The violins were the
next thing that needed attention.
Paul called up the Julliard School of
Music and spoke to the conservator
of stringed instruments to ask for a
recommendation. He got the name of
RenŽ A. Morel, who turned out to be
a world-renowned violin technician
who serviced Stradivarius instruments.
Paul loaded up the violins
and brought them to Morel who was
a Frenchman wearing a white smock.
Paul said it was like going to see a
medical specialist. Paul showed him
pictures of the machine. Morel said
he had seen one in Utrecht, Holland,
at a museum, so he was sympathetic
to the cause. Paul said it was amazing
to him since someone of MorelÕs stature
could simply have said: ÒI donÕt
want to be bothered with this junk.Ó
Instead, Morel was enthusiastic and
told Paul he thought he could help
with the restoration. With that, Morel
took on the restoration of the violins
to correct problems caused by years
of neglect. Morel was shown an original
violin from GuinnessÕs Phonoliszt
Violina to guide him in the restoration.

The cabinet had to be restored as
well. Paul went to ConstantineÕs in
New York City Ð a supplier of veneers
to the trade. He asked if they had clients
for their veneers that did furniture
restorations of the caliber required.
They gave Paul the name of a man in
New York City: a Romanian immigrant
named Ted Badea. He was as good
with woodworking as Morel was with
violins. Again, they visited GuinnessÕs
to look at a Phonoliszt in the flesh.
TedÕs shop spent the next year and a
half transforming the cabinetry.

At this point nearly six years of
efforts had been expended restoring
different aspects of the machine.
Restoration of the pneumatic systems,
however, still lay ahead. Paul asked
Alan again if he had time and he agreed
to do all the pneumatic components.
Paul took no shortcuts on the project.

July/August 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 19

The piano was restrung, a new block,
new bridges and a new board were
installed by a professional piano company
in New York. Paul even replaced
the key tops in matching ivory. It was
a long project, taking more than eight
years, but everybody who comes and
listens to the finished product is rapt
by the sound.

The Cremona J Orchestrion

The Cremona was acquired about
10 years ago. Paul was at Jasper SanfilippoÕs
to pick up the Phonoliszt bow
from Art Reblitz. Jerry Biasella invited
Paul to listen to JasperÕs machines.
So Paul listened to every American
machine! He really liked the sound
of the Cremona J. Paul asked Tim
Trager if he knew of a Cremona J for
sale Ð and, of course, Tim did. Tim
put Paul in contact with a fellow from
the Carolinas. This person obtained
it from the Musical Wonder House in
Wiscasset, ME, around 1970. It had
been restored 25 years earlier by Don
McDonald. It needed additional work
now. Paul asked Alan to do a complete
restoration which was finished in
2008.

The Link 2E

PaulÕs Link 2E came from Carl
Barker of Media, PA. Carl is a piano
technician who restored it back in the
1960s. It did need a little attention so it
made its way over to AlanÕs for a pump
rebuild. The remainder of the original
restoration work is still functional.

The Knabe AMPICO

The Knabe was acquired from Rick
Smith in Glen Cove, Long Island, NY.
Paul had been looking for an art case
AMPICO, and Rick had a 5-foot, 8-inch
Louis XV Knabe built in 1924. It had
an ÒAÓ action and Paul added a ÒBÓ
drawer. It was recently restored by
Alan. A connection to the Concertola
allows the device to play Ampico rolls
on the Knabe.

The Seybold Jazz Accordion Piano

Paul acquired a Seybold Jazz Accordion
Piano which he had restored. The
machine consists of a piano, accordion,
bass and snare drums and cymbal. The
piano is of French manufacture, the

The Cremona J that came from the Musical Wonder House once operating in Maine
in the 1970s and located by Tim Trager.

The immaculate interior of the Cremona J.

20 MECHANICAL MUSIC July/August 2018

The Link 2E that needed only a pump rebuild after an initial
restoration by Carl Barker in the 1960s.

A closer look at the upper section of the Link 2E.

The Knabe AMPICO that is connected to the Aeolian
Concertola.

accordion is a Hohner. An expression
system controls instrument dynamic
levels. The machines found their main
use in cafes and restaurants. There
are only a handful of these known to
exist. It came from Oregon, where Jim
Knudtson was the owner. He bought
it in the 1970s from Claes Friberg in
Denmark. Very few were imported
into the United States. Music is not
real plentiful for these machines.
There was a re-cutting project a few
years back where they borrowed all
of KnudtsonÕs original rolls. Some
new arrangements are currently being
cut in Europe for the machine. RenŽ

Seybold of Strasbourg, France, was
the inventor. The company should
not be confused with the U.S. Seybold
Piano Company which makes pianos
often used in Nickelodeons and
Orchestrions. The French machines
were produced in the late 1920s and
early 1930s, when sales of coin pianos
were poor. The company was in
Alsace-Lorraine which suffered heavy
damage during World War II. Consequently,
very few machines survive
today. The restoration is anticipated
to be completed next year.

After spending a lovely day with
Paul and having dinner at his house,

it was time to hit the road back to my
home in Maryland 4. hours away. Paul
Ciancia can be reached at fairwinnj@
aol.com

Please feel free to email Matt Jaro at
mjaro@verizon.net if you would like
any information about style ÒAÓ, ÒGÓ,
Ò4XÓ, ÒHÓ or ÒOÓ rolls. Also, comments
and suggestions for this column will be
appreciated.

Reprinted with permission of the
author and The Automatic Musical
Instrument CollectorsÕ Association
(AMICA). Originally printed in the September/
October 2012 issue of The AMICA
Bulletin.

July/August 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 21

Name That Tune

The Nicole Frres in its as found state.

By Clay Witt

I should really stay off of eBay. Both
my bank account and David Beck,
my long-suffering restorer of several
years standing, would likely appreciate
it. I see some once fine old musical
box that has fallen on hard times there
and my heart goes out to it. Such was
the case with the Nicole Frres box
seen above in its Òas foundÓ state. Yes,
it needs help. There are two broken
teeth, some very squeaky dampers, a

seldom functioning start/stop lever, a
possible run affecting tune four, and
general cleaning and adjustment to
set right.

In any event, I acquired the box at
a modest price and finally it arrived.
First, I set about cleaning up the really
dirty case. That endeavor turned out
well. Next, I became curious about
the history of the box. Fortunately, I
saw it retained its original tune sheet.

22 MECHANICAL MUSIC July/August 2018

The faded tune sheet as found.

The enhanced tune sheet.

Right away I noticed that the original
London dealer, Keith, Prowse & Co.,
had pasted strips of heavy paper
with the firmÕs name at the top and
its Cheapside address at the bottom.
(Cheapside is a London street that
has been associated with commercial
activity for centuries. The name long
predates the current meaning of
ÒcheapÓ as inexpensive or low quality.)
Keith, Prowse & Co. was in business
in London from 1830 and the company
name still lingers on, although it is
no longer associated with musical

devices, according to Wikipedia.

Handwriting on old tune sheets is
often artistic, with lots of embellishments,
but sometimes, as was the case
with this box, it can be quite difficult
to decipher. My attempt to unravel the
tune names was further complicated
by the fact that the ink on the tune
sheet was badly faded. Enter modern
technology. In times past, I would
have spent quite some time working
in Photoshop to try to enhance a
picture of the tune sheet taken with
a digital camera. More recently I have

discovered that the built-in photo
viewer in Windows 10 can make quick
work of it. This involves just clicking
the photo file and allowing Windows
10 to open it natively. Once the file is
open, you can click on ÒEdit & Create,Ó
then ÒEditÓ and finally ÒEnhance your
photo.Ó Voila! (One note of caution,
as they disclaim in the commercials,
your results may vary.)

Armed with a more legible tune
sheet to work from I turned my attention
to the handwriting Ñ swoops,
flourishes, and undulations that look
pretty but can make unrelated capital
letters look almost identical and low-
er-case letters almost unrecognizable.
Working out what is inscribed on tune
sheets is often further complicated by
the fact that limited space led writers
to use abbreviations. In the case of
my tune sheet, only a fragment of
the name of an operetta was written
as the source of the tune. What were
these tunes? Who composed them?
When were they composed? Were
they part of a larger work? Would
they be consistent with the 1869 date
research showed should be the date of
manufacture of this musical box from
the serial number (#42565)?

This is where I spent a couple of
hours with various online search
engines (Google, Bing, and Norton
Safe Search). My strategy was to take
what little I could discern of the writing
and work backward from there.
Considering I have only a passing
acquaintance with mid-19th century
music and the language in which the
tune name is written, here mostly
French, it took some persistence
and patience but the story gradually
unfolded. Here is how it all worked
with this tune sheet.

Tune 1. I was able to figure out
that the tune name was ÒA cheval
sur laÓ something and that the name
of the work from which it was taken
included ÒDuchÓ something. Entering
ÒA cheval sur laÓ into the website
search engines did not bring up a
satisfactory result. Adding ÒoperaÓ or
ÒmusicÓ to the search terms struck
out too. Searching using the phrase
Òoperetta A cheval sur laÓ did the
trick. The larger workÕs full name is

July/August 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 23

ÒLa Grande-Duchesse de GŽrolstein,Ó
a Jacques Offenbach operetta in three
acts. Further search on the full name
of the work shows that a main character,
a General Boum, sings about his
military prowess in ÒA cheval sur la
disciplineÓ (a stickler for discipline).
It dates from 1867. So, what is on the
tune sheet is a tune name ending in an
abbreviation of discipline, ÒDiscip.,Ó
and just part of the name of the operetta
where the song appears is given.
(Discipline is apparently spelled the
same in English and French, by the
way.)

Tune 2. The entrŽe here is the fairly
clear name Robinson Crusoe. Results
when searching on that name brings
up information about another Offenbach
1867 operetta. I have learned
that tunes from operettas and operas
are often named by some phrase in
the lyrics of the song. The first word
in this tune title is ÒSalutÓ (ÒhelloÓ in
French). Another search helped me
find the Robinson Crusoe libretto,
although not in as straight forward a
way as I might have hoped. After some
false starts, a search for ÒOffenbach
Robinson Crusoe libretto SalutÓ led
me to the complete libretto in French
on the French version of Wikisource
(fr.wikisource.org). Searching in that
for ÒSalutÓ revealed several instances
of that word, one of which is a fit for
the writing on the tune sheet, ÒSalut
chaumire.Ó (ÒHello thatched cottageÓ
according to Google Translate,
another useful resource.)

Tune 3. This one was considerably
simpler to unpack. The main work
is ÒRomeo & JulietteÓ by Gounod. A
search for Ògounod romeo and juliet
librettoÓ (search engines are usually
not case sensitive, by the way) quickly
brought me to a site with the complete
libretto in parallel English and French.
The first word in the title on the tune
sheet is ÒAnge.Ó A search for that in the
libretto brings us to ÒAnge adorableÓ
(adorable angel) sung by Romeo to
Juliet. GounodÕs Romeo & Juliet also
dates from 1867.

Tune 4. This one had me completely
stumped. There was nothing clear to

Jacques Offenbach, composer of ÒLa Grande-Duchesse De GŽrolstein,Ó and
ÒRobinson Crusoe,Ó that appear on the Nicole Frres box. Offenbach was born
Jacob Offenbach in Germany, switching his name to Jacques after being accepted
to the prestigious Paris Conservatoire to study music. The director of the school
was prejudiced against Jews, having rejected Franz Liszt earlier because of cultural
heritage. After much pleading by JacobÕs father, however, the director of the school
agreed to hear Jacob play. Jacob was immediately accepted, along with his brother,
and both boys adopted French versions of their names. Jacques left the school
after one year because academic study did not fulfill him. He earned a living as a
cellist and a conductor, living most of his adult life in France before being forced
out after the fall of emperor Napoleon III in the 1870s. He later lived in Vienna and
London. He wrote nearly 100 operettas, many which are still heard on stages today.

24 MECHANICAL MUSIC July/August 2018

Charles Gounod, author of the libretto ÒRomeo and JulietÓ that appears on the
Nicole Frres box was born in Paris, France. He studied at the Paris Conservatoire
and won the Prix de Rome in 1939 for a cantata called ÒFernand.Ó The Prix de Rome
was a French scholarship program that allowed a student to reside in Rome for
three to five years paid for by the king of France. He became world-renowned in
1859 for his composition ÒAve Maria.Ó Also in 1859, Gounod released Faust which
was initially not well received, but became immensely popular and has continued to
be performed through today.

Two pages of the sheet music for

the waltz ÒGolden BeautyÓ written by
me beyond the first word of the tune address with pictures of the box Charles Godfrey in 1863. The sheet

music was scanned and is available for

title, ÒLesÓ (the article ÒtheÓ in French), and tune sheet and a plea for help in

free from the University of Michigan.

which of course is not enough to get identifying Tune 4. Based on his expe-
you anywhere. rience and the wealth of information

Here a great resource came to my in the register, the very helpful Arthur found. A copy available through ama-
rescue. One of our sister organiza-Cunliffe had the answer, ÒLes Fau-zon.co.uk has a listing with the remark
tions, the Musical Box Society of Great vettes. Polka. Bousquet.Ó Follow up ÒBinding Ð 1 Jan 1864.Ó This certainly
Britain, has for years been compiling online research showed that Bousquet gets us into the expected ballpark in
a registry of Nicole musical boxes. is composer Narcisse Bousquet. (ÒLes terms of dates.
You can simply go to their website at FauvettesÓ means ÒThe WarblersÓ per
www.mbsgb.org.uk and find ÒMusical Google Translate.) The University of Tune 5. This one is readable right
Box RegisterÓ under the ÒResourcesÓ Melbourne, Australia, has a published from the tune sheet, ÒGolden Beauty,Ó
menu for further information. I filled copy in its collection showing the date a ÒValtzÓ (waltz) by Godfrey. Online
out the form provided and registered as Ò1882?Ó A couple of other sources research here shows that Godfrey
my newly acquired Nicole there, send-list various scores dating back to 1870 is Charles Godfrey and that the tune
ing it off by email to the designated and an 1869 edition in French was dates from 1863.

July/August 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 25

Tune 6. A ditto mark at the end of
the line shows that this tune is also
attributed to Charles Godfrey. This
gave me a good leg up as I could
search directly for his tunes. The
tune title is not clear from the tune
sheet. Note, among other things, that
what turns out to be capital Ts on the
sheet look very much like the writerÕs
capital Fs and he or she writes a low-
er-case p in disjointed parts. Further
online research concerning GodfreyÕs
compositions confirmed that the title
is ÒTip Top, Galop.Ó (A galop was
a lively dance of the period.) This
tune probably dates from 1868, as it
was advertised by the publisher in
the January 30, 1869, edition of the
London Illustrated News. A copy of
that edition can be found online via
Google Books. The ad reads: ÒThe Tip-
Top Galop Ð Charles GodfreyÕs new
Galop. This attractive, spirited, and

excellent galop will soon be tip-top in
popularity. Sent for 18 stamps Ð Duff
and Stewart, 147 Oxford Street.Ó

The bottom line. Count yourself
fortunate if you have the original tune
sheets on your musical boxes. They
can provide a wealth of information.
Dates tunes were composed can
help place the date of the box when
the maker is unknown (it can be no
older that the date of the most recent
song) or confirm that the tunes on the
box are consistent with an identified
makerÕs serial number. They can give
you insight into a musical time long
gone by. If a tune sheet is faded and
the hand writing is not a model of precision
donÕt worry since this is not as
big an obstacle it once was. Electronic
image enhancement can make faded
text come to life again.

Being able to decipher even a word

or two in a title can lead you to uncovering
a lot of information about a tune
through the magic of modern website
search engines. Just be persistent.
When a search engine does not turn
up what you want, try a variety of
search terms and if that doesnÕt help
try a different search engine as some
turn up things others do not. There
is literally a world of information out
there and fleshing out a musical boxÕs
historical setting can enrich the experience
of being its caretaker for future
generations.

As for #42565, the sound beneath the
squeaks is bright, full and clear even in
its current state. Sometime this year it
should be back to its original musical
glory. My hope is that once my stewardship
is over it will go to someone
who will care for it so that it can go on
bringing pleasure for at least another
hundred years.

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makes it an interesting piece. Send stories via email to editor@mbsi.org or
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Box 10196, Springeld, MO 65808-0196
All prices here include U.S. Media Mail postage. Make
checks payable to MBSI, or Musical Box Society
International
Additional shipping charges for 1st class U.S. or airmail
foreign shipments are shown on the checkout page.
For other shipping options or quantity pricing, please
email info2008@mbsi.org.
Prices subject to change.
26 MECHANICAL MUSIC July/August 2018

The Hunt

The Style 27 Folding Top Regina

By Jamie Brewer

I joined MBSI back in 1971. Even
though that transpired 47 years ago it
still feels like yesterday as I type this
out today. Journaling for too many
years has taught me how the personal
back stories behind my prized possessions
are what makes them special to
me, my family, and friends.

The story of my Regina Style 27
20.-inch folding top music box is no
exception.

I first heard this music box at John
BishopÕs house in King of Prussia, PA,
back in the fall of 1972. John was very
active in the MBSI and the East Coast
Chapter at the time. While we listened,
John told me it was his favorite disc
box in his collection.

Two years later, in November 1974,
John was killed when his car was
hit from behind by a church school
bus. Vicki Glasgow brokered the sale
of JohnÕs collection. Bob and Vicki
Glasgow were so close to John it is
safe to say they might have been considered
family.

I only knew John some two years.
Even so, all these years later I can
still feel the void his death left in my
life. Andy LaTorre, who was active in
the MBSI in the early 1970s, sent me
a picture of John. You can see him on The restored case and cabinet of the Regina Style 27 folding top disc player.

Column Graphic by Mary Clegg
July/August 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 27

the far left. The photo was used for
JohnÕs memorial notice in the MBSI
Bulletin and is the sole picture of
him I possess. IÕm still grateful that
the image was made and marvel that
someone thought to snap the photo
since back when it was taken it wasnÕt
as common for people to take pictures
of everyday events, as compared to
today where iPhones are so common
that people record almost every bit of
everyday life.

Well, back to the folding top Regina.
Vicki kept this machine of JohnÕs on
her closed in front porch area of her
home. Vicki had a delicate ear and
loud music boxes drove her to distraction.
The Regina Style 27 is certainly a
loud one.

In 1976 Vicki put this music box
on the market, listing it in her 1976
catalogue. I was working again, having
been called back to GM after being laid
off for more than a year. I knew the
history behind this piece and wanted
to own it. I rationalized the purchase
of this music box to be my ÒrewardÓ
for getting called back to work. I contacted
Vicki and we worked out the
details out of the sale. I sold a Criterion
15.-inch box I had purchased from
John at the fall East Coast Chapter
meeting in 1972 to Nancy Fratti. This
transaction paid for nearly half of this
ÒnewÓ box. I delivered the Criterion
to Nancy and picked up the Regina
folding top at an East Coast Chapter
meeting in Binghamton, NY. Some
research on my part revealed that this
meeting was held May 22, 1976. What
I remember most of this meeting was
worrying over the Regina Style 27
stored in the trunk of my 1975 Plymouth
Duster parked in the parking lot
of the Binghamton, NY, YMCA. I was
still strapped moneywise and stayed
in the cheapest places for meetings, so
I had some reason to worry but, fortunately
for me, all worked out and I got
the box safely home after the meeting.

The box came to me with an early
short Polyphon crank which made it
a bear to crank up and listen to. Last
fall I was able to procure the correct
Regina crank for this box which
started out another chain of events.

Except for a bit of oiling, the box had
not been touched mechanically for

Photo by Andy LaTorre
John Bishop, far left, at an MBSI gathering in the 1970s.

The Regina bedplate that originally left the factory in a Regina Style 28 cupola case.
The bedplate switch may have been made by Lloyd Kelly when factory parts for
Reginas were still available for delivery.

28 MECHANICAL MUSIC July/August 2018

The original ÒRegina Red MudÓ finish
can be seen under the crank escutcheon
as compared to the oak Òtiger grainÓon
the exposed parts of the case.

decades. It was time for an overhaul.
Dave and Carol Beck were willing to
take on the job.

I didnÕt want to just overhaul the
music box works and then have the
guts reinstalled into a grungy cabinet,
so I decided it was also time to finally
get the case cleaned up.

A Regina Style 27 connotes a coin
operated machine. A close inspection
of the motor boards showed a Regina
ÒcautionÓ sheet which covered the
hole where the lock would have been
and another ÒcautionÓ sheet over
where the coin slide was originally
installed. The motor had the extra
shaft configurations for a coin op
mechanism. A junker box provided
me with the wooden coin box and
hold down bracket I could transfer
to this case. The spare parts fit the
existing screw holes perfectly.

The beautiful quarter-sawn oak
case had been finished in what Glenn
Grabinsky has coined Òthe Regina Red
MudÓ finish. At first glance it appeared
that it might even be a mahogany case.
As the years passed the red bleached
out which has allowed more of the
oak Òtiger grainÓ to show through.
The picture showing the protected
finish under the crank escutcheon
compared to the exposed case side
is striking. This was a factory applied

The cabinetÕs origins are still a mystery. It was built to hold a 27-inch Regina, but
slots are available to store 151/2-inch discs.

The restored folding-top machine and its base are enjoyable additions to the
authorÕs collection regardless of their heritage.

July/August 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 29

finish. There was residue on the top
right motor board from an old dealer
label which resembled in size the
stickers Ruth Bornand used to apply
on the boxes that passed through her
shop in Pelham, NY.

I contacted Bob Yates to research
the Regina shipping books to ascertain
if this case left the factory as an oak or
a mahogany instrument. According to
the books the serial number stamped
on the bedplate indicated that the
movement actually left the factory in a
later cupola case as a Regina Style 28.

At this point in time all I could do
was speculate about how maybe a
former owner of the folding top case,
since it was originally a coin-operated
machine, found it easier to just
switch out the worn-out comb and
old bedplate assembly and install an
on/off lever. I could see where the
coin slot and lock holes were cut in
and they had dark red/brown wood
stain soaked into the unfinished wood
around them. It was evident to me that
the coin operating mechanism was a
factory installation done up before the
case was finished. The hole for on/off
lever shaft was raw unstained wood
which told me that the addition was
drilled in after this box left the factory.

For what it is worth, I speculated that
all the switching around transpired

back in the ÒLloyd Kelly daysÓ when
such practices with Reginas were
common and original factory parts
were still easily procured.

The base cabinets for folding top
boxes are harder to find information
about than the music box itself. The
base for my Regina is also a mystery. It
was built for a 27-inch machine. There
were five dividers factory installed as
well as a bottom spacer board making
the disc storage suitable for 15.-inch
discs. Did the cabinet factory alter this
to move out an unsellable cabinet? The
folding top model was only in production
for a few years. It took me more
than 25 years to turn up this base, so
IÕm not going to split hairs over minor
details. I figure I am just lucky that the
wood color is pretty similar between
the two pieces.

In the end, the bedplate might not
be the original one that left the factory
to the motor and case. The works have
been altered from a coin-operation to
a regular music box. The base cabinet
is not a perfect match. In the grand
scheme of things, these ÒflawsÓ do not
matter to me. I like to share the stories
of the people and events behind the
prized pieces of my collection. It can
sound corny but when I play this box,
in addition to enjoying the music, my
mind goes back to the days of John

More online

Smartphone users can scan the
QR code above to be taken directly
to a video where this machine can
be heard playing ÒSmoky Mokes. Ó

To view the video on your com
puter, go to https://www.youtube.
com/watch?v=ori-3d5MpFg

Bishop and the Glasgows, and the
time spent enjoying the music box
hobby before the days of the internet.

I like to think IÕm helping to preserve
a bit of that past in these ramblings of
mine. It is sad, too, how those close to
us slip away and, as time passes, are
forgotten.

IÕve uploaded a video to YouTube
of this box playing ÒSmoky MokesÓ
a Òhot tuneÓ which really shows this
instrument off.

Seeking your stories for ….

Did you once spend time finding the perfect musical

antique to round out your collection? What was it? How
did you find it? Was it in ruins, or in perfect condition?
Was there a time you randomly ran across a unique The Hunt
instrument then found a way to acquire it and restore it
so that you might display it and tell the story to all who
visit your home?
Answer these questions and you will have the perfect
story for ÒThe HuntÓ column in Mechanical Music. forward to hearing from you.
Editing help is available if you have a story, but you Email your story to editor Russell Kasselman at
are not sure how to organize it or present it. We look editor@mbsi.org.

30 MECHANICAL MUSIC July/August 2018

Mechanical Music Radio is on the air

The worldÕs first and only mechanical
music radio station is now
broadcasting 24 hours a day via the
internet.

James Dundon, program controller
of the station, promises the best variety
of automatic musical instruments.

ÒWeÕve got mechanical organs of
every type, pianolas, music boxes,
orchestrions and more,Ó he said.
ÒWeÕve done our research and picked
the most iconic instruments from
around the world, playing music from
the best arrangers, past and present.Ó

Every Tuesday night between 8 p.m.
and 10 p.m. (BST), the station is live
and interactive, taking requests for
specific tunes, making mentions of
supporters and more. During the day,
the station broadcasts information
about worldwide musical societies
and groups, events and other information
that any mechanical music
enthusiast might find interesting.

The station is powered by the same
type of computer technology in use by
stations like Classic FM and Radio 2.

The most popular tracks will get the
most plays across a week, and with
such a wide database of music (more
than 10,000 unique songs), each hour
is bound to be full of surprises, said
Dundon.

Dundon is a full time radio presenter
and programmer based in Cornwall,
UK. He created and organized the
Mechanical Music Radio project at his
own expense.

ÒItÕs been a long time ambition of
mine to put mechanical music on
the map. There is a radio station for
every other genre of music, and so I
hope Mechanical Music Radio can
bring some quality recordings to loyal
enthusiasts and also target a new
audience,Ó Dundon said.

Dundon said he would appreciate
listeners supporting the station by
tuning in, sending music to add to
his playlist, and possibly making a
donation to help with the annual
operating costs. Because the station
is crowdfunded, it means there are no
advertisers getting in the way of the
music.

In addition to his regular radio day job,
and Mechanical Music Radio, James
Dundon is the owner of Het Blauwtje, a
street organ that he travels with around
the United Kingdom to provide a unique
type of entertainment at events.

To listen go to www.mechanicalmusicradio.
com or download the mobile
app. Search for Mechanical Music
Radio in the app store. The station
also has a presence on Facebook and
Twitter. Find these pages by searching
for ÒMechanical Music Radio.Ó

James Dundon with a book of music for
his organ.

July/August 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 31

How does it work?

The Regina Start/Stop mechanism for non-coin operated disc music boxes

By Bob Caletti

Below you can see two pictures of a
15.-inch Regina table top music box
start/stop mechanism.

In the first image, the spring barrel
is in the stop position with the
spring-loaded lever restraining the
governor start/stop wire. This keeps

the governor from spinning. The other
end of the lever is resting in the spring
barrel slot.

When you want to play the disc, you
move the start/stop indicator arm from
the stop position to the start position
which, in turn, shifts the lever up and
out of the spring barrel slot and at the
same time releases the governor stop

Stop position

wire allowing the governor to spin
and the spring barrel to rotate, and, in
turn, play the disc.

After the spring barrel rotates for
5 or 10 seconds the start/stop indicator
can be moved back to the stop
position since the lever is beyond the
spring barrel slot and is now riding on
the full diameter of the spring barrel.
See the second image for more detail.

At the end of the song, the spring
barrel will have rotated to the point
where the spring barrel slot is present
again and the spring-loaded lever will
drop into the slot. At the same time,
on the other end of the lever, the stop
wire is arrested and the governor
stops spinning.

In the stop position a disc can be
removed and a new one put on, if
desired. A disc should only be put on
when the spring barrel is stopped in
this position.

Most of the time all this action goes
unseen by the person enjoying the
music box as they simply move the
lever from stop to start, but now you
know how and what makes the disc
stop playing.

Play position

32 MECHANICAL MUSIC July/August 2018

2018 MBSI Annual Meeting

Music in the Motor City

By Russell Kasselman

The Mid-America Chapter bills itself
as the ÒHave More FunÓ chapter, and
as hosts of this yearÕs annual MBSI
convention it looks like event organizers
took that motto to heart.

Consider the fact that attendees
will be staying in DetroitÕs Motor City
Casino Hotel, featuring more than
2,700 slot machines plus table games,
restaurants and live entertainment.
Plus, Detroit is where the music
of Motown was born, along with
the iconic Fillmore concert venue,
Comerica Park and Ford Field. Plus it
was once the thriving heart and soul
of the American automotive industry,
so history wonÕt be hard to find.

Trustees and committees will gather
on Tuesday, Aug. 28, for a round of
MBSI business discussions while most
members will be arriving and settling
into their rooms. Registration will be
open from 3-9 p.m. on Tuesday.

Wednesday, Aug. 29, starts early
with registration open from 8-10 a.m.
and an optional tour to Henk and Irene
NoordemeerÕs collection. Tour buses
leave the hotel at 9 a.m. This tour
includes lunch at the NoordemeerÕs
home.

This tour requires a passport or
enhanced drivers license from the
states of Michigan, Minnesota, New
York, Vermont or Washington to participate.
Each person must have their
own identification. Any questions or
clarifications on this policy must be
addressed prior to the meeting.

The tour will take you over the
6,178-foot long, twin-span Blue Water
Bridge that connects Port Huron, MI,
to Point Edward, Ontario, and then on
to Melbourne, Canada. their beautiful home will include the dip ever made (or so it seems). These

Henk started out collecting phono-finished basement which shows off decorative dishes for holding salt can
graphs and has filled his house and most of the phonographs and record be viewed in various display cabinets
part of another building with examples collection. throughout the home.
from around the world. A tour through Irene has an example of every salt The ground floor presents some

Henk and Irene Noordemeer with their Bruder Fair Organ at a band organ rally.

Henk Noordemeer examines one of the phonographs in his collection.

extremely rare phonographs, music
boxes, a Mills Deluxe Violano, and a
Nelson-Wiggen piano. The separate
collection building (with a recent
addition) houses more phonographs,
early televisions, radios and related
equipment, a Cremona piano, a
Coinola X, a Bruder Fair Organ, and
an 80-key Mortier Dance Organ.

Meeting attendees are on their own
for dinner Wednesday night, but event
organizers urge everyone to save
room for an ice cream social from 9-11

p.m. where people will have a chance
to catch up with old friends and make
new ones.
Thursday offers a tour covering
two collections, the Stahl Automotive
Foundation and Bronson Musikalle.
Buses leave the hotel at 8 a.m. and
tight schedules will be maintained so
that everyone can have time for lunch
between stops.

Ted Stahl is the owner of a fantastic
collection of more than 125 classic
cars from brass era, depression era,
pre- and post-war models and modern
automobiles, including several one-
of-a-kind treasures. The vehicles are
displayed in a large building erected
specifically to showcase their engaging
designs. Surrounding the vehicles
are original Route 66 signage, vintage
neon lights and gas pumps. There
is also a drive-in theater and a 1950s
diner replica inside the building.

More recently, Ted has become
interested in mechanical music and
has put together a very impressive
collection including a 125-key Gaudin
Fair Organ. According to the StahlÕs
website, www.stahlsauto.com, it is the
largest scale Gaudin organ known.

ÒDuring the Ôteens, Gaudin focused
on building fairground organs with
elaborate carvings and exposed brass
trumpet pipes. In the 1920s, they
shifted their emphasis to elaborate
dance organs.

ÒThis example was found in
England mostly intact but with
moisture damage. It underwent total
restoration by the world-renowned
fourth-generation organ expert
Johnny Verbeeck and his staff in Belgium,
replicating parts as necessary.
The musical scale was extended to

include a full rank of massive bronze
carillon bells, the largest of which
weighs about 600 pounds! Attention
to detail is extraordinaryÑfrom the
gold leaf to the four nine-foot tall gold
statues.

ÒAt one time these glorious organs
were often used in traveling shows,
including with companies that
showed motion pictures in a tent
behind the instrument. Playing a
concert into a town square, a Gaudin
organ would attract patrons from
every direction.Ó

StahlÕs also includes a Weber Mae-

sto, Mills Deluxe Violano, Hupfeld

Phonoliszt, 97-key Mortier Dance

Organ, Mortier Cafe Organ, several

jukeboxes and music boxes. There

is also a Wurlitzer Theatre Organ

installed into the structure which will

be played live, during the tour.
The following comes again directly

from the StahlÕs website.

ÒThe Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ
installed in the Stahl Museum has
its origins in the instrument the
Wurlitzer factory built for its founder.
The console and select sets of pipes
were from the Wurlitzer mansion in
Cincinnati Ohio. Built in 1923, there
was no record of this instrument
ever having been sold; it was never
invoiced to the family!

A few of the automobiles in Ted StahlÕs collection can be seen here.

ÒWurlitzer was the premier manufacturer
of Theatre Pipe Organs, from
1915-1940 they made over 2,500 of
them, these instruments were the
voice of the silent film.

ÒIn 1999 the instrument was re-designed
and enlarged to be a complete
concert grade theatre organ, the new
specification was made by theatre
organist Lyn Larsen, utilizing select
ranks (sets) of pipes from many
1920s vintage Wurlitzers. The organ
was completely rebuilt by master
restorer Ken Crome, and installed in
the Milhous Museum in Boca Raton
Florida. The Crome Organ Company
installed the organ in the Stahl
Museum.

ÒThe organ has three keyboards, 23
sets of pipes ranging from Trumpets
and Saxophones with brass resonators
(horns), Violins, Viols, Flute,
Clarinet, Tuba, Oboes and other
orchestral instruments, 1,524 pipes
and 208 tuned percussion notes in
total. The percussion section includes
a Marimba, Xylophone, Glockenspiel,
Chimes, Celesta, Vibraphone,
Piano and tuned Sleigh Bells. ÒtrapÓ
Percussions include Snare Drum,
Cymbals, Castanets, Tambourines, as
well as silent movie sound effects like
bird whistles, Door Bells, Surf, Slide
Whistle, Locomotive Whistle and of
courseÑauto horn!Ó

34 MECHANICAL MUSIC July/August 2018

The 125-key Gaudin Dance Organ is a featured part of the Stahl collection tour.

The Bronson collection is a
multi-generational collaboration
contained in two buildings. The
original structure features a nice display
of mechanical music, including
cylinder boxes, table top disc boxes,
floor-standing disc changers, along
with American nickelodeons, a Mills
Deluxe Violano, band organs and
crank organs. The collection also
includes an Arburo Dance Organ, a
Bursens Street Organ, and a 121-key
Decap Dance Organ. The walls are
covered with a number of items, some
musically related, some not.

The later building was designed
for, and exhibits, a premier display
of statuary by American artist John
Rogers, who published his works
primarily from 1860-1893. More than
50 of the groups were professionally
photographed for inclusion in a book
written by the Curator of American
Art, of the New-York Historical
Society.

Musical instruments in the building
include a 1914 Philipps Pianella Pfau,
a Steinway Duo-Art grand, a Mason &
Hamlin Ampico B, and replicas of a
Wurlitzer Harp and Encore Banjo.

Built into the structure is a 3-manual,
10-rank, Wurlitzer Theatre Organ.
Many top artists have been recorded
on the digital playback system which
allows for live performances. Describing
the entire complex, the assistant

curator says unashamedly, ÒItÕs the
most exquisite and extensive collection
of mechanical music in Dundee.Ó

A bonus for visitors will be a demonstration
of a small, but important
display of high-tension evacuated
paraphernalia, including Crookes and
Geissler tubes.

Geissler tubes were invented by
German physicist Heinrich Geissler
in 1857 as a way to demonstrate
the principles of electrical glow
discharge, similar to what you might
see in a neon sign today. According to
Wikipedia.org:

ÒIt consists of a sealed, partially
evacuated glass cylinder of various
shapes with a metal electrode at each
end, containing rarefied gases such as
neon, argon, or air; mercury vapor or
other conductive fluids; or ionizable
minerals or metals, such as sodium.
When a high voltage is applied between
the electrodes, an electrical current
flows through the tube. The current
dissociates electrons from the gas
molecules, creating ions, and when
the electrons recombine with the ions,
the gas emits light by fluorescence.
The color of light emitted is characteristic
of the material within the
tube, and many different colors and
lighting effects can be achieved. The
first gas-discharge lamps, Geissler
tubes were novelty items, made in

many artistic shapes and colors to
demonstrate the new science of electricity.
In the early 20th century, the
technology was commercialized and
evolved into neon lighting.Ó

Crookes tubes were derived from
Geissler tubes, and were instrumental
in the identification of cathode rays
which were later named electrons.
Crookes tubes were also instrumental
in the discovery of X-rays.

Friday will be a mix of workshops
and a tour of the storied Detroit Fox
Theater. Workshops will run from
8-10 a.m., then buses leave for the
Fox Theater at 10:45 a.m., returning
to the hotel at 2 p.m. Workshops then
continue from 2:30-5:30 p.m.

Workshop presenters include David
Ramey, Charlie Moore, Bill Edgerton,
Bob and Diane Yates, Richard Dutton,
Dwight Porter, and Marty Persky.

David Ramey is a well-known, longtime
and active restorer of automatic
music machines. His talk is titled
ÒCoin Piano Pneumatics 101Ó and it
will help you learn the basic principles
of pneumatic vacuum systems in coin
pianos and orchestrions. Find out how
those little holes in the paper make
music.

Charlie MooreÕs talk is called ÒWhatÕs
New with the Old Roller Organ?Ó and
it begins with an introduction of the
roller organ, or organette, made by
the Autophone Company, that plays a
pinned wooden roller. Then, based on
experience with numerous examples,
the development of the Concert Roller
Organs with the two bellows vacuum
system will be discussed, as well as
other modifications. The workshop
ends with a revival of the ÒName
that Roller Organ TuneÓ game, 2018
edition.

Bill EdgertonÕs talk on ÒReplicating
the Seeburg KT SpecialÓ is a heavily-
illustrated presentation around
his decision to build the Seeburg KT
Special replica, describing some of
the problems encountered along the
way, ending with the unveiling of the
finished product at the MBSI Annual
Meeting in 1986.

Bob and Diane Yates will present
ÒNineteen Fascinating and Rare Musical
InstrumentsÓ a compilation from

July/August 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 35

decades of collecting and numerous
past presentations, this video details
machines from the YatesÕ personal
collection. The machines, in the small,
hand cranked class, will be shown and
played. Bob says that all the machines
are ÒfascinatingÓ and Òrare,Ó but notes
that in a couple of cases, the term
ÒmusicalÓ may be misleading.

Richard Dutton is a recognized
expert on the music of the Grand
Roller Organ and his research has
taken him into other areas. His
workshop, titled ÒResearching Tunes
and Their Composers,Ó will present
techniques and websites for online
research about tunes on mechanical
music machines, who composed and
popularized them and what role they
played in the culture of their times, as
well as how to locate sheet music for
them that can be viewed and downloaded
at no charge. Some of the tunes
discussed will be played on a Grand
Roller Organ.

Dwight PorterÕs presentation of
ÒDisc and Cylinder Music BoxesÓ
will cover the new automatic Porter
changer with tubular chimes. HeÕll also
give some restoration tips including
the importance of re-cementing Swiss
box cylinders and proper adjustments
for Regina Changers.

The Porter Music Box Company is a
premier restorer of music boxes of all
types. They produce new disc boxes
and the music for them as well.

Mechanical music specialist Marty
Persky will present ÒThe Sanfilippo
Collection,Ó a behind-the-scenes view
of the development and future of the
Sanfilippo collection. The collection
is housed in a stately setting on the
Sanfilippo estate and managed by the
Sanfilippo Foundation that shares
mechanical music with the public
through group tours and fundraising
events for charitable organizations.

The tour of the Fox Theater starts
with a pizza buffet lunch at the
acclaimed Hockeytown Cafe, a longtime
local favorite. After the meal, itÕs
a short, walk across the street to the
Fox.

The theatre was built by film pioneer
William Fox at a cost of $10.5 million.
It was completed in 1928. The theme
is a mix of Burmese, Hindu, Persian

and Chinese. It was DetroitÕs premier
movie palace for decades, but became
neglected by its owners in the 1960s
and then closed in the mid-1980s for
renovations. The new owners pledged
to bring the structure back to its original
grandeur. One year and $12 million
later, the promise was fulfilled.

The theaterÕs grand lobby is 37
feet long and 60 feet high featuring
massive columns on both sides. The
auditorium, at 105 feet in height, is
completely adorned with ornate,
architectural castings and has a seating
capacity of more than 5,000. Seats
are available on three levels, the main
floor, the mezzanine and the gallery.
The stage is 130 feet wide with the
proscenium at more than 77 feet.

Filling this ámovie palaceá with music
is the original 4-manual, 36-rank, 2,500
pipe Wurlitzer organ. The plan is to
have the theatre tour, which includes
a visit back stage, followed by a
demonstration on the Wurlitzer.

Friday night is game show night in
the Hospitality Room, hosted by Doctor
Dave and Professor B. ItÕs sure to
be an entertaining evening of free fun
for everyone.

The MBSI annual society breakfast/
business meeting happens Saturday
morning. The doors open at 7:30 a.m.
and the meeting is scheduled to last
until 11 a.m.

Following the meeting, a half-hour
break allows those people displaying
wares in the Annual Meeting Mart to

The interior of the Fox Theater in Detroit, MI, which has a 4-manual, 36-rank Wurlitzer
organ with 2,500 pipes.

get set up and ready for shoppers. The
mart runs from 11 a.m. to noon, then
takes a break for the awards luncheon
in which outstanding members of
MBSI are recognized for their efforts
to promote and preserve mechanical
music as a hobby. The mart then
resumes from 2-5 p.m.

Mart spaces are available for rent at
$25 per space. Spaces measure 6-feet
by 30-inches and tables are available
on request. Contact Mike or Penny
Kinter at (269) 781-3466 or email
pmkinter@sbcglobal.net with any
questions about mart spaces.

A banquet with entertainment
closes out the official Annual Meeting
on Saturday night starting at 7 p.m.

Several local collectors will be
opening their homes for Sunday tours.
Specifics on these collections will be
available at the meeting venue.

Everyone planning to attend the
event should reserve hotel rooms by
Aug. 1 to get the preferred rate of $134
per night. When reserving a room, be
sure to mention MBSI so the hotel
knows to charge the correct fee.

A taxi from the Detroit Metro Airport
is estimated to cost around $50.
Companies like Uber and Lyft are also
available for transportation purposes.

Registration packets were mailed to
all MBSI members in early June.

People who are not MBSI members
can look for the packet to be posted
on the MBSI website at www.mbsi.org
in the near future.

36 MECHANICAL MUSIC July/August 2018

Golden Gate Chapter

Chair: Jonathan Hoyt
Reporter: Jenny Hoyt
Photographer: Rob Thomas and
Jonathan Hoyt

May 6, 2018 Ð Menlo Park, CA

Members of the Golden Gate Chapter
of MBSI and the San Francisco
Chapter of AMICA gathered together
on May 6, 2018, at the home of Bob
and Judy Caletti in Menlo Park, CA.
Approximately 40 people in total
attended this joint meeting. The
Caletti collection is a favorite among
chapter members and visitors alike
due to its size, variety and periodic
new additions.

Music Boxes in the collection
include a 15.-inch Regina Changer,
27-inch Regina Changer, 18.-inch
Mira Grand, a three-disc Symphonion
Eroica, a Symphonion musical hall
clock with 135/8-inch disc, Polyphon
Musical hall clock with 24.-inch disc,
27.-inch Symphonion music box with
12 bells, 12-inch Regina clock disc
chime mechanism, and two cylinder
music boxes. Orchestrions, Nickelodeon,
and Reproducing piano pieces
include a Banjo-Orchestra, Seeburg H
Orchestrion, Cremona K Orchestrion,
Art case Knabe Reproducing piano
with Ampico system, and a Peerless
Style D Nickelodeon.

Bob and JudyÕs newest instrument is
a 27.-inch Symphonion upright with
12 bells which was purchased as a
project about one and a half years ago.
ItÕs an absolutely beautiful and rare
instrument, and what Bob describes
as Òa very interesting challengeÓ to
restore. Restorations are familiar
undertakings for Bob, who is a
mechanical engineer. His appreciation
for the mechanisms in these machines,
as well as the history of how and
where they were made, is what led
him to start restoring the music boxes
in his personal collection and then
into professional restoration. MBSI
members have likely read an article

Meeting hosts Bob and Judy Caletti beside the newest piece in their collection: a
fully restored 27.-inch Symphonion upright with 12 bells.

or two in this publication authored by
Bob which have showcased either a
completed restoration or an instructional
article on the subject.

Throughout the afternoon, guests
were free to tour the home and enjoy
each of the restored instruments.
The history of many of the pieces
also made for fun conversation. One
such piece is actually the CalettiÕs

first instrument: a Peerless Style D
Nickelodeon that belonged to BobÕs
grandfather, which came with a bar he
purchased in Petaluma, CA. Bob recollects,
ÒIt wasnÕt playing when I got
it but I was able to visit SutroÕs in San
Francisco which had a lot of mechanical
music machines and pianos,
including a working Peerless Style
D like my grandfatherÕs. A few years

Jonathan and Jenny Hoyt enjoy the three-disc Symphonion
Eroica in the study.

The dessert table was a popular stop for guests! Shown here
(left to right): Jonathan & Jenny Hoyt, AMICA members Paul
Turney and Gary Schneider, Julie Hughes, and Judy Caletti.

John and Dianne Fields stop to exchange smiles and take a
photo with Samuel Sun

Richard Reutlinger and Bob Gonzales enjoy music from the
Cremona K Orchestrion.

AMICA and MBSI members listening to the music.

Guests had a great time touring BobÕs restoration shop. Bob
made himself available to answer questions and chat with
curious visitors.

38 MECHANICAL MUSIC July/August 2018

MBSI and AMICA members, gathered together for a group photo.

Bob Caletti plays his Seeburg H with the doors open for the enjoyment of guests.

after that I was able to get it restored
and it now plays the same music that
came from the bar where my grandfather
had it.Ó The CalettiÕs fondness for
mechanical music only increased after
that. ÒAfter the Peerless, I started collecting
Vienna Regulator clocks and
then music boxes and then Orchestri-
ons and pianos,Ó explains Bob.

Lunch on the patio brought everyone
together again for a period of
friendly, vibrant conversation. Then
a brief business meeting followed for
each group. Richard Hughes began
the chapter business meeting with
a warmhearted welcome and introduction
of his successor as chapter
chair, Jonathan Hoyt. Richard served

as chapter chair for about three years
and was recognized for the genuine
nature with which he approached his
duties during his tenure. Jonathan and
Chapter Secretary/Treasurer Dave
Corkrum then each provided updates
on regular chapter business. Dave
extended an invitation for others to
join him in an upcoming July event
organized by the California Historical
Radio Society, called Radio Day by the
Bay.

The CalettiÕs warm hospitality
extended into the early evening. Bob
led a tour of his restoration shop.
Others chose to enjoy dessert by the
piano or roam at their leisure, admiring
all the lovely music machines.

Exiting Chapter Chair Richard Hughes
introduces Jonathan Hoyt as his
successor.

Bob and Judy Caletti have been collecting
since 1981, when they became
members of MBSI and AMICA. The
Chapter was privileged to have been
invited to enjoy their home and
exquisite collection, and of course an
afternoon with friends, both new and
old. Many thanks to the CalettiÕs for
creating such an inviting environment
and fun meeting!

July/August 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 39

NCC holds its 22nd Annual C&O Organ Grind

Chair: Matthew Jaro
Reporters: Robert and Nancy Goldsmith
Photographers: Nancy Goldsmith, Paul
Senger, and Ginny Little

May 27, 2018 – Potomac, MD

The National Capital Chapter (NCC)
held its 22nd Annual Organ Grind
and Music Box Demonstration at the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National
Historic Park overlooking the Great
Falls of the Potomac. There were 23
members viewing and demonstrating
instruments.

The weather was unusually warm
and muggy with a prediction of rain
and thunderstorms. The Great Falls
Tavern section of the canal was empty
of water due to major reconstruction
between Great Falls and Georgetown.
The water level of the Great Falls itself
was very high due to recent flooding.

Ginny Little worked with the
younger crowd at the touch table as
they played the old standby, Ring-A-
Tune. A new addition, the childrenÕs
Jelly Roll Player Piano, featured a
programmable plastic barrel with 32
time slots controlling 10 piano keys.
It was quite the challenge. Knowles
LittleÕs first music box, a circa 1945
juke box, was on display with four
of the NCC convention table favors
featuring the famous 1983 NCC favor
that had a strong resemblance to the
late Siegfried Wendel from Germany.

Jack and Mildred HardmanÕs elec-
trical/hand crank 20-note Alan Pell
Organ got off to a high voltage start
with a nostalgic piece of music and
concluded with John CageÕs ÒFour
Thirty-Three.Ó

Jan and Terry Bender demonstrated
their brand new R20 Konzertorgel an
ÒOriginal RaffinÓ from Uberlingen,
Germany. Last summer they ordered
the custom organ after touring the
Raffin plant with Rafael on their way
to the Waldkirch Organ Festival. What
a beauty! It features six melody stops
with tenor and base accompaniment!

One of the park visitors programming a tune on the Jelly Roll Player Piano.

Jack and Mildred Hardman serenade
visitors with their Alan Pell 20-note
organ.

John Grant and Jan Bender with a paper
tape driven music box.

Faye Simpson is initiated in the fine art
of organ grinding on Paul SengerÕs John
Smith organ.

Richard Simpson demonstrates the
Mechanical Organette and Gem Roller
Organ.

Knowles Little with his first music box
from 1945.

Richard Simpson plays a tune on Paul
SengerÕs John Smith busker organ.

Two big kids (Paul Senger and Robert Goldsmith) play with
PaulÕs original Jack in the Box.

Terry and Jan Bender with their new Raffin 20/78 organ.

Phyllis watches as one of the park visitors tries out the Ring-
A-Tune at the touch table.

Phyllis Krochmal, Ginny Little and Reporter Bob Goldsmith
man the touch table which includes the 1983 NCC table favor
and basket of music boxes for the kids to play.

July/August 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 41

Cheryl and Dick Hack demonstrated
their Arthur Prinsen 32-pipe book
playing organ on wheels. They like
rolling their organ down the street for
4th of July parades. The HackÕs grandson,
Travis Hanna, cranked a great
rendition of ÒThe Liberty Bell March.Ó

Joe Orens and Florie Hirsch brought
their Hofbauer TanzbŠr 20-note accordion.
Sporting a top hat and formal
attire, JoeÕs playing was so realistic
he was often asked to play a special
request.

Paul Senger brought his totally
home-built, John Smith design,
20-note, 20-pipe, hand-crank busker
organ. It produces a surprisingly loud
sound considering all the wind that
has to pass through the tracker bar.
Richard Simpson regaled the crowd
by cranking ÒThe Dodge Brothers
March.Ó

Knowles Little showed off his 1906
Regina single comb disc music box
playing ÒThe Blue Danube Waltz.Ó

Neither the prediction of rain nor
the empty canal dampened the enthusiasm
of the park guests nor the NCC
organ grinders. A good time was had
by all.

Visit https://tinyurl.com/NCCCNO-
2018 for a slide show from
Knowles and Ginny Little.

Florie Hersch and Joe Orens serenade
the canal visitors with his TanzbŠr 20
note accordion.

Travis Hanna cranks a tune on the Arthur Prinsen 32 key organ with Cheryl Hack in
the background.

Dick Hack (right) checks out Terry and Jan BenderÕs new 20/78 Raffin Organ with
custom paintings.

42 MECHANICAL MUSIC July/August 2018

Northwest International Chapter

Chair: Dale Tyvand
Reporter: Rick Swaney
Photos: Rick Swaney, Dale Tyvand

Apr. 20-22, 2018 Ð Vancouver, BC

The Northwest International Chapter
held an unusual meeting last April.
We attended the annual convention of
another collectorsÕ society Ð not music
box collectors, but collectors of magic
lanterns. This came about because the
organizers of the convention, David
and Lesley Evans, are also MBSI
members. They invited our chapter
members to attend. The convention
was the 18th Annual International
Convention of the Magic Lantern Society
of the United States and Canada.

A magic lantern is the earliest form
of a slide projector. Invented in the
1600s, it became a common form of
entertainment and education in the
18th, 19th, and first half of the 20th
century. It uses a bright light and a
lens to project images. More advanced
lanterns have multiple lenses, enabling
them to do fades, overlays, and other
special effects. The slides are glass
plates, originally hand-painted and
later produced photographically.
Some slides have moving parts activated
by a crank or lever to produce
limited forms of animation.

The convention took place in Victoria,
the capital city of British Columbia,
located on the southern tip of Vancouver
Island, Canada. Attendees stayed
at the Inn at Laurel Point, a hotel thatÕs
walking distance from VictoriaÕs Inner
Harbor and FishermanÕs Wharf. The
convention activities were held at the
Metro Studio Theatre, a live-performance
theater in downtown Victoria.

The convention was a three-day
event. The first two days were devoted
to magic lantern presentations Ð 15 in
all. The presentations were 30 to 45
minutes each, covering a wide range
of topics. Some of the topics were:

¥ Historical Overview of Victoria
A top end ÒtriunialÓ (3 lens) magic lantern used in presentations at the convention.

The convention hotel at Laurel Point, Victoria, BC

Bob Winquist presents the photography
of Edward S. Curtis, who spent his career
taking pictures of Native Americans in
the Pacific Northwest.

¥ Photography of Edward S
Curtis (photographer of Native
Americans)
¥ Charles Chase and the Electric
Cyclorama (360-degree projection
system)
¥ Sex for Boys (youth lessons in
fitness, hygiene, and self-control)
¥ Dissolving Views (special effects
with slides)
¥ Early Disney Comic Strips
The most unusual presentation was
a demonstration of Nishiki Kage-e, a
Japanese magic lantern tradition. This
presentation style employs multiple
hand-held projectors, each of which
projects a single element or character
of a story. Multiple performers hold
projectors and move around, combining
their elements on a rear-projection
screen.

The presentations were grouped into
morning and afternoon sessions, with
a lunch break at noon. Box lunches
were provided for us. Each evening
we came back to the theater after
dinner for a 90-minute professional
magic lantern show. The first show
was put on by the American Magic
Lantern Theatre, consisting of Terry
and Debbie Borton with Nancy Stewart.
The second show was presented
by ÒProfessorÓ Lindsay Lambert. Both
shows combined slides with music
and were presented in a 19th century
style.

On the first day, we were on our own
for dinner. On the second day, a buffet
dinner was provided. The dinner was
held in the community room of the
Christ Church Cathedral, a few blocks
from the theatre. To add a little more

Northwest International Chapter members Kathy Baer, Annie Tyvand, Mike Smith,
Dale Tyvand, and guest Paul Bellamy enjoy a fish and chips dinner

A demonstration of Nishiki Kage-e, a Japanese magic lantern show.

Rick Baer (in the blue jacket) checks out the slides for sale.

44 MECHANICAL MUSIC July/August 2018

magic to the magic lantern convention,
magician Rick Swaney presented
a 30-minute magic show prior to the
dinner.

The last day of the convention
included a business meeting in the
morning and an auction of slides
and projectors in the afternoon. In
addition to the auction, there were
opportunities to purchase slides in
the theater during breaks between the
presentations.

Five members of the chapter
attended the convention (in addition to
David and Lesley). They were: Rick and
Kathy Baer, Dale and Annie Tyvand,
Rick Swaney, and Mike Smith. We
had one MBSI activity apart from the
convention. That was an impromptu
dinner on the first day. We got together
in Dale and AnnieÕs hotel room for a
feast of fish and chips hand-carried
from a restaurant on FishermanÕs
Wharf. We were joined by guest Paul
Bellamy, visiting from the UK.

We held a short chapter meeting
prior to dinner. As we were short of
a quorum, not much business was
discussed other than where the next

Magician Rick Swaney shows how to tear up then restore a newspaper.

couple meetings would be held. of it. If you would like to learn more

Many thanks go to David and Lesley about magic lanterns and the Magic
for taking on the task of putting on a Lantern Society, you can visit their
convention and for inviting the North-website at: www.magiclanternsociety.
west International Chapter to be a part org.

WE WANT YOUR STORY!

Every mechanical musical instrument has a tale to tell. Share the history of people
who owned your instrument before you, or the story of its restoration, or just what
makes it an interesting piece. Send stories via email to editor@mbsi.org or
mail your story to Iron Dog Media, 130 Coral Court, Pismo Beach, CA 93449

A Lasting Legacy In order for anything
once alive to have
meaning, its effect
must remain alive in
eternity in some way

Ð Ernest Becker, Philosopher
Throughout its history, MBSI has fostered an interest in and
preservation of automatic musical instruments. Your gift to the The Musical Box Society International
Endowment Fund will support programs that will help future is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

All donations to the Endowment

generations appreciate these achievements of manÕs creative

Fund are tax deductible.
genius. Visit www.mbsi.org to learn more.

A gift of any size is welcome.

July/August 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 45

Southern California Chapter

Chair: Robin Biggins
Reporter: Linda Birkitt
Photographer: Lowell Boehland

Mar. 17, 2018 Ð Phoenix, AZ

The Southern California Chapter
business meeting was held Mar. 17,
2018 at 9 a.m. in Phoenix, AZ, at the
spacious Residence Inn. Robin Biggins
presided and gave members details
with regard to our pending visit to the
Musical Instrument Museum, a Saturday
night dinner at Organ Stop Pizza
in Mesa, AZ, and our Sunday visit to
Jim Lowell and Linda RickertÕs home
in Tucson, AZ. We were delighted to
have the MBSI Board of Trustees join
the chapter for these events.

The Musical Instrument Museum
(MIM) calls itself the worldÕs
only global museum for musical

Robin Biggins conducts the chapter business meeting at the hotel.

Chapter members browse the collection displayed in the MIM Mechanical Music Gallery.

The automaton display includes MBSIÕs Mask-Seller doll (left). It was made in Paris,
The entrance to the Mechanical Music France, in 1910 by Roullet et Decamps. It moves its arms, legs, eyes and tongue
Gallery at the MIM. when operated.

Albert Metzger and Judy Garris listening to the audio tour that Linda Birkitt, Sandy DeWeese, and Roger DeWeese at the cal-
explains each instrument in the gallery. liope display in the Mechanical Music Gallery.

Charles and Hildegard Davis with Dick and Phyllis Goetz in the Connie and Dieter Brehm near the barrel organ display in the
organ area of the Mechanical Music Gallery. Mechanical Music Gallery.

July/August 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 47

A crowd gathers to hear the DeCap dance organ play. Jerry Kaliser enjoys the audio tour in front of the DeCap organ.

instruments. It opened Feb. 6, 2008,
and the building covers 200,000
square feet. There are more than
6,800 musical instruments and objects
displayed inside. Among some of the
exhibits was the piano John Lennon
used to compose his well-known song,
ÒImagine.Ó

Since it was St. PatrickÕs Day, Irish
music and dancing performances
were taking place on the front patio of
the MIM. One of the galleries at the
MIM is known as the Artists Gallery
where instruments of Johnny Cash,
Taylor Swift, Elvis Presley and the
band Maroon 5 are displayed. Another
gallery is known as the Experience
Gallery where visitors can actually
play selected instruments from the
collections. One of the G Perlee
orchestrions on display was painted
with a windmill, ship and seascape. Of
course, for us, the Mechanical Music
Gallery was a highlight because it is
filled with many instruments on loan
from MBSI. When the large Dutch
Decap Apollonia orchestrion was
demonstrated by a MIM docent, the
room was filled to capacity. A rather
esoteric instrument displayed at the
MIM was the Theremin, which is an
electronic musical instrument that
you play without physical contact. It
was patented in 1928 and you can view
it on YouTube or Wikipedia. There are
actually so many exhibits at the MIM
that one day is not sufficient to see
every one of them.

Saturday night was spent at the
Organ Stop Pizza eatery. A mammoth
Wurlitzer pipe organ was the

The hand-cranked G. Perlee Organ features 52 keys and 162 pipes.

A few of the street organs on display in the Mechanical Music Gallery.

48 MECHANICAL MUSIC July/August 2018

Chapter members and MBSI trustees gathered for a group photo in Jim Lowell and Linda RickertÕs home.

Lyle Merithew, David Frank, Jim Warner, and Jim Lowell listen
to a beautiful example of a Polyphon.
Jim Lowell demonstrates his Wurlitzer orchestrion, while a
Symphonion Eroica waits its turn to be played. A rare Lochmann Automat 150 in the collection.

July/August 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 49

The Wurlitzer pipe organ console with the swell shutters open to show the myriad pipes behind the walls.

featured instrument. It is billed as the
worldÕs largest concert organ with
more than 6,000 pipes. The oldest set
of pipes in this organ was built in 1918.
While the largest pipe is 3 feet wide,
36 feet tall and weighs one ton, the
smallest pipe is but one-quarter inch
in diameter and weighs only 4 ounces.
Per the Organ Stop Pizza website,
the most frequently played song is
ÒChattanooga Choo-Choo,Ó while a
close second is ÒThe Phantom of the
Opera.Ó

The organist, Charlie Balogh,
plays almost continually without
sheet music, so, when he heard
there were 50 members of MBSI in
the audience he immediately played
ÒMusic Box DancerÓ to everyoneÕs
delight. This particular organ console
has 1,074 individual keys, buttons and
switches that can produce any sound
you can possibly imagine. It is valued
at $5 million. Not only is the music
grand, but the pizza and lasagna are
also quite good. It is impossible to

Wayne and Alice Finger dancing at the pizza parlor

keep your feet from tapping to the but also a scrumptious Southwestern
music at this charming venue! luncheon embellished with grand

On Sunday, those who visited Jim Southwestern hospitality. It was an
Lowell and Linda RickertÕs home were exciting weekend event to which the
treated to a fabulous musical display, photos can attest.

50 MECHANICAL MUSIC July/August 2018

National Capital Chapter

Chapter Chair: Matt Jaro
Reporters: Donna and Gene Borrelli
Photographers: Gene Borrelli, Paul
Senger and Knowles Little

Apr. 22, 2018 Ð Great Falls, VA

The National Capital Chapter held
its spring meeting on Sunday, Apr. 22,
at the home of Mildred and Jack Hard-
man in Great Falls, VA. There were 28
chapter members in attendance and
one guest. We had lunch followed by
a business meeting. The meeting centered
around plans for the 2019 MBSI
Annual Meeting which will be hosted
by the National Capital Chapter and
held over Labor Day Weekend, Aug.
27ÐSept. 1, 2019.

The Hardmans have an extensive
collection of mechanical music. It
includes a 90-key Carl Frei system
Dutch street organ named ÒDeKei,Ó an
Edgerton replica KT Special, a Regina
27-inch changer, a 15.-inch Regina-
phone, a Wurlitzer Bubbler Jukebox,
several small cranked organs, a Raffin
31/84 hand-cranked street organ,

Ginny Little shows Helen Stiskal the
Regina 27-inch changer.

Thomas Russo and the ÒDeKeiÓ Dutch street organ.

Matt Jaro conducts the business meeting.

Jack Hardman demonstrates a Wurlitzer
bird whistle

A well-deserved thank you cake for Jack
and Mildred Hardman for hosting.

John Ball helps the baking crew deliver the four manual
Wurlitzer organ console cake.

David Burke, Knowles Little and Richard Simpson inspect one
of JackÕs music boxes.

Jack and Mildred kick off the organ concert.

It turns out you can have your organ and eat it too.

a 1926 Steinway DuoArt piano, and a PianoDisk digital
player in a Grotrian concert grand piano. But, the crown
jewel of their collection is a 4-manual 38-rank Wurlitzer
Theater Organ.

Following the business meeting we were treated to an
organ concert by Scottish theater organist David Gray at the
HardmanÕs regular community organ concert. Two regular
concert attendees, who own a bakery, brought two large
cakes to the meeting to thank Mildred and Jack for their
generosity in allowing the community to hear the organ.

David Gray performs on the Wurlitzer.

David Gray introduces himself to the audience.

52 MECHANICAL MUSIC July/August 2018

In Memoriam In Memoriam
Fred Krochmal

By Paul Senger

I am sad to announce the death of
National Capital Chapter member
Fredrick ÒFredÓ Krochmal on Mar. 13,
2018 at age 75. Fred and his wife, Phyllis,
have been members since 2015 and
have attended many chapter meetings.
Fred was a retired dentist in Virginia
who joined MBSI after hearing and
seeing mechanical music machines
at Jack and Mildred HardmanÕs. He
enjoyed the instruments and the new
friends he and Phyllis have made at the
chapter meetings. He had a lifetime
interest in trains and participated in
various railroad and model train clubs.
Fred loved classical music and was a
longtime supporter of the Amadeus
Concert Series in Great Falls, VA. We
will miss having more years together
with Fred.

His funeral was held on Mar. 16,
2018 in Falls Church, VA. Our deepest
sympathy goes out to Phyllis and the
family.

Phyllis and Fred at the chapter meeting in Baltimore in 2016.

Mary Clegg

By Robin Biggins

The Southern California Chapter is sad to
report the passing on March 3, 2018 of long
time member, Mary Clegg. She was 81, and was
married to Weldon Clegg for 61 years. We had
chapter meetings at their home, usually around
Christmas time, and they were very special.

Mary was a talented graphic artist, and she
created the iconic graphic for The Hunt feature for this
publication. We encourage members to write more ÒHuntÓ
reports so her legacy can continue.

Mary was always willing to volunteer for society events
and conventions. She will be sorely missed.

Mary studied interior design at the University of

Graphic by Mary Clegg

California, Riverside. An accomplished artist,
she received her Certification as a Decorative
Painter from the National Society of Decorative
Painters in 1984. She continued to paint and
teach art classes for local chapters at national
conventions well into the later years of her life.

She loved family genealogy, antiquing, trying
new recipes, and cutting fresh flowers from the
yard. Mary lives on in the hearts and memories

of her husband of 61 years, Weldon Clegg; her two
daughters, Karen Clegg and Cynthia Renier, her son-in-law
Jeffrey Renier, her four grandchildren Daniel F. Clegg, Ashley
Jodoin, Robert Renier, and Matthew Renier; her brother
Stephen Graves; and nieces and nephews. She also had the
love of countless friends. Mary was preceded in death by her
son, Daniel W. Clegg.

July/August 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 53

In Memoriam In Memoriam
Barbara Lichtman
Excerpted from her obituary photographs, went on countless be easier to list things she didnÕt do
Barbara Lichtman passed away in adventures and traveled all 50 states than to list ones she did. Always the
April 2018. She always joked that she several times over. She earned a doc-life of the party, permanently sharing
was born in Two Egg, FL, (but it was torate, established her own computer her stories with everyone.
really Stamford, CT). She was living in training company, and spoke to people She was married to Anita as best
Valencia, CA, at the time of her death. across the globe on a HAM radio. She friends and partners for more than 50
To say Barbara lived life to the became a skilled magician and mem-years. Their son, Nathan, remembers
fullest is an understatement. She built ber of the Magic Castle. She lived her his ÔdadÕ as his scoutmaster, his con-
amateur rockets that went more than truth as a woman who was accepted fidant, his magician assistant, and his
a mile skyward. She took stunning into groups like the Red Hats. It would role model.

Bill Kap

Excerpted from online sources

ÒSeymourÓ Bill Kap, a well-known
piano collector and dealer, age 87,
passed away in April 2018. Bill was
married to Hildred, who preceded him
in death. Bill and HildredÕs children
include Adam, Sara Macres, Mike, and
Stephanie. Bill was a devoted grandfather
to Marina, Marley, Maggie and the

late Alexander.

Bill was born in Flint, MI. He was
a resident of East Cleveland, OH, for
20 years, formerly of Kirtland, OH.
He was drafted into the U.S. Army in
1957, serving as a Teletype operator
at Fort Gordon, a military base near
Augusta, Ga.

He owned and operated Bill Kap

Piano since 1959. He loved collecting
music boxes and working at his store.
Family and friends remember Bill as
a jokester, hardworking, street-smart,
and a self-made man who was a true
entrepreneur.

He collected a wide variety of
instruments, from bird boxes to player
pianos to orchestrions.

John ÒJackÓ Lemmer

By James Huffer

There are so many stories about veteran who served in the Korean War.
Lake Michigan Chapter MBSI Treasurer Jack, from purchasing the first piano He then served the citizens of Chicago
owned by David Ramey Sr., a Cre-by joining the Chicago Police Depart-
It is with heavy heart that I share mona A roll, to acquiring a Seeburg ment. He retired from the 3rd District
the news of the passing of John ÒJackÓ G from the original building that had Grand Crossing after serving both the
Lemmer. been in a fire, to his picture in the ÒPut 22nd District Morgan Park and Area 2

Jack was a longtime member of the Another Nickel InÓ book in front of his Task Force.
local Chicago music organizations and Wurlitzer DX. Our thoughts go out to his wife Mary
known by many. John was a United States Army Ellen and the entire family.

Our condolences

MBSI wishes to extend its most Masayuki Yoshida, a former chair-Bob Lemmon, Sr., a mechanical
sincere condolences to the friends man of the Japanese International music restorer living near Sacremento,
and families of the following members Chapter, died in November 2018. CA, died in April 2018. His wife, Sonya,
who have recently passed away. passed away several years before.

54 MECHANICAL MUSIC July/August 2018

In Memoriam In Memoriam
Richard James Howe, PhD

Richard James Howe, retired president
and chief operating officer of
Pennzoil Company, died peacefully
at his Watercolor home in Santa Rosa
Beach, FL, on Mar. 20, 2018, at the
age of 89. He was born Oct. 15, 1928,
in Minneapolis, MN, to Mildred and
Chauncey Howe.

Howe graduated with honors from
Breck School, St. Paul, MN, and
entered the University of Minnesota
where he earned his B.S., M.S. and
Ph.D. with distinction in mechanical
engineering in 1953. His doctoral
thesis dealt with the dynamics of oil
well pumping systems. In 1965, he
was selected as a Sloan Fellow at
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
where he earned an added M.S. degree
in industrial management.

He joined Shell Oil Company as
a mechanical engineer followed by
service as a lieutenant in the U.S. Air
Force where he worked on projects
involving nuclear bomb blasts, aircraft
landing gear vibrations and high
temperature effects on supersonic
aircraft. After returning to Shell, he
designed and installed offshore production
platforms and became one of
the early authorities on the design and
operation of offshore mobile drilling
units. He later became a founding
director of the Offshore Technology
Conference, which is now the largest
oil and gas trade show in the world
hosting 100,000 attendees.

After joining Exxon in Tulsa, OK,
he became head of drilling research
followed by a year in Lake Maracaibo,
Venezuela where he was the production
superintendent responsible for
producing 1 million barrels of oil per
day. His final assignment was public
relations manager during the nationÕs
first energy crisis.

In 1978, he joined Pennzoil Company

as vice president of corporate communications
and became president and
chief operating officer in May 1985.
During his time at Pennzoil, the iconic
Pennzoil vs Texaco trial began, culminating
in the $3 billion settlement to
Pennzoil in 1998.

Following his retirement, Howe was
treated successfully for prostate cancer
and subsequently became one of
the nationÕs leading lay authorities on
the disease. He served on 15 national
committees and consulted with thousands
of his Òpatients.Ó His illustrious
business career gave weight to his
voice in building the early prostate
cancer community of survivors and
increased research funding. Among
his many accomplishments in the
field, he was published in the Journal
of Urology and received numerous
awards, including the Presidential
Award from the American Foundation
of Urologic Disease in 1996.

Howe was also an avid collector of
mechanical musical instruments and
associated literature. His collection
included music boxes, player pianos,
calliopes, violinas and nickelodeons.
After assembling the worldÕs most
comprehensive collection of literature
on mechanical musical instruments,
he donated the collection to Stanford
University where it is a significant
source of musical research. He also
authored many articles and two definitive
books on mechanical musical
instruments and was active in the
Musical Box Society International to
which he donated the only private
collection of every U.S. patent gazette
ever printed, a six-ton acquisition.

He married Charlotte Ellen Relf in
1951 and had three sons Ð Richard
James Howe, Jr, Dwight William Howe
and Roger Relf Howe and a daughter,
Emily Jane Howe (who died in 1965 at

age five days).

After CharlotteÕs
passing,
he wed Desiree
Heflin Lyon in
1997. Together
they engaged in
numerous cancer
advocacy
efforts, including
a speaking tour on prostate cancer
in over 100 major hospitals across the
country and providing their home to
cancer patients in need.

Friends and family speak of his character
as a moral compass; his humor as
the Òking of one liners;Ó his happiness
as contagious; and his friendship and
love as all encompassing. Howe was a
complex man of great intellect, yet he
took joy in the simplest things in life.
He was a righteous man.

He was preceded in death by his
wife, Charlotte and his sons, Richard,
Jr. and Dwight. He is survived by his
wife, Desiree Lyon Howe and son,
Roger.

A memorial service was held in
Houston, TX, on Apr. 21, 2018.

After the Memorial Service, Alan
Bies and Steve Boehck hosted a light
luncheon for 85 attendees at their
Victorian home.

Everyone had a good time reminiscing
with sometime serious and
sometime funny stories about Howe.
To add to this enjoyment a variety
of music on a variety of antique
mechanical music instruments was
demonstrated for the guests, most of
whom had never seen or heard them
before.

Howe was a truly great person and
we were privileged to have known
him for many years. His humor and
knowledge will be greatly missed by
all who knew him.

July/August 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 55

15 .Ó REGINA
CHANGER CREST
Quality carving in Oak or Mahogany
Unfinished – ready to stain – $900.00
Price includes postage within the U.S.
Nancy Fratti Music Boxes
315-684-9977
musicbox@frontiernet.net
BenÕs Player Piano Service
Repair and restoration of air powered mechanical music
devices of all description.
Player pianos
Reproduing pianos
Dance organs
Fairground organs
Nickelodeon pianos
Original historically
Correct techniques
And materials used
Throughout in the
Rebuilding process.
Benjamin R Gottfried
464 Dugan Road, Richfield Springs NY 13439
Bensplayerservice.com 315-858-2164
SAMPLE Restorations, LLC.
Joe Smith
Email: mbsi@irondogmedia.com to place your ad here!
This could be your ad right here!
56 MECHANICAL MUSIC July/August 2018
Throughout its history, MBSI has fostered an interest in and preservation of
automatic musical instruments. Your gift to the Endowment Fund will
support programs that will help future generations appreciate these
achievements of manÕs creative genius. Visit www.mbsi.org to learn more.
In order for anything
once alive to have
meaning, its effect
must remain alive in
eternity in some way
Ð Ernest Becker, Philosopher
A Lasting Legacy
The Musical Box Society International
is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
All donations to the Endowment
Fund are tax deductible.
A gift of any size is welcome.

Chet Ramsay
Antiques

Complete Restoration
Services Available.

Specializing in Music Boxes

Ð

Ð
Bought ¥
Sold ¥
Repaired

¥
Outside Horn Phonographs
¥
Music Boxes
Come visit our Victorian
showroom and workshop

East Fallowfield Twp.
2460 Strasburg Road
Coatesville, PA 19320

2 miles south of Coatesville

610-384-0514

Showroom open by appointment

Advertise in The Mart

Have some spare parts or extra rolls taking up the space
where you should be installing your next acquisition?
Ready to trade up, but need to sell one of your current
pieces first? Get the word out to other collectors in The
Mart, an effective advertising tool at an inexpensive
price. Copy or cut out the form below and mail it in to get
started. Or, go to www.mbsi.org and place your ad online!

Name Phone

Email

Text of ad

58 MECHANICAL MUSIC July/August 2018

Loesche Model 2 (Titania)
Peerless
Nickelodeon
Regina Style 35
Corona Automatic
Changer
Columbia Grafina
Console Phonograph
Mills Single
Violano
Victor Style V
Phonograph
Wurlitzer Style 50
Kiddie Band Organ
Wurlitzer
Pianino
National Piano
Seeburg KT
Special
Seeburg K
Nelson Wiggen
Nickelodeon
Seeburg KT
Special Mutoscope
Berry Wood
Auto Electric
Cabinet Grand
Please contact Dan at (949) 375 -2932 for pricing McAlister Collection
Loesche Model 2 (Titania)
Peerless
Nickelodeon
Regina Style 35
Corona Automatic
Changer
Columbia Grafina
Console Phonograph
Mills Single
Violano
Victor Style V
Phonograph
Wurlitzer Style 50
Kiddie Band Organ
Wurlitzer
Pianino
National Piano
Seeburg KT
Special
Seeburg K
Nelson Wiggen
Nickelodeon
Seeburg KT
Special Mutoscope
Berry Wood
Auto Electric
Cabinet Grand
Please contact Dan at (949) 375 -2932 for pricing McAlister Collection

PLAN AHEAD

ACT NOW

Reserve your advertising space now
for the 2018-2019 Mechanical Music
Directory of Members, Museums and
Dealers.

Placing your advertisement in an
MBSI directory means your companyÕs
name and contact information will be
a permanent part of this collectorÕs
reference book for the next two
years. Plus, your ad earns you a placeon the MBSI website where people
searching for your services can find
and click directly through to reach you
via email or phone.

Mailed directly to more than 1,300
member households, and given out toeach new member that joins the
society, it means your ad could be
seen several hundred times in the
next two years.

Call (253) 228-1634 or emaileditor@mbsi.org to reserve your
advertising space now.

MECHANICAL
MUSIC
DIRECTORY
MEMBERS,
MUSEUMS,
& DEALERS
2016 Ð 2017
ADVERTISING DIMENSIONS & COSTS

Dimensions Cost

Make an impact! Full Page 7.25Ó x 9.75Ó $290

Get a full page Half Page 7.25Ó x 4.5Ó $160
ad that costs you Quarter Page 3.5Ó x 4.5Ó $90

less than $12.25 Eighth Page 3.5Ó x 2.125Ó $50
per month

Non-members pay a 10% surcharge on the above rates

60 MECHANICAL MUSIC July/August 2018

New in Stock!

¥
Regina Changer, 20 3/4Ó ,
mahogany, home model
¥
Mira, 18 .Ó in decal case
¥
Capital Cuff, Style F, coin
operated, on table
¥
Miraphone, 12Ó double
comb, with phono parts
¥
Symphonion, 19 1/8Ó
UPRIGHT, coin-op

¥
Ariophon, book playing disc
box, super rare!

¥
Polyphon, 11Ó BELL box
¥
Polyphon, 15 .Ó UPRIGHT
¥
Mermod Interchangeable cylinder boxes
¥
Early key-wind boxes, two early pieces with exposed
controls
¥
Nicole Freres, Overture & Fat Cylinder boxes
¥
Hidden & Exposed Drum & Bell boxes
¥
Early snuff boxes , with sectional combs
¥
Over 8000 discs of various brand/sizes
Tell me your needs!
¥
Books, new and used
=======================================================

Nancy Fratti Music Boxes
PO Box 400 Ð Canastota NY 13032 USA
315-684-9977
musicbox@frontiernet.net
www.nancyfrattimusicboxes.com

THE MART THE MART
CLASSIFIED ADS

¥ 47¢ per word
¥ ALL CAPS, italicized and bold
words: 60¢ each.
¥ Minimum Charge: $11 per ad.
¥ Limit: One ad in each category
¥ Format: See ads for style
¥ Restrictions: Ads are strictly
limited to mechanical musical
instruments and related items and
services
¥ MBSI memberÕs name must
appear in ad
¥ Non-members may advertise at the
rates listed plus a 10% surcharge
PLEASE NOTE:

The first two words (or more
at your choice) and the memberÕs
name will be printed in all caps/bold
and charged at 60¢ per word.

Mechanical Music

Mechanical Music is mailed to all
members at the beginning of every
odd month Ñ January, March, May,
July, September and November.

MBSI Advertising Statement

It is to be hereby understood
that the placing of advertisements
by members of the Society in this
publication does not constitute nor
shall be deemed to constitute any
endorsement or approval of the business
practices of advertisers. The
Musical Box Society International
accepts no liability in connection
with any business dealings between
members and such advertisers.

It is to be further understood that
members are to rely on their own
investigation and opinion regarding
the reputation and integrity of
advertisers in conducting such business
dealings with said advertisers.

FOR SALE
RESTORED MUSICAL BOXES Offering a
variety of antique musical boxes, discs,
orphan cylinders, reproducing piano rolls &
out of print books about mechanical music.
BILL WINEBURGH 973-927-0484 Web:
antiquemusicbox.us

THE GOLDEN AGE of AUTOMATIC MUSICAL
INSTRUMENTS By ART REBLITZ.
Award-winning classic that brings historical,
musical, and technical information to life
with hundreds of large, vivid color photos.
We guarantee youÕll find it to be one of the
most interesting, inspiring, informative books
you have in your libraryÐor your money back.
Everyone has been delighted, and some
readers have ordered several copies. Get
your copy today for $99 plus S/H. MECHANICAL
MUSIC PRESS-M, 70 Wild Ammonoosuc
Rd., Woodsville, NH 03785. (603) 747-2636.

http://www.mechanicalmusicpress.com

1980S AUTOMATIC disc changer coin operated
27Õ Regina Style 8 music box. Interested
please send email. Contact: MARIA HUNT,
(315) 717-5250, mariahunt54@yahoo.com
101 West Main, Strmohawk, New York 12407
United States

PIANORCHESTRA ROLLS Re-cuts. MARK
WEBER, (310) 283-7627, meweber@veri-
zon.net

MUSICAL SPECIALTIES AND MUSICAL
BOX DOCTOR is clearing out its inventory of
musical movements, repair tools/supplies,
birdcages/supplies and musical gifts. Taking
all reasonable bids until August 1st 2018.
Call LUCILLE CIUFFINI at 310-541-3068 for
more information about placing a bid.

LIBELLION BOOK Operated Music Box in
Oak Case. This 100 note instrument was the
largest model manufactured by Richter, in
Germany, Circa 1900.With 6 books. Excellent.
$13,000. ARNOLD LEVIN 847-564-2893

Display Advertising Dimensions and Costs
Dimensions 1 issue 3 issues* 6 issues*
Back Cover 8.75Ó x 11.25Ó $600 $540 $510
Inside Covers 8.75Ó x 11.25Ó $450 $405 $383
Full Page 7.25Ó x 9.75Ó $290 $261 $246
Half Page 7.25Ó x 4.5Ó $160 $144 $136
Quarter Page 3.5Ó x 4.5Ó $90 $81 $77
Eighth Page 3.5Ó x 2.125Ó $50 $45 $43
Add a 10% surcharge to the prices shown above if you are not a member of MBSI.
*Display Discounts shown above are calculated as follows:
3 consecutive ads 10% Discount
6 consecutive ads 15% Discount

ALL ADS MUST BE PREPAID

We accept VISA/MC and Paypal.

ADVERTISING DEADLINES:

The 1st day of each even month:
Feb., Apr., Jun, Aug., Oct. and Dec.

Display ads may be submitted
camera-ready, as PDF files, or with
text and instructions. File submission
guidelines available on request.

Errors attributable to Mechanical
Music, and of a significant nature, will
be corrected in the following issue
without charge, upon notification.

Add a photo to your ad!

Photos are only $30 extra per issue.

Email editor@mbsi.org or

call (253) 228-1634 for more details.

SUBMIT ADS TO:

MBSI Ads
130 Coral Court
Pismo Beach, CA 93449
(253) 228-1634
Email: editor@mbsi.org

62 MECHANICAL MUSIC July/August 2018

mech999@flash.net

1928 WEBER 6Õ4Ó Duo Art Walnut Art Case
Louis XVI 80118 with original matching
bench. Finish in good condition, original ivory
keys, player restored 20 years ago but still
plays well. $8,500 Donald Huene, 7429 North
Valentine, Fresno CA 93711 (559) 431-1639,
yosemf@aol.com Contact: DONALD HUENE,
(559) 431-1639, yosemf@aol.com 7429 N
Valentine Ave Fresno, 93711-0643 United
States

HENRY GAUTSCHI Music Box with 4 cylin

ders, table and box for cylinders. In excellent
condition and working order. Originally
purchased by my great grandfather for $290
in 1886. Moving to AZ and canÕt take it with
us. Contact: WAYNE ONYX, (847) 226-6169,
wayne_onyx@ajg.com 452 Eton Dr. N. Bar-
rington, IL 60010

CARL FREI CONCERT ORGAN, 89 keyless
with over 1,500 meters music, nine carved
figures,priced reduced; MILLS VIOLANO in
rare walnut cabinet. Choice playing condition,
with roll library, $33,500; original GAVIOLI
conductor figure, $2500; ELECTRA keyboard
Nickelodeon by Seeburg, has xylophone and

glockenspiel, $7450. HERB BRABANDT 502425-
4263, johebra3@twc.com

MARVELS OF MECHANICAL MUSIC – MBSI
Video. Fascinating and beautifully-made
film which explains the origins of automatic
musical instruments, how they are collected
and preserved today, and their historic importance,
MBSI members and collections are
featured. $15.95 USD. Free shipping in the
continental U.S. Additional postage charges
apply for other locations.

WANTED
WANTED: ART Case Steinway Duo-Art & Raf-
fin Organ. Contact MARTY PERSKY at (847)
675-6144 or email Marty@MechMusic.com.

SERVICES
REPRODUCTION POLYPHON discs; Catalogs
available for 19 5/8Ó, 22 1/8Ó, and 24 1/2Ó.
DAVID CORKRUM 5826 Roberts Ave, Oakland,
CA 94605-1156, 510-569-3110,
www.polyphonmusic.com

SAVE $Õs on REUGE & THORENS MUSIC
BOX REPAIR & RESTORATION Ð MBSI
MEMBERS RECEIVE WHOLESALE PRICING.

40 + Years experience servicing all makes
& models of cylinder and disc music boxes,
bird boxes, bird cages, musical watches, Anri
musical figurines, et al. All work guaranteed.
WeÕre the only REUGE FACTORY AUTHORIZED
Parts & Repair Service Center for all of North
America. Contact: DON CAINE -The Music
Box Repair Center Unlimited, 24703 Pennsylvania
Ave., Lomita, CA 90717-1516. Phone:

(310) 534-1557 Email: MBRCU@AOL.COM.
On the Web: www.musicboxrepaircenter.com
Order Extra Copies of the
2016-2017
Mechanical Music Directory

MECHANICAL
MUSIC
DIRECTORY
MEMBERS,
MUSEUMS,
& DEALERS
2016 2017
only $10
ppd

Contact
Jacque Beeman
(417) 886-8839

Advertise in The Mart

Have some spare parts or extra rolls taking up the space where you should be
installing your next acquisition? Ready to trade up, but need to sell one of your
current pieces first? Get the word out to other collectors by advertising in The
Mart, an effective advertising tool at an inexpensive price.

Fill out the form below and mail to MBSI at 130 Coral Court, Pismo Beach, CA
93449. Call (253) 228-1634 with questions.

Name Phone

Email

Text of ad

Display Advertisers

2 Renaissance Antiques
56 Bob Caletti Music Box
Restorations
56 BenÕs Player Piano Service
56 Nancy Fratti Music Boxes
57 Mid-America Chapter, MBSI
58 Chet Ramsay Antiques
58 Cottone Auctions
58 Dirk Soulis Auctions
59 McAlister Collection
60 StantonÕs Auctioneers & Realtors
61 Nancy Fratti Music Boxes
66 Marty Persky
67 Morphy Auctions
68 Auction Team Breker

Our advertisers help make this publication
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July/August 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 63

OFFICERS, TRUSTEES & COMMITTEES of the
MUSICAL BOX SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL¨

OFFICERS
President

Clay Witt
820 Del Rio Way Unit 303
Merritt Island, FL 32953
floridaclay@floridaclay.net

Vice President

Tom Kuehn
4 Williams Woods
Mahtomedi, MN 55115
kuehn001@umn.edu

Recording Secretary

David Corkrum
5826 Roberts Avenue
Oakland, CA 94605
musikwerke@att.net

Treasurer

Edward Kozak
3615 North Campbell Avenue
Chicago, IL 60618
kozak@seldenfox.com

TRUSTEES

John Bryant
Judy Caletti
Ed Cooley
Sally Craig
Wayne Finger
Tom Kuehn
Mary Ellen Myers
Mary Pollock
Clay Witt

BOARD ADVISER

Junichi Natori,
International Adviser

MBSI FUNDS

COMMITTEES
Audit Committee

Edward Cooley, Chair, Trustee
Mary Pollock, Trustee

G.Wayne Finger, Trustee
Endowment Committee

Edward Kozak, Treasurer, Chair
Mary Pollock, Trustee
B Bronson

Executive Committee

Clay Witt, Chair, President
Tom Kuehn, Vice President
Mary Pollock, Trustee
Judy Caletti, Immediate Past Pres.
John Bryant, Trustee

Finance Committee

Edward Kozak, Chair
Tom Kuehn, Vice President
Wayne Wolf, Vice Chair
B Bronson
Peter Both

Marketing Committee

Rob Pollock, Chair
John Bryant, Trustee
Wayne Finger, Trustee
Bob Smith

Meetings Committee

Tom Kuehn, Chair, Vice President
Mary Pollock, Trustee
Matt Jaro
Don Henry
Marty Persky
Rich Poppe

Membership Committee

Rob Pollock, Chair
Judy Caletti, Immediate Past Pres.
Tom Chase, Snowbelt
Mary Grace, Sunbelt
Linda Birkitt, Southern California
Florie Hirsch, National Capital
Julie Hughes, Golden Gate
Gerald Yorioka, Northwest IntÕl
Julie Morlock, Southeast
Dan Wilson, Piedmont

Museum Committee

Sally Craig, Chair, Trustee
John Bryant, Trustee
Ken Envall, Southern California
Julian Grace, Sunbelt
Wayne Myers, Southeast
Ray Parkinson, Northwest IntÕl
Bill Wineburgh, East Coast
Ron Yancy, East Coast

Museum Sub-Committees

Ohio Operations
Emery Prior

Nominating Committee

Dan Wilson, Chair
Mary Pollock, Trustee
Judy Caletti, Immediate Past Pres.
Carol Beck
Steve Boehck
Ray Dickey
Vernon Gantt

Publications Committee

Bob Caletti, Chair
Tom Kuehn, Trustee
Steve Boehck
Dave Corkrum
Christian Eric
Kathleen Eric
Terry Smythe

Publications
Sub-Committee

Website Committee
Rick Swaney, Chair
Wayne Finger, Trustee
Julian Grace
B Bronson
Don Henry
Knowles Little, Web Secretary

Special Exhibits Committee

Wayne Myers, Chair

John Bryant, Trustee

David Corkrum, Golden Gate

Robert Ebert, Mid-America

Jack Hostetler, Southeast

Judy Miller, Piedmont

Mary Ellen Myers, Southeast

Rick Swaney, Northwest IntÕl

Bill Wineburgh, East Coast

SPECIAL ACTIVITIES
Publications Back Issues:

Jacque Beeman

Regina Certificates:

Bob Yates

MBSI Pins and Seals:

Jacque Beeman

Librarian:

Jerry Maler

Historian:

Bob Yates

MBSI Editorial Office:

Iron Dog Media
130 Coral Court
Pismo Beach, CA 93449
editor@mbsi.org

Members can donate to these funds at any time.
Send donations to: General Fund (unrestricted)
MBSI Administrator, Endowment Fund (promotes the purposes of MBSI, restricted)
PO Box 10196, Ralph Heintz Publications Fund (special literary projects)
Springfield, MO 65808-0196. Museum Fund (supports museum operations)

All manuscripts will be subject to editorial review. Committee and the Editorial Staff. are considered to be the authorÕs personal opinion.
Articles submitted for publication may be edited The article will not be published with significant The author may be asked to substantiate his/her
or rejected at the discretion of the Publications changes without the authorÕs approval. All articles statements.

64 MECHANICAL MUSIC July/August 2018

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Date Event Location Sponsor
Jul 14, 2018 East Coast Chapter Picnic Succasunna, NJ Bill & Carolee Wineburgh
Jul 21, 2018 California Historical Radio Society Display Alameda, CA David Corkrum
Jul. 21-22, 2018 Mid-America Band Organ Rally Dayton, OH Mike and Liz Barnhart
Jul 29, 2018 National Capital Chapter Meeting Reston, VA Donna and Gene Borrelli
Aug. 28-Sept. 1, 2018 2018 MBSI Annual Meeting Detroit, MI Mid-America Chapter

Please send dates for the Calendar of Events to Russell Kasselman (editor@mbsi.org)

CONTACTS

Administrator Jacque Beeman handles back issues (if available) $6;
damaged or issues not received, address changes, MBSI Directory
listing changes, credit card charge questions, book orders, status of your
membership, membership renewal, membership application, and MBSI
Membership Brochures.
P.O. Box 10196
Springfield, MO 65808-0196
Phone/Fax (417) 886-8839
jbeeman.mbsi@att.net

CHAPTERS

East Coast

Chair: Bill Wineburgh
(973) 927-0484
Dues $10 to Geoffrey Wilson
804 Appleton Way
Whippany, NJ 07981

Golden Gate

Chair: Jonathan Hoyt
(408) 214-9313
Dues $5 to Dave Corkrum
5826 Roberts Ave.
Oakland, CA 94605

Japanese International

Chair: Tomiju Endo x
+81-42-339-9099
Dues Japanese yen 4,000 to
Sadahiko Sakauchi
5-2-41 Nigawa-cho
Nishinomiya-shi
662-0811 Japan

Lake Michigan

Chair: Marty Nevel
(312) 613-8500
Dues $5 to James Huffer
7930 N. Kildare
Skokie, Illinois 60076

Mid-America

Chair: Dave Calendine
(810) 449-8037
Dues $10 to Harold Wade
4616 Boneta Road
Medina, OH 44256

National Capital

Chair: Matthew Jaro
(301) 482-2008
Dues $5 to Florie Hirsch
8917 Wooden Bridge Road
Potomac, MD 20854

Northwest International

Chair: Dale Tyvand
(425) 774-7230
Dues $7.50/person to Kathy Baer
8210 Comox Road
Blaine, WA 98230

Piedmont

Chair: Vernon Gantt
(919) 264-2222
vgjr123@yahoo.com
Dues $10 to Vernon Gantt
PO Box 20238
Raleigh, NC 27619

Traveling MBSI Display
Bill Endlein
21547 NW 154th Pl.
High Springs, FL 32643-4519
Phone (386) 454-8359
sembsi@yahoo.com

Regina Certificates: Cost $5.
B Bronson
Box 154
Dundee, MI 48131
Phone (734) 529-2087
art@d-pcomm.net

Advertising for Mechanical Music
Russell Kasselman
Iron Dog Media
130 Coral Court
Pismo Beach, CA 93449
Phone (253) 228-1634
editor@mbsi.org

CHAPTERS

Snowbelt

Chair: Tracy Tolzmann
(651) 674-5149
Dues $10 to Gary Goldsmith
17160 – 245th Avenue
Big Lake, MN 55309

Southeast

Chair: Judy Miller
(828) 513-7007
Dues $5 to Julie Morlock
780 Cherry Grove Road
Orange Park, FL 32073

Museum Donations
Sally Craig,
2720 Old Orchard Road
Lancaster, PA 17601
Phone (717) 295-9188
rosebud441@juno.com

MBSI website
Rick Swaney,
4302 209th Avenue NE
Sammamish, WA 98074
Phone (425) 836-3586
r_swaney@msn.com

Web Secretary
Knowles Little
9109 Scott Dr.
Rockville, MD 20850
Phone (301) 762-6253
kglittle@verizon.net

Southern California

Chair: Robin Biggins
(310) 377-1472
Dues $10 to Bob Lloyd
1201 Edgeview Drive
Cowan Hgts, CA 92705

Sunbelt

Chair: Ray Dickey
(713) 467-0349
Dues $10 to Mary Grace
13431 Grand Masterpiece
Houston, TX 77041

Copyright 2018 the Musical Box Society International, all rights reserved. Permission to reproduce by any means, in whole or in part, must be obtained in writing
from the MBSI Executive Committee and the Editor. Mechanical Music is published in the even months. ISSN 1045-795X

July/August 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 65

MARTY PERSKY

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT SPECIALIST
SERVING COLLECTORS WORLDWIDE

Instrument Brokering & Locating
Appraisals / Inspections / Free Consultation

Popper Felix Mortier 84 key CafŽ Wurlitzer MPO 33A Welte 4 Concert

Bow front Violano Weber Grandezza Violina Orchestra Weber Maesto

Holl 43-Key 2 Barrels Knabe AMPICO 5Õ8Ó Louis XV Wall Box Collection Niemuth 45-Key Bacigalupo

Wanted: Art Case Steinway Duo-Art & Raffin Organ.

Visit Mechmusic.com
for more information on these and other fine instruments.

Tel: 847-675-6144 Email: Marty@MechMusic.com

2000North ReadingRoad |Denver, PA 17517 | MorphyAuctions.com |877-968-8880
Coin-Op & GamblingOctober 20 & 21, 2018
Now Accepting Consignments
2000North ReadingRoad |Denver, PA 17517 | MorphyAuctions.com |877-968-8880
Coin-Op & GamblingOctober 20 & 21, 2018
Now Accepting Consignments

Ð The No. 1 in ÈTechnical AntiquesÇ Ð
P.O. Box 50 11 19, 50971 Koeln/Germany á Tel.: +49/2236/38 43 40 á Fax: +49/2236/38 43 430
Otto-Hahn-Str. 10, 50997 Koeln (Godorf)/Germany á e-mail: Auction@Breker.com á Business hours: Tuesday Ð Friday 9 am Ð 5 pm
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT OUR INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES:
U.S.A.: Andrew Truman, Tel. (207) 485 8343 * AndrewAuctionTeamBreker@gmail.com
Australia & New Zealand: P. Bardenheier, (NZ), Tel./Fax (+64) (0)9 817 72 68 * dbarden@orcon.net.nz
Japan: Murakami Taizou, Tel./Fax (06) 68 45 86 28 * murakami@ops.dti.ne.jp á China: Jiang Feng, Tel. 138 620 620 75 * jiangfengde@gmail.com
Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore: Alex Shih-Chieh Lin, (HK), Tel. (+852) 94 90 41 13 * alexsclin@gmail.com
England: Tel. (0)777 963 7317 * AuctionTeamBrekerUK@outlook.de á France: Pierre J. Bickart, Tel. (01) 43 33 86 71 * AuctionTeamKoln@aol.com
Russia: Polyguide Ltd. Moscow, Tel. (925) 740 66 03, Tel./Fax (985) 999 93 55 * ml.mediaservice@gmail.com
A selection of our recent auction highlights, many consigned by customers
in Britain and America. Achieving record prices for mechanical music instruments
of all forms, whether a single piece or a complete collection.
Closing date for entries: August 20, 2018
Free collection and transport for any major consignment in the U.K.!
Free U.S. or Canada consignment shipping to Germany Ð if delivered or sent to our location
in Garden City Park, NY 11040 (10 miles east of JFK Airport)
For confidential auction estimates and advice, please contact us in Germany
or through an international representative (see below).
Consignments are invited for our
Specialty Auction on November 9 + 10, 2018
Very Rare Symphonion
ÒNon Plus UltraÓ
Disc-Changing Musical Box,
c. 1900
Sold:  44,000 / US$ 51,500
Libellion Musical Box
for Cardboard Book
Music, c. 1900
Sold:  6,550 / US$ 7,600
ÒAubade ˆ la LuneÓ
Automaton by Gustave
Vichy, c. 1890
Sold:  20,150 / US$ 23,500
Bacigalupo Violinopan
Barrel Organ, c. 1910
Sold:  9,450 / US$ 11,000
Nicole Frres Musical Box with Bells and
Chinoiserie Automata, c. 1885
Sold: 11,300 / US$ 13,200
Key-Wind Part-Overture Musical Box
by Lecoultre, c. 1840
Sold:  6,050 / US$ 7,000
ÒStationÓ Musical
Box Chalet by Mermod
Frres, c. 1900
Sold:  27,700 / US$ 32,400
Grand Format
Variations
Musical Box by
Nicole Frres, c. 1865
Sold:  26,300 /
US$ 30,700
Silver-Gilt Musical Snuff Box by F. Nicole, c. 1820
From the collection of Luuk Goldhoorn
Sold:  7,550 / US$ 8,800
Musical Gold Snuff Box by Piquet et Capt, c. 1810
From the collection of Luuk Goldhoorn
Sold:  10,000 / US$ 11,700
Symphonion Musical
Stereoscope, c. 1898
Sold:  17,600 / US$ 20,600
Musical Repeating Silver
Pocket Watch, c. 1820,
From the collection
of Luuk Goldhoorn
Sold:  4,280 / US$ 5,000
Singing Bird Box with Fusee Movement
by Charles Bruguier, c. 1835
Sold:  15,100 / US$ 17,600
Mechanical Music &
Automata