Volume 64, No. 5 September/October 2018

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

Volume 64, No. 5 September/October 2018

496 First Street, Solvang California
Open Seven Days a Week 10-6
Ron & Julie Palladino ¥ 805-452-5700
www.renantiques.com ¥ ron@renantiques.com
Visit the charming European Village of Solvang, half an hour
above Santa Barbara in CaliforniaÕs Central Coast Wine Country
Featuring Hundreds of Quality Clocks, Fine Pocket & Wristwatches,
Cylinder & Disc Music Boxes, Musical Clocks, Nickelodeons & Automata
SALES ¥ PURCHASE ¥ CONSIGNMENT
RENAISSANCE ANTIQUE S of Solvang
496 First Street, Solvang California
Open Seven Days a Week 10-6
Ron & Julie Palladino ¥ 805-452-5700
www.renantiques.com ¥ ron@renantiques.com
Visit the charming European Village of Solvang, half an hour
above Santa Barbara in CaliforniaÕs Central Coast Wine Country
Featuring Hundreds of Quality Clocks, Fine Pocket & Wristwatches,
Cylinder & Disc Music Boxes, Musical Clocks, Nickelodeons & Automata
SALES ¥ PURCHASE ¥ CONSIGNMENT
RENAISSANCE ANTIQUE S of Solvang

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 The article will not be published with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

Mechanical Music

Journal of the Musical Box Society International

Devoted to All Automatic Musical Instruments

Volume 64, No. 5 September/October 2018

MBSI NEWS

5 PresidentÕs Message
7 EditorÕs Notes

53 In Memoriam

FEATURES

8 Nickel Notes
22 Art Cased Disc Boxes

On the Cover
A Celesta disc music box in the
Steve Boehck and Alan Bies
collection. For more on these art
case disc boxes, see Page 22.
CHAPTER
REPORTS

44 Sunbelt
46 Southern California

MBSI has replanted 24 trees so far as part
50 Snowbelt of the Print ReLeaf program.

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

September/October 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 3

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 educational projects.

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(Add $20 for International air mail.)

Join online: www.mbsi.org/join-mbsi

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.

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
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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
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More Information:

Phone/Fax: (417) 886-8839

Email: jbeeman.mbsi@att.net

4 MECHANICAL MUSIC September/October 2018

By Clay Witt

MBSI President

As you receive this edition of
Mechanical Music our 69th annual
meeting should be getting underway.
I am really looking forward to it. I
know our Mid-America Chapter has
put in a great deal of work to make it
a success. Some fine collection tours
have been lined up. From a brief
online look at photographs, our hotel
looks spectacular. One of the major
online travel sites reports that it has a

4.4 out of 5 guest rating based on 5,643
verified reviews. Mid-America Chair
Dave Calendine says the hotelÕs buffet
is outstanding. For those coming early
or staying late there are worthwhile
attractions to see, such as Henry
FordÕs Greenfield Village, within an
easy driving distance.
All arrangements for moving
forward with the English language
version of Dr. Helmut KowarÕs book,
Musical Boxes of Prague and Vienna,
have now been completed. (See
the PresidentÕs Message in the July/
August edition of Mechanical Music
for details.) I anticipate it will be some
time before we see the final result, as
translation, revision, and printing lie
ahead. We will let you know when the
book becomes available.

I would like to ask you to consider

writing articles for Mechanical Music.
Our members hold a wealth of knowledge
and memorable stories about
mechanical music instruments and
collecting adventures in their heads.
And you need not be a polished author
to get the job done. If you pass on the
facts, our excellent Editor, Russell
Kasselman, will help you put everything
together for publication if you
would like that help. If you have been
thinking about a story, please contact
Russell and get things moving. The
history of our hobby is too important
to lose.

As you may know from previous
communications in this column, we

aim to be transparent in conducting
MBSI business. Part of that is letting
you know about actions our Executive
Committee has taken. Under the societyÕs
bylaws the chairs and members
of most of our committees serve one-
year terms running from one annual
meeting to the next. Nominations are
subject to the approval of our Executive
Committee. When this issue is
delivered that process should have
been completed. Committee listings
have been updated in this issue. Our
committee chairs and members work
hard to keep our organization running
and I would like to extend my thanks
to each and every one of them.

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.

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.

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DEVOTED TO ALL MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
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ORGANIZED IN 1949
DEVOTED TO ALL MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Musical Box Society International
P.O. Box 10196
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Phone/Fax: (417) 886-8839
Musical Box Society International
P.O. Box 10196
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Phone/Fax: (417) 886-8839
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pany payment and a copy of the completed membership
application from page 4 of this issue of Mechanical Music.
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SPECIAL OFFER: Purchase one or more rst-year MBSI gift
memberships at $45 each U.S., $55 Canadian, or $60 other International
and you will receive $5 off your next year’s MBSI membership
renewal for each ÒNew MemberÓ gift.
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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.

EditorÕs Notes EditorÕs Notes
By Russell Kasselman ÒThank you from the bottom of my
MBSI Editor/Publisher heart…….Ó
The following note of gratitude I wanted to print this letter to inspire
was forwarded to me by an MBSI all you engineers, mechanics, com-
member who restores music boxes. posers, woodworkers, and artisans
He received it from a customer after who employ your skills giving new life
delivering a finished product. to old music boxes. I hope you take
the time to go the extra mile and tell
ÒThis evening my son brought me your customers all you can learn by
our familyÕs music box which you researching the MBSI archives and
so beautifully restored for us. I want other historical sources. Music boxes
to thank you so much for your time with a history will have even more
and effort and for researching when meaning to their owners and that
the music box was purchased, as that might make the difference between a
is something we didnÕt know. I donÕt family keeping a music box as an heir-
know what my son told you about our loom versus selling it to make space
story, but we know the music box was for another TV.
purchased by my great grandmother If you havenÕt yet taken the time to
who lived near Chicago. She took in browse the MBSI archives, I would
laundry and ironing to earn money encourage you to do so. Mechanical
to buy it. My grandfather was just a Music journals from 1954 onward are
boy of 10 (we know now because you available on the website at https://
gave us a purchase date) and she sent mbsi.org/archive/. Several search
him out to pick up and deliver the options are available. There are also
laundry. The music box was a real links to the Presto and Music Trade
treasure to them and I knew from Review magazines.
hearing him talk of it that its story The Musical Box Society of Great
had a special place in his heart. ItÕs Britain offers a musical box registry
the oldest piece of family history that that holds tune sheet information
we still have today. about the make, type, date, serial and
ÒI appreciate your taking such good gamme numbers, musical repertoire,
care of it and restoring it for us. We dimensions and descriptions of the
have over 35 disks that we can enjoy boxes and additional notes of any
now that the music box is restored unusual features. More information
and it brings back memories of when is available here: www.mbsgb.org.uk/
my grandparents played it for us. look-learn/musical-box-register/

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

Lastly, on the subject of history, I
want to thank Steve Boehck, author
of our cover piece in this issue, for
his well-researched article on art
case music boxes. I hope you enjoy
the wealth of information Steve has
contributed here as much as I did.

Welcome new members!
June 2018
Karen Rue
Lafayette, LA
Glen & Jacinta Walant
The Villages, FL
Robert & Barbara Henriksen
The Villages, FL
Eugenio Cuayo Robby Peeters & Felix Peeters
Cutler Bay, FL Westerlo, Antwerpen
Junichi & Ryoko MizutariJuly 2018 Tateyama, Chiba
Liang QuRichard Hatten & Brian Minnette
Fremont, CA Carrollton, TX
James GanemGary Christoff
Tucson, AZ Yorba Linda, CA

September/October 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 7

Nickel Notes

By Matthew Jaro

For this issue of Nickel Notes we
travel to middle New Jersey, a few
miles north of Princeton, to the town
of Belle Mead, for a visit with Glenn
Thomas. The beauty of his house
was quite striking as I pulled into
the driveway. One thing that really
distinguishes Glenn from many
mechanical music enthusiasts is his
love of the music. Some people just
collect machines and never change the
rolls or seek new rolls. Glenn tries to
obtain all the rolls he can, and changes
them regularly Ð even the Link rolls!

Beginnings

People who read this column should
know by now that I ask everyone how
they got started in mechanical music.
I feel that it is important to understand
how people became interested in the
hobby in order to attract new members
to AMICA and MBSI. Glenn got
started in two ways simultaneously.
He grew up in Southern California
and his parents would take him to
the Griffith Park Carousel as a kid
when he was about four or five years
old. He was fascinated by both the
merry-go-round and the Wurlitzer 165
Band Organ that played the music. He
had no idea what he was listening to
in those early years, but he knew he
liked it.

A few years later, in 1955, Disneyland
opened. They had a lot of
mechanical music and a player piano
store called the Wonderland Music
Store. This store was open from 1955
to 1972. There was a foot-pedal player
piano in there. There were a number
of coin-operated machines that Disney
had scattered around the park.
There was a Wurlitzer C at the Mark

Twain boat landing and a Welte Style 4
Orchestrion in the Main Street Arcade
(which has been recently restored).
A significant portion of the Disney
collection came from Albert Clifford
Raney. In 1953, the state of California
was building the San Gabriel River
Freeway (I-605) through the Raney
estate and RaneyÕs widow decided to
sell the collection. Disney acquired 30
machines. RaneyÕs saloon art collection
was sold to KnottÕs Berry Farm.
A few years later Glenn visited KnottÕs
Berry Farm and saw even more
mechanical instruments. He also had a
neighbor who had a foot-pedal player
piano. The combination of all of these
things got Glenn started on a lifelong
journey.

WhatÕs so amazing about this is
that Disneyland and KnottÕs Berry
Farm provided my own inspiration

Glenn Thomas in front of his Wurlitzer 165 band organ

for mechanical music. I also lived
in Southern California when I was
growing up. Glenn and I talked at
length about our mutual deep love for
the music. Further, we discovered that
we shared exposure to the ÒOur GangÓ
and ÒLaurel and HardyÓ films, ÒBetty
BoopÓ cartoons and other programs
on TV that featured music of the
1920s. Consequently, we both started
by really loving the music and were
probably more susceptible to being
overcome by the sight and sound of
nickelodeons. Today, kids donÕt even
know who Laurel and Hardy were
and there arenÕt many public venues
where a kid can see mechanical music
in action.

Our conversation moved on to
cover the 1940s and 50s, a time when
many nickelodeons were destroyed
because they were looked upon as

8 MECHANICAL MUSIC September/October 2018

Glenn is a lover of music as well as mechanical music machines. He changes the rolls in his machine often, and he has many

rolls to choose from. This is a shot of his collection.

being obsolete. I wonder if that led
to so many young people having such
little appreciation of antiques. In my
opinion, a continued lack of exposure
to the music and the machines makes
it unlikely that a mechanical music
renaissance will happen. Glenn said
he has noticed that when children
are shown the instruments, they are
momentarily interested, but then they
quickly want to go on to other things.
IÕve noticed that most kids wonÕt even
listen to an entire song.

And then we moved on to other
things.

College Years and Beyond

In GlennÕs high school and college
days he had more mobility and
through part-time jobs he was able
to save some money. That meant
he could go out looking for player
pianos, cheap coin pianos, and rolls.
He remembers getting a player piano
for $25 (which Glenn notes is more
than you might pay today). He fixed
it up and sold it for $350. In the mid1960s,
Glenn found a Seeburg Style E
machine in a garage for a few hundred
dollars. It was GlennÕs first coin piano.

Over the years, he followed a typical
collectorÕs path, acquiring one thing
while selling or trading something
else. He was always, however, looking
for rolls he didnÕt already have. Glenn
had the Seeburg E for five to seven
years. He did much of the restoration
work, aided by his friend in California,
Don Rand. Glenn was buying recut A
rolls from Ed Freyer and original A
rolls from Otto Carlsen (a collector in
Monrovia, CA). Otto could get pianos
and rolls at reasonable prices. He
would then broker them. New A rolls
were sold for $15.

Glenn once worked at Griffith Park
for a year (mainly so he could play the
band organ and change all the rolls he
wanted). He said it was a wonderful
experience and helped his love of band
organs grow. He first met Don Rand
there, as well. Don had just bought a
Wurlitzer Style 147 band organ and
loved to listen to the Griffith organ
too. Glenn then met Terry Hathaway
through Don Rand. This was before
the renowned firm of Hathaway and
Bowers was formed. Glenn would go
to Hathaway and Bowers primarily to
buy rolls. He bought a pile of Wurlitzer

APP rolls cheap, even though he didnÕt
have a machine to play them on. He
loved Wurlitzer music so much that
he said he couldnÕt let the opportunity
pass. It took many years for him to
finally get a piano to play them, but he
always held on to the rolls knowing
they would someday be played again.

The Wurlitzer AX

Glenn sold his Seeburg E and found
a Wurlitzer AX in the mid-1960s. He
still has that piano. The AX was being
stored in someoneÕs basement or
garage and they advertised it for sale
in the Los Angeles Times. The following
description is taken from GlennÕs
website www.nickelodeonhouse.net

ÒThe Wurlitzer style AXB piano was
built around 1910 and represents one
of the earliest examples of a coin-operated
piano. The Rudolph Wurlitzer
Company was one of the most famous
and prolific manufacturers of automatic
musical instruments.Ó

The AX needed to be rebuilt and
that work was a combination effort
between Glenn and Don Rand. They

September/October 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 9

The Wurlitzer AX that plays APP rolls.

added a set of bells, since the APP
rolls have that capability. He had a
good supply of five-tune APP rolls
which could be played on that piano.

ÒThis instrument has a piano,
mandolin, 38 violin pipes, and a
set of 16 orchestra bells. It has a
unique roll changing mechanism
which automatically plays five tunes
on one roll, and then changes to the
next roll until all 30 tunes on six
rolls have been played. The elaborate
transmission and number of moving
parts are excitingly primitive and a
pure pleasure to listen!Ó

While Glenn still lived in Los Angeles,
he went through quite a series of
player pianos. He was still a kid and
looking to make extra money. He
bought eight or nine at inexpensive
prices and fixed them before selling.
He was careful never to buy any
piano that was a basket case requiring
heavy-duty work or restringing. For a
time, he had a Welte upright reproducing
piano. Glenn had to move several
times because of jobs and this made
it sometimes difficult to work on the
pianos.

The Nelson-Wiggen Style 8

The next significant machine Glenn
acquired was a Nelson-Wiggen Style

8. This is an A roll piano and it was
very affordable at the time. He needed
something to play A rolls, and this
machine filled the bill as he had gotten
rid of his Seeburg E. Glenn didnÕt
have to do any restoration on the Nelson-
Wiggen since it was restored by G.
Roger Dayton. Roger, at that time, ran
a business called Pedals, Pumpers and
Inside the Nelson-Wiggen Style 8 that was restored by G. Roger Dayton.

Rolls in Elmhurst, IL. Roger has since of furniture suitable for sophisticated
moved his business to Greenville, SC. settings. Most of its instruments
Quoting again from GlennÕs website: were made in fine walnut cases with
clear beveled glass to display its
ÒThe Nelson-Wiggen Piano Co. classy interior.
was a late comer to the coin-operated ÒThis Nelson-Wiggen Style 8 plays
piano business. Its activity was piano, mandolin, orchestra bells, and
confined mainly to the decade 1920 xylophone. It plays a 10-tune style A
– 1930. roll. The machine alternates between
ÒNelson-WiggenÕs marketing stratthe
bells and xylophone since the A roll
egy for its Ôbetter automaticÕ was to only supports one extra instrument.Ó
make its instruments as fine pieces

10 MECHANICAL MUSIC September/October 2018

The gleaming Steinway Duo-Art.

The Steinway Duo-Art XR Grand
Reproducing Piano.

Glenn moved from California to
the East Coast in 1990. This gave
him more room to grow. He acquired
a beautiful Steinway Duo-Art grand
because he needed something to play
88-note rolls! It had been restored
about 10 years before Glenn got it.
Even now, as a 30-plus year old restoration,
itÕs still OK. He always wanted
both an Ampico and a Duo-Art piano,
but he also wanted quality at a price
he could afford. The Steinway made
Glenn pretty happy because now he
had machines that could play Duo-Art
rolls, 88-note rolls, A rolls and Wurlitzer
APP rolls.

The Seeburg KT Special

Glenn said this machine came along
in the early 1990s. I love that expression
Ð he says it like the machine simply
followed him home! Glenn was in a
stage of his working life that allowed
him to afford much more than he could
have 10 years earlier. The machine was
acquired in an unrestored state from
Don Rand. Don had it for a number of
years, but it was just languishing. It was
in decent shape and nothing bad had
been done to it. For the restoration,
Glenn was looking for someone local,
knowledgeable, and a person who had
enough time to do a great job. That
person turned out to be Tom Hundermark.
Tom was doing GlennÕs player
tech work and tuning at the time. Tom
had never done a coin piano before Ð
he had always done players Ð but he
was willing to take on the job. He was
located in Chatham, NJ. Tom did all of
the piano action and restringing tasks
that were necessary. This was truly a
beautiful restoration job.

Above, the art glass on the KT Special and below is a view with the cabinet door
open to see the immaculate insides.

ÒThe Seeburg KT Special was introduced
in 1924 and originally sold
for $1500. Marketed as a ÒBallroom
Favorite,Ó it was designed to serve in
places requiring the ultra-supreme
in automatic orchestral development.
The elimination of a keyboard
reduced the instrument to convenient
dimensions.

ÒThis instrument contains piano,
xylophone, mandolin, bass drum,
snare drum, tympani, cymbal,
castanets, triangle, tambourine, and
Chinese block. It plays a 10-tune type
G roll.Ó

Of course, Glenn had already picked
up a few G rolls along the way knowing
that he would get a G roll machine
someday!

The Link 2E

This machine was acquired in the
1990s at a place called RodÕs Roadhouse
Restaurant, in Morristown, NJ.
It had been there at least 30-40 years.
It sat in their bar. In the early 1990s,
RodÕs wanted to change the format of
the restaurant and bar and wanted to
get rid of all the antique stuff. Glenn
bought the machine at an auction. It
had certainly seen better days after

September/October 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 11

GlennÕs Link 2E features glass panels in front instead of wood. The modification was
made by a former owner to allow people to see the roll move over the tracker bar.

being in a public setting so long.
Unfortunately for Glenn, the former
owners had taken out the bottom
panels and thrown them away so they
could install glass that allowed people
to see what was inside. Rusty King
(known as Mr. Link) did the initial restoration
work, which included making
some parts like a new coin box. Paul
Manganaro recently completed the
balance of the work required. Glenn
really loves the Link arrangements,
even though it is seriously difficult to
change rolls on a Link.

ÒThis Link Coin-operated model
2-E nickelodeon features a piano,
mandolin attachment and a 25-note
repeating Deagan Xylophone or
ÒmarimbaphoneÓ as the Link Company
called it.

ÒLink pianos were unique in that
they were often sold to route operators
who would place them in suitable revenue
generating locations for patrons
anxious to deposit nickels to hear
snappy music. They also were one of
the few nickelodeon makers to employ
the ÒendlessÓ style of music rolls. As
can be seen from the photograph, these
rolls were spread out in an apparent
tangle of paper that tracked through
a maze as it fed over the tracker bar
activating the playing notes. Each
roll played 15 tunes in succession,
one for each nickel, and never had to
be rewound.

ÒThis piano has been restored to
better than original condition except
that the lower front wood panel was
replaced many years ago by glass to
allow viewing the piano mechanism

and the tangle of paper. This encouraged
more coins for more music!Ó

The Wurlitzer Style C Orchestrion

This machine came from Marty
and Elise Roenigk (who owned
Mechantiques). Glenn had wanted a
long frame Wurlitzer for some time.
He had the short frame (five-tune
Wurlitzer AX) machine already, but
he still had about 30 original 10-tune
APP rolls that he got from Hathaway
and Bowers in the 1960s that needed
a machine to play them. Since most of
the Wurlitzer machines are changers,
it is fairly rare to encounter a 10-tune
machine. This one was in original
unrestored condition but did not have
bells or xylophones. Tom Hundermark
added both from various parts that
they were able to get and crammed
everything in the case.

ÒThis Wurlitzer Style C Orchestrion
is the anchor and focal point of the
collection. It was built about 1920
and features the delightful combination
of piano, 38 flute pipes, 21 violin
pipes, and 17 viola pipes. It also
has 16 orchestra bells, 16 xylophone
bars, a mandolin attachment, bass
drum, and snare drum. It plays
from Wurlitzer Automatic Player
Piano rolls, each with 10 tunes and
orchestrated to play any combination
of the instruments included in this
wonderful music machine.

ÒOne of WurlitzerÕs most popular
entertainment devices, these instruments
were sold to operators of large
saloons, dance halls, restaurants,
parlors, and other places where a
machine capable of high volume
would dazzle a crowd encouraged to
put nickel after nickel into its coin
slot.

ÒIt has recently been restored
inside and out to better than original
condition.Ó

Wurlitzer stopped making mechanical
musical instruments in 1939 but
kept making rolls until 1945.

According to Matthew CaulfieldÕs
website:

ÒThere are various stories about
what became of the assets of its Roll
Department after Wurlitzer decided

12 MECHANICAL MUSIC September/October 2018

The art glass and roll mechanism on the Wurlitzer Style C are
beautiful to behold. A view of the Style C with one panel open.

Each art glass panel is wonderfully
detailed and enhances the experience
A closeup of the Wurlitzer logo at the top of the machine. of listening to the machine.

September/October 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 13

to cease making music rolls in 1945.
But the closest we can come today to
the truth is contained in the recollections
of North Tonawanda resident
Douglas R. Hershberger from conversations
he had with Ralph Tussing.
When the Allan Herschell Company
learned that band organ rolls were no
longer going to be produced, the company
probably realized that, without
music being available, its carousel
sales would be negatively impacted.
Therefore, Ralph Tussing was asked
to go to the Wurlitzer plant and select
anything needed for Herschell to
carry on the band organ roll business,
which Mr. Tussing was to run for
them.

ÒEventually Tussing started his
own business producing Wurlitzer
rolls (both band organ and APP rolls).
As a consequence to all this, there
was a fantastic amount of Wurlitzer
music available well into the 1950s.

ÒSome of WurlitzerÕs features and
mechanisms were really ingenious.
For example, many machines have
a platinum screen behind the tracker
bar to collect paper dust and chads.
You didnÕt need to pump out the
tracker bar. Merely unscrew it and
wipe the dust away. Similarly, the
rewind mechanism didnÕt involve
grinding gears to stop, but involved a
lever falling into a slot in the take-up
spool when there is no more paper.
This meant that the paper had to be
fed with the spool in front (instead of
in back like the Seeburg design).Ó

The Seeburg Style G Orchestrion

The G was complete when purchased
from Rick Cooley, but it was
an old restoration and didnÕt really
play. It was part of an estate sale that
had been consigned to Rick. The price
was really good because Glenn got it
directly from a bank that took it over
from an estate. (Rick got a brokerage
fee). The machine went directly to
Paul Manganaro for restoration.

The machine included ranks of 32
separate flute and violin pipes that are
controlled and activated by the music
roll. Since pipes operate on pressure
rather than vacuum, the pump has a
separate flap valve system and pressure
reservoir to provide wind for the pipes.

The piano has 50 playing notes and
a mandolin rail in addition to the two
ranks of pipes. Percussion is added
by a bass drum, snare drum, cymbal,
triangle, and two tympani beaters.
The music roll controls all using a
chromatic scale for piano, register Òon
and offÓ perforations for the separate
ranks of pipes so they may use the
same scale as piano, and controls for
all effects.

The piano was acquired in 2006 and
restored in 2010.

The Link AX Orchestrion

This Link came from the same bank
in New York as the Seeburg G and
Rick Cooley was again the broker. I
asked Glenn if the bank was perhaps
called the Nickel Savings Bank! The
Link had been through a flood and had
a cracked plate. Glenn did a comprehensive
search to try to find another
Link piano that had a good plate. It
turns out that the Link company had
the plates custom-made by Hadorff.
There was special spacing on the pins

An overview and a closeup of art glass
details on the Seeburg G reveal the
fantastic restoration done by Paul
Manganaro.

and the size was different from other
pianos. You could not replace it with
a plate from a Seeburg or any other
piano Hadorff made. In Tacoma, WA,
Glenn found a gutted piano that was
the twin of the AX he had purchased.
It was sitting in an antique store
named Mandarin Pianos. This one had

14 MECHANICAL MUSIC September/October 2018

Three views of the Link AX orchestrion reveal its complex interior and intricate art glass display that combine to make for a
viewing and listening feast for the eyes and ears.

a different case and different glass,

but the good thing was it had the same
plate. Glenn measured carefully to
make sure. After confirming the plate
would fit, Glenn bought the twin of
his AX and had the piano sent to Paul
ManganaroÕs who switched out the
plate. Glenn kept the stained glass
from the gutted piano and gave Paul
the rest. Glenn now has the extra glass
on display.
GlennÕs Link AX was built about
1920 and contains piano, mandolin,
ranks of 28 flute and violin pipes,
snare drum, tambourine with separate
beating mechanisms and shaking
mechanisms, triangle and wood block.
This piano was acquired in 2006 and
was restored in 2009.
Glass panels show the instruments making music in the Nelson-Wiggen Style 6.
The Nelson-Wiggen Style 6
This machine originally belonged memories of that record. It really really inspired me to get a Nelson-Wigto
Jim Hamilton from California who cemented my interest in nickelodeons gen 4X machine. Jim Hamilton had
supplied the machines in the LP record and I especially loved the sound of the owned the piano for eons and he sold
named ÒQuarterlodeons.Ó I have fond Nelson-Wiggen machines. The record it to the Bovey family in San Diego, CA

September/October 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 15

The lower half of the Nelson-Wiggen Style 6.

where it sat for about 30 years. They
were finally ready to sell it. It was in
rough shape, so it went right to Paul
Manganaro for a restoration.

The Style 6 packed a lot of music
into a small cabinet and appealed to
restaurants, bars, and parlors. The
piano features 28 xylophone bars, bass
drum, snare drum, tympani, triangle,
castanets, wood block, and mandolin.
Some of the percussion operates
by means of a special switching
mechanism that allows them to play
alternatively using the same tracker
bar hole. The music roll controls all
using a chromatic scale for piano, register
Òon and offÓ perforations for the
xylophones so they may use the same
scale as the piano, and controls for all
other effects.

This piano was acquired in 2008 and
was originally restored in the 1970s but
its deterioration since then required
further work in 2008 to restore a level
of playing quality.

The Seeburg K

This machine came from Bart Off
who had seven or eight Seeburg Ks in
what Bart called his ÒWaiting Room.Ó
Glenn said Bart had so many, he
shouldnÕt miss one, and Glenn really
wanted a Seeburg K. The restoration
is old, but the machine plays well. The
machine has a piano, mandolin and

xylophone and is one of GlennÕs more
recent acquisitions.

The Wurlitzer Style 165/166 Band
Organ

One of pices de rŽsistance of
GlennÕs collection is the extremely
rare Wurlitzer 165 band organ. Only 24
original Wurlitzer 165s were produced
and now only 10 survive. Additionally,
the Wurlitzer factory converted some
other organs to 165s, of which only
a few survive. This organ is such an
example.

Recall that Glenn grew up listening
to two 165 band organs, one at Griffith
Park and the other at Lincoln Park
in California. He also saw a 165 at
Playland on the beach in San Francisco,
CA. It is his favorite instrument.
He thought that at best he would go
through life being able to hear one
occasionally, now he has one of his
own.

It was about four years ago when
Tim Trager told Glenn about an
original Bruder 165 that had been
converted by Wurlitzer to a duplex

165. The organ was found in a derelict
house in Wisconsin. The organ was
originally built between 1910 to 1912
but almost immediately was converted
at the Wurlitzer factory to play 165
rolls. It was then given a Wurlitzer 165
serial number. The instrumentation
was a little different from the original
165s in that it had brass trumpets and
some other registers that a Wurlitzer
165 didnÕt have. It also lacked a few
ranks of pipes that traditional 165s
had. Glenn was always interested in
the Wurlitzer 166 registration which
was an expanded 165 scale. Wurlitzer
built three style 166 organs but none
have survived. Wurlitzer continued
(as did Ralph Tussing afterward) to
make music rolls with the full 166
registration even though no organ
could play them. When modern rolls
were made in the 1990s, arrangers
like David Stumpf and Tom Mejier did
not use the full 166 registration. Rich
Olsen also didnÕt maintain the 166
registration until Glenn mentioned
the little-known fact about the 166
registration being maintained in older
rolls. Consequently, until RichÕs death,
he continued the tradition of orchestrating
the full 166 capability.

Since all the Wurlitzer ledgers and
repair records are available, Glenn
was able to find out that his organ
was sold to C.W. Parker, who kept it
for a number of years. Joe Hilferty
of York, PA, did the restoration work
on the organ for Glenn. Glenn was
determined that a 166 capability
was important. This was especially
the case since his organ had the 166
brass trumpets already. Joe and Glenn
agreed that it should have full Wurlitzer
166 registration and scales. In all
these years, the 165 rolls had six extra
registers that none of the surviving
organs had the capability of playing.
Glenn has added all of these registers
except for Uniphone bells which were
added later. Uniphone bells are a separate
set of bells built by the Deagan
company which are repeating bells
with resonators. The 165 rolls have
two register controls for bells, one to
turn on the regular bar bells and one
to turn on the Uniphone bells. The
organ took two years and two months
to restore.

The Tracker scale has 75 holes, with
52 actual playing notes for Bass (six
notes, three sets of pipes), Accompaniment
(10 notes, two sets of pipes),
Melody (22 notes, eight sets of pipes

+ bells), and counter-melody (14
notes, three sets of pipes), the rest for
16 MECHANICAL MUSIC September/October 2018

Two views of the Wurlitzer 165 band organ facade which is based off the design of other surviving similar models.

September/October 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 17

controls and drums. The scale is not
chromatic and there are various missing
notes (typically flats and sharps)
for expediency.

The organ contains 316 pipes, with

* indicating the ranks added for the
larger style 166:
¥ Melody: 44 soft violin, 44 loud
violin, 22 prestant violin*, 22
stopped flutes, 22 small piccolo,
22 large piccolo*, 22 flageolets
(total: 198 pipes)
¥ Counter Melody: 14 brass
trumpets*, 14 wood trumpets,
14 stopped flutes, 14 bassoons,
14 2-foot wood violas (total: 70
pipes)
¥ Accompaniment: 10 stopped
flutes, 10 2-foot open flutes, 10
4-foot open flutes* (total: 30
pipes)
¥ Bass: six 8-foot bass, six 4-foot
stopped bass, six trombones
(total: 18 pipes)
¥ Other: 22 bells, bass drum, snare
drum, tympani, cymbal, triangle,
castanets, wood block
The organ did not have a faade
when it was found. No one knows
what kind of faade it originally had.
The faade on GlennÕs organ is a
replica made by hands-on copying and
measuring of other 165 organs whose
owners graciously allowed Glenn
access along with Robert Yorburg
of Yorktown Heights, NY, to make
detailed tracings and measurements.
The faade was carved by Robert
Yorburg, illustrated by Marguerite
Juner, also of New York, and painted,
leafed, and finished by Pamela Hessey,
HawkÕs Eye Studio, Kingman, AZ. The
organ was finished eight years ago.

When Bruder originally brought
these organs into America, their catalog
pictures showed two statues on
the pedestals in front. When Wurlitzer
began to make its own 165s a few years
later, the company deleted the statues
from its catalog pictures. None of the
earliest 165 statues were thought to
have survived until now. Mechanical
music historian Fred Dahlinger located
what appeared to be two original statues
that had been deemed derelict and
stored. The statues had a lot of wood

Detail of the painting on the Wurlitzer 165 band organ facade.

The castanets poking out of the lower left front of the facade.

A view of the statues that were added to the facade after their restoration.

18 MECHANICAL MUSIC September/October 2018

The Glacier 125-Key organ built by
Johnny Verbeek and itÕs additional side
cabinet constructed to increase its playing
capabilities.

rot and other problems, but Fred fixed
them up and brought them to Glenn.
Pam Hessey used the original color
scheme of the faade to finish the
statues that now stand proudly on the
pedestals of his organ.

As for rolls, of course Glenn had to
get all of the known 165 rolls that have
survived. Glenn put a non-invasive
MIDI system on the organ so he would
have access to music made by other
arrangers that would never make their
way onto perforated rolls because
there is no commercial market for
the product. Rich Olsen and Wayne
Holton have arranged obscure period
popular tunes, operatic overtures and
the suite from Carmen for Glenn to
play on his organ via the MIDI system.

The Glacier 125 Key Organ

The Glacier was Johnny VerbeeckÕs
last big organ build before he passed
away. He designed it as a smaller

version of a couple of large organs after delivery, Johnny and Glenn
he had built over the years. The were discussing expanding the organ
Glacier, as originally delivered in to include ÒdanceÓ registers and per2013,
had 112 keys, 557 pipes, and 17 cussion. The best way to add to The
automatic registers. Within a year Glacier and still have it fit in GlennÕs

September/October 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 19

The Lincoln Park Wurlitzer Style 165 band organ that Glenn listened to as a teenager is now installed in his home.

house was to build a side-cabinet with
the expanded features. That brought
the organ to 125 keys, 650 pipes, and
23 automatic registers!

The Lincoln Park Wurlitzer Style
165 Band Organ

The Lincoln Park, CA, Wurlitzer
165 organ played at that park from its
delivery in 1924 to just before the park
burned down in 1978. Fortunately,
before the fire the organ had been
removed for servicing. Don Rand and
Ed Openshaw owned it from 1978
until Glenn acquired it in 2015. This
organ is special to Glenn because it
is one of the two organs that got him
hooked on Wurlitzer band organs in
the first place. He never dreamed
he would own the organ he listened
to as a teenager. It allows him to
relive his youthful experiences. Joe

Hilferty restored it to as good as new,
and Glenn now owns a copy of every
known Wurlitzer music roll in the 165
scale. In addition, he produces new
rolls for himself and others to enjoy.

The Wurlitzer CX

Being A Wurlitzer fanatic, Glenn
always loved Wurlitzer music, and the
Automatic Player Piano rolls were a
favorite. While he owned a smaller
Wurlitzer machine for decades (The
AX), he finally was able to acquire a
wonderful, restored Wurlitzer CX,
previously a part of the Jim Krughoff
collection. This particular instrument
came already wonderfully restored.
The instrument has a piano, mandolin,
bass drum, snare drum, violin pipes,
flute pipes, and a set of bells. GlennÕs
large collection of APP rolls sound
even better on this machine!

Background

When Glenn was not pursuing
mechanical music, he received a
bachelorÕs degree in business administration
and a masterÕs degree in
management. That led to a career in
the property and casualty insurance
industry. Assignments in Los Angeles
(twice), San Francisco (three times),
San Diego, Phoenix, Bermuda, and
finally New York meant moving large
mechanical musical instruments each
time and that was certainly difficult!

But he persevered and finally settled
in rural New Jersey.

When Glenn and his wife, Kim
Kleasen, are not enjoying the
instruments, they enjoy other period
collectibles and antiques, the arts and
sciences, foreign and domestic travel,
the great outdoors, activities such
as bicycle riding, skiing, tennis, and

20 MECHANICAL MUSIC September/October 2018

hiking; and electronics.

Glenn describes himself as a music
addict and I must place myself in the
same category. I try to get all the rolls
for my instruments that I can. However,
this seems to be a rare character
attribute, since many people only collect
the machines and donÕt think of
playing different music on them. As
always, I say that it is important to
buy rolls so that the producers of rolls
will continue to provide new material.
So, all you collectors out there please
think about enjoying the music on
your machines and really listen to
them. The mechanical music world
will thank you.

Glenn is currently the editor of the
AMICA Bulletin. He can be reached at
wurlitzer165@comcast.net .

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 July/
August 2012 issue of The AMICA Bulletin.

The Wurlitzer CX features a wonderlight at the top, a forest scene art glass panel
and display of the roll labels of the rolls currently loaded in the machine.

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

September/October 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 21

Art-Cased
Disc Musical Boxes

by Steve Boehck

Figure 1: A frontal view of our restored Symphonion ÒRococoÓ music box serial number 229943.

W
W
hat do we mean by the term Òart-cased elements. There are other elements that could be included
disc musical boxesÓ? My definition is in my definition, but I believe these cover the majority of
that the case should display at least the art-cased disc boxes commonly collected, and it defisome
of the following elements: unusual nitely covers the cases I will be referring to in my articles.
shape, exotic veneers and or premium hardwoods; inlays This is the first of two articles I will write discussing
and or marquetry; hand carving or machine carving; art-cased disc boxes. In this installment IÕll be discussing
embossing and wood turnings; or any combination of these a special process in which a fancy hand-carved look is

22 MECHANICAL MUSIC September/October 2018

Figure 2: Ernst Holzweissig Nachf 1894/95 Wholesale Catalog Figure 3a : 1898 Holzweissig Wholesale Catalog with full page

showing the ÒRococo.Ó

achieved by an unusual process in
which super thin veneers are molded
with a backing of Òplastic woodÓ (sawdust
mixed with animal hot glue). This
is then bonded to a solid wood backing.
Several of these would be made
into panels and then be put together to
form a cabinet. This unique technique
was developed, I believe, by only one
cabinet box maker in Germany. It was
most probably a patented process
as I have never seen any other manufacturer
employ it. I have also been
unable to find any other information
about how the process was originally
developed or much else about the
manufacturer. Perhaps one of our
European members, or especially one
of our German members, can solve
that part of the mystery.

To my knowledge, at least three
disc box makers used cabinets in this
style made by this company. They are

ad for the ÒRococo.Ó

Symphonion, Regina and Celesta. I
also think Polyphon may have used
the cases for the Style 45a, but I am
not absolutely certain that these cases
were a product of the same manufacturing
process. The Polyphon cabinets
appear to have a heavily embossed
veneered surface but they donÕt have
quite the same deep three dimensional
look of the other examples.

We will start by looking at what I
believe was the first example made
by this company, the Symphonion
Style 25c, better known to collectors
as the Symphonion ÒRococo.Ó (See
Figure 1). The first reference I can
find for advertising this instrument
is on Page 64 in the 1894-95 Ernst
Holzweissig Nachf., wholesale to the
trade catalog as shown in Figure 2. It
does not say that this is a new style,
so it is likely that it came out a year
or two earlier. The net wholesale price

is shown as 96 Deutsche Marks (DM)
which is approximately $24. Each 30
centimeter disc (117/8 inch) cost 85
pfennigs (approximately 22 cents).
I cannot find a percentage mark-up
price for the net retail price stated in
the catalog, but it was probably about
100 percent.

The ÒRococoÓ is pictured again in
the 1898 Holzweissig Wholesale Catalog
on Page 109 with a full page ad
as shown in Figure 3a. The price was
lowered to 82 DM, but it now offered
a colorfully painted version for 126
DM. I have personally never seen an
example of one with an original colorful
paint job. You could also buy it
with a matching table to set it on for
200 DM inclusive. See Figure 3b (next
page) which shows Page 119 of the
Holzweissig Wholesale Catalog.

I have rarely seen any advertisements
aimed at the general public for

September/October 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 23

Figure 3b: Page 119 form the 1898 Holzweissig Catalog
showing the matching ÒRococoÓ table available for 33 DM.

Approximately $8.25 wholesale.

the Symphonion Style 25c. One of these
hard-to-find ads can be seen in Arthur

W.J.G. Ord-HumeÕs book ÒClockwork
Music.Ó He shows an 1898 full-page
magazine ad from CampbellÕs Music
House of Glasgow and Edinburgh
offering the Symphonion ÒRococoÓ
at a special price of 10 pounds and
10 shillings (approximately $52.50 at
the time) including 25 discs, packing
and carriage to anywhere in Great
Britain or Ireland. This offer expired
after Sept. 30, 1898. This ad can be
observed in Figure 4.
The last date I have seen the Symphonion
ÒRococoÓ Style 25c advertised
is in the 1904 Master Catalog of J. M.
Bon in Leipzig. Figure No.5. On Page
5 of this catalog is illustrated the
Symphonion with a net retail price
of 168 DM (approximately $42) with
each disc costing 170 pfennigs (about
43 cents).

In Figures 6a through 6f are several

Figure 4: 1898 magazine advertisement for the Symphonion
ÒRococoÓ from Scottish music dealer Campbells from Arthur

W.J.G. Ord-HumeÕs book ÒClockwork Music.Ó
Figure 5: The last date I have seen for an ad from the 1904 J. M. Bon of Leipzig cata-
log listing the retail price for the ÒRococoÓ for 168 DM approximately $42 at the time.

different views of our restored Symphonion
ÒRococoÓ instrument.

We now come to the Regina Style
19, 11-inch music box in the pressed
carved case, and later to the Regina
Style 9, 151/2 inch instrument in a
similar style carved case. The reason
I feel these cabinets were made in
Germany is that the first Style 19
Reginas were in the identical case as

the Symphonion ÒRococoÓ box. Please
view the ÒRegina MarchÓ sheet music
composed by ReginaÕs disc music
arranger Octave Chaillet, copyrighted
in 1895. See Figure No. 7a. (Page 27)
The back side was used as an advertisement
for Regina music boxes as
the sheet music was usually given
away free to potential buyers by music
stores selling the Regina instruments.

24 MECHANICAL MUSIC September/October 2018

Figure 6a: A side view of our ÒRococoÕÓ
showing the left side, front and top sitting
on its table.

September/October 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 25

Figure 6b: Front view. These embossed
boxes are beautiful on all sides which
makes them very acceptable to sit on a
table in the middle of the room.

Figure 6d: A picture showing the box with the top open and a disc on the machine.

Figure 6c: A closeup shot of the top showing the two classical figures dancing.
The three dimensional height of the dancers probably approaches 1/2 to 5/8 inches
which demonstrates just what a special process was used to flex the veneers that
much without splitting or breaking it apart.

Figure 6e: Closeup of the lid picture
which is a young couple, finely dressed,
exchanging pleasantries. This is printed
on silk and framed with green velvet with
the name ÒSymphonionÓ embossed in
fancy gold lettering above it.

Figure 6f: Pictured is the Sublime
Harmony 117/8 inch disc bedplate. The
two 42 tooth combs are displayed in the
typical early Symphonion diametrically
opposed comb format

26 MECHANICAL MUSIC September/October 2018

You will notice in Figure 7b that the
Style 19 is pictured in the same case
as the Symphonion ÒRococoÓ Style
25c. Further evidence that Regina was
using this cabinet early on for this
model is shown in Figure 8a which is
a very early but undated Regina sales
catalog circa 1895. This catalog was
distributed by H. R. Eisenbrandt Sons
in Baltimore, MD.

Figure 7a: The front page of the ÒRegina
MarchÓ sheet music, copyrighted in 1895
by A. Wolf, one of ReginaÕs largest distributors
at the time. It was composed
by ReginaÕs music arranger Octave
Chaillet. These were usually given complimentary
to music stores who in turn
gave them away free to potential Regina

Figure 7b: Above, the back page of the sheet music is an advertisement for Regina

music box customers.

instruments. Figure 7c: Below, You will notice in this closeup of the middle upper
portion of the ad, what is unmistakably a Symphonion ÒRococoÓ style cabinet.

Figure 8a: Front cover of a circa 1894/95
Regina sales brochure distributed by the
wholesale/retail music house of H. R.
Eisenbrandt Sons, established in 1811
and located in Baltimore, MD.

September/October 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 27

Figure 8b: Page 9 of the Eisenbrandt catalog picturing the
style 19 Regina in the ÒRococoÓ case with retail price of $72
with additional 11-inch discs costing 90 cents each.

Page 9 of the Regina Catalog (Figure 8b and 8c) of the
Eisenbrandt Catalog pictures the ÒRegina No. 19Ó single
comb, obviously in the Symphonion cabinet. The retail
price is shown as $72 with each additional 11-inch tune
sheet costing 90 cents.

The only example of a Regina in a Symphonion ÒRococoÓ
case I have ever seen appeared in a sales catalog from Vicki
Glasgow dated June 1975. Pages 16 and 17 of the catalog
describe and picture the instrument in Figures 10a, 10b,
and 10c. As Vicki points out in her description, the Regina
cast iron bedplate is considerably wider than the standard
11-inch Regina.

Obviously, there must have been some sort of pushback
from Symphonion about Regina using the exact same cabinet
for its Style 19 and as a result Regina Style 19s in the
ÒRococoÓ case are very rare. It didnÕt take long for Regina
to get its own custom made art case made by the same
company for both the Style 19 and the similar but larger
Style 9, 151/2 inch box. Examples of the Style 19 Regina
in our collection are shown in Figures 10a through 10c.
Views of the Style 9 Regina in our collection are pictured
in Figures11a through 11c. on Page 30. Next are several
examples of contemporary factory and dealer catalog ads
of the Regina styles 9 and 19 as seen in Figures 12a through
12e on Pages 31-32.

Starting in the last quarter of 1896 and all through 1897
and part of the first half of 1898 Regina ran ads for the Style
9 in many of the leading national magazines on a monthly
basis. The following 18 ads show that the Style 9 was the

ART CASES | See Page 36

Figure 8c. Closeup of the style 19 in the ÒRococoÓ cabinet.

Figure 9a: Front cover of the June 1975 Vicki Glasgow sales
catalogue of antique music boxes. This was the first and only
time I have seen an example of a Regina in a ÒRococoÓ cased
music box.

28 MECHANICAL MUSIC September/October 2018

Figure 9b: Pages 16 and 17 of the June 1975 Vicki Glasgow
sales catalogue describing and picturing the Regina ÒRococoÓ
example.

Figure 10a: A view of our Regina Style 19, with the lid closed
in an oak pressed carved case.

Figure 9c: A copy of the original black and white photo used in
the catalog. Note that the cast iron bedplate is several inches
wider than the standard 11-inch Regina bedplate.

Figure 10b: Our Style 19 with the lid opened, showing the
11-inch disc in place and the top wind crank system.

Figure 10c: Closeup of the duplex comb movement of serial
number 43923. The celluloid patent and instructions tags on
the back sideboard and The Regina Company tag on the front
sideboard. Also to the left front is the combination on/off lever
and speed control.

September/October 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 29

Figure 11a: Left, pictured is a view of our
Style 9, 151/2-inch walnut music box with
the lid open and disc in place. The lid
picture is unusual and may not be original
but has been with the box a long
time. It is a beautiful woman playing the
pianoforte with a couple of young girls
dancing at the side.

Figure 11b: Below right, frontal view of
the Regina closed showing the fancy
design of the lid.

Figure 11c: Below left, the disc removed
showing the bedplate with its duplex
combs, the control lever and the top
winding mechanism. The serial number
is 34497.

30 MECHANICAL MUSIC September/October 2018

Figure 12a: Circa 1898 Regina catalog showing the Style 9 on
Page 12 with a retail price of $70 and Tune Sheets 60 cents
each, Òcase in richly carved walnut only.Ó Just for comparison
on the following page the solid wood deluxe cased Style 10 in
oak, Mahogany or walnut was $90.

Figure 12c: Page 7 of a circa 1898 British catalog from Nicole
Freres, Ltd at 21 Ely Place, Holborn Circus, London, E.C.
shows the Regina Style 19 Duplex (11-inch double comb) in
Òrichly carved walnutÓ with a retail price of 12 pounds (approximately
$60). The 151/2 inch Style 9 Duplex in Òrichly carved
walnutÓ below it on the same page was 18 pounds and 10
shillings. (approximately $92.50).

Figure 12b: On page 16 of the same catalog the Regina 19 is
shown with a retail price of $40. Additional tune sheets are
40 cents each. ÒCase richly carved in walnut, also in highly
polished oak and mahogany.

September/October 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 31

Figure 12d: An 1898 Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. catalog of music
boxes pictures the Style 19 Regina Duplex on page 189 in
ÒRichly carved walnut, or in highly polished oak or mahoganyÓ
for $70 with 11-inch discs costing 621/2 cents each.

Figure 12e: Page 192 of the Wurlitzer catalog shows the
Regina No. 9, 151/2 inch Duplex for $120 with additional 15 1/2
inch discs costing $1 each. Wurlitzer seems to have marked
their boxes up higher than the other retailers.

Figure 13a: An 1896 magazine ad showing the Style 9. I do not
know the month of publication or the magazine that it came
from. States in the text: ÒHandsomely carved cases, at same
price as plain cases.Ó

Figure 13b: The December 1896 McClureÕs Magazine pub-
lished this half page Christmas ad showing the ÒcarvedÓ case
Regina 9 as ÒThe best present of them all.Ó

32 MECHANICAL MUSIC September/October 2018

Figure 13c: The January 1897 Review of Reviews shows the
ÒHandsomely Carved CaseÓ Regina in another one quarter
size page ad.

Figure 13d: An August 1897 quarter page ad from HarperÕs
Magazine. In this ad, the point is being made that unlike Swiss
music boxes, where most of the time you have to play the
tunes in the order in which they are programed, you can play
your Regina Style 9 music in any order you choose. This same
ad also appeared in MunseyÕs Magazine.

Figure 13e: An ad from November 1897 from the Review of
ReviewÕs promoting the idea that you can Òmake your home
cheerfulÓ by buying and playing a Regina music box during
the Òmelancholy daysÓ of winter when you are forced to stay
inside. Shown is a family with one child playing the Style 9 to
brighten everyoneÕs spirits.

September/October 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 33

Figure 13f: In this September 1897 quarter page ad from
MunseyÕs Magazine the point is made that the programing on
Swiss boxes is like fried oysters that are offered a dozen or
half dozen at a time. When the oysters get cold or the tunes
get stale neither is desirable any more unlike the Regina where
your choice in music and programing is unlimited.

Figure 13g: A half page Christmas ad from the December 1897
ScribnerÕs Magazine. Here again the pressed carved Regina
is being promoted as a wonderful holiday present. Shown is
the entire extended family in the parlor enjoying listening to
some Christmas hymns on the Regina.

Figure 13h: Another quarter page ad published in MunseyÕs
Magazine from 1897. The ad again stresses that the Regina
9 can play a Ò1,000 TunesÓ and ÒPleases Everybody.Ó A list
of dealers and agents handling the ReginaÕs is also included.

34 MECHANICAL MUSIC September/October 2018

Figure 13i: This 1897 Harpers Magazine
quarter page ad warns the public that
the Regina ÒQueen of Music Boxes is
imitated but never equaled.Ó

Figure 13k: This ad appeared in an
1897 Century Magazine. It implores
the reader to buy a Regina Style 9 or
19 because it is easily transportable and
you can take it with you to the country or
summer home and donÕt have to worry
about moving a heavy piano to provide
music.

Figure 13n: The January 1898
Cosmopolitan Magazine provides us
with another quarter page ad picturing
the ÒcarvedÓ ÒRegina, Queen Of Music
BoxesÓ in the sunÕs rays as it Òplays with
more brilliancy than any other music box
made.Ó

Figure 13l: In this McClureÕs ad from 1897
Regina is showing off its new ÒOrchestral
ReginaÓ the 27-inch machine which they
claim is the Òlargest music box made.Ó
In the upper right hand corner is illustrated
the Style 9 which is ÒWonderfully
sweet and brilliant in tone,ÓÉ Òdoes
not get out of order,Ó and can Òplay over
1000 tunes.Ó

Figure 13j: In this 1897 quarter page
ad from McClureÕs Magazine Regina is
telling the reader not to Òconfound the
Regina Music Box with the easily disordered
Swiss boxes that can grind
out only a few tunes.Ó Because the
Regina 9 is very well and strongly built,
it doesnÕt get out of order and can Òplay
over 1,000 tunes.Ó

Figure 13m: In this 1897 MunseyÕs ad,
Regina is promoting the style 9 as Òa
most acceptable Wedding Present.Ó

September/October 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 35

Figure 13o: HarperÕs Magazine from April
1898 shows the style 9 ÒOvershadows
All Other Music Boxes.Ó This ad also
appeared in ScribnerÕs Magazine.

Figure 13p: The May 1898 McClureÕs

again showcases the Style 9 as ÒThe
Best Music Box Made.Ó

Figure 13r: The last date I have seen so far featuring the pressed ÒcarvedÓ Regina
is in the November MunseyÕs and Century Magazines. Shown is ÒUncle SamÓ
with the Style 9 and states that the Regina is ÒTHE FIRST AMERICAN MUSIC BOX
MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES.Ó Funny that they should picture the
caved cabinet as I am certain it was produced in Germany.

Figure 13q: Showcased is the ÒcarvedÓ
Regina which can play Òa thousand
tunesÓ and Òare more brilliant in tone than
any other music box made, and have no
delicate parts to get out of order.Ó This
ad appeared in the April 1898 MunseyÕs
and also The Cosmopolitan Magazines.

ART CASES | From Page 28

most heavily advertised table model in
the Regina line. Figures 13a through n
on Pages 32-35.

We now come to a very rare example
of an art case in the same style
by the same German manufacturer.
This music box was produced by the
Berliner Musikinstrumenten-Fabrik

A. G. This company started out in
1894, making a metal ÒbookÓ operated
instrument available in two sizes
called the ÒUnikon.Ó They introduced
their disc-operated music boxes,
called the ÒCelestaÓ in February
1895. This company went broke in
November 1896, but reorganized in
June 1897 under the name of Deutsche
Musikwerke System F. Pietschmann
A. G. The Celesta became available
in several different disc sizes, but for
our purposes, we are interested only
in the Style 12 using a 21 centimeter
disc (81/4 inch). This same movement
was also installed in a plain walnut
36 MECHANICAL MUSIC September/October 2018

veneered box as the Style 10, but the
12 is described in an 1897 wholesale
British Musical Box Catalogue from
Douglas & Co at 7, South Street in
London, as an Òelegant walnut case
carved with allegorical figures.Ó See
Figures 14a with closeup and 14b.

The Deutsche Musikwerke System
company went bankrupt in 1902 with
their managing director Heinrich Hermann
taking over the business under
the name Firm Heinrich Hermann. It
appears that the Celesta music boxes
were discontinued at that time but
they continued to make discs for
them. This rocky business history may
help explain the rarity of the Celesta
and especially the Style 12. Following
in Figures 15 a through h are several
different views of the instrument in
our collection. (Pages 38-39)

It would appear that the company
making the pressed carved cases had
some Celesta cases left over after the
Celesta was discontinued. These were
sold to Symphonion with a different
top panel as shown in Figure 16 (Page
39). I have never seen this style pictured
in any Symphonion Catalog so
I do not have the Symphonion model
number for it. Several different views
of the instrument are pictured in Figures
17a through 17c (Pages 39-40).

As mentioned earlier I am showing a
couple of pictures of a Polyphon Style
45a. in the Frank Nix collection. See
Figures 18 a and 18b (Page 40). Also a
box that I took pictures of many years
ago in Siegfried WendelÕs museum in
Germany. Viewed here in Figures 19a
and 19b (Page 41) plus what appears
to be a 105/8 inch Symphonion, which
showed up on eBay a few years ago.
(Figure 20 on Page 41) There are
undoubtedly other examples out there
as this article was not intended to be
definitive. I encourage anyone who
has other examples to share them
with us.

Epilogue

It could be that the reason many
of these pressed carved cases are
rarely seen today is because of the
special technique in which they were
originally formed. As mentioned at the

ART CASES | See Page 41

Figure 14a: Catalog Page 52 from Douglas & Co. Wholesale Musical Instrument
Warehouse at 7 South Street, London, E.C. In the middle of the bottom of the page
is pictured the 12 Celesta music box in Òelegant walnut case, carved with allegorical
figures.Ó

Figure 14b: Closeup of the Celesta cabinet.
Notice that the picture is just an
artist conception done with a bunch of
squiggly lines.

September/October 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 37

Figure 15a: A birdÕs eye view of the 12 Celesta in our collection, showing the top,
front and right hand side. The term Celesta is derived from the Latin meaning heav-
enly. In musical terms it usually means that two of the same notes are tuned several
cents off from each other so that they beat when played together. This gives a quiv-
ering or throbbing sound which was very popular in music box tuning.

Figure 15b: A closeup shot of the lid
exhibiting a very three-dimensional
cherub playing his violin. This panel is
framed with a very decorative solid walnut
border.

Figure 15c: Another shot with the lid
open with a better illustration of the very
three-dimensional top half of a figure
possibly representing an angel. The lid
picture is a very colorful fanciful depiction
of lady Celesta riding in her chariot
being pulled by a team of butterflies
with the name ÒCELESTAÓ emblazoned
in gold letters at the top. Also exhibited
is the several stepped walnut molding
forming the base for the cabinet.

Figure 15d: Left, the fancy casting of the
bedplate is pictured here along with the
41 note comb. There does not appear
to be a serial number anywhere on the
movement.

38 MECHANICAL MUSIC September/October 2018

Figure 15f: A shot of the under side of the box with its rectangular
shaped pad feet. The unusual piece of flexed spring
steel is what holds the bottom on the case. In the Douglas &
Co. catalog for the style 10 which is basically the same movement
only a lever winder instead of a crank, in a plain walnut
veneered case it states: ÒBy simple arrangement the bottom
of the box is removable, exposing the works for the purpose
of oiling or repair.Ó The 12 also has this Òsimple arrangement.Ó
By pivoting the piece of spring steel to the right, it will come
out of its groove allowing the bottom panel to be taken out
exposing the movement.

Figure 15h: The bottom panel removed exposing the move-
ment. As most music box restorers can attest having too easy
an access to the movement is NOT necessarily a good thing!!!!

Figure 16: The different ÒcarvedÓ top of basically the same
case as the Celesta 12 for an unknown model Symphonion
(probably some variation of a model 10 N). playing a 7 5/8
inch disc (a little over 19 centimeters). Its single comb with
41 teeth is pictured which might even be a similar or identical
scale to the 41 note Celesta.

Figure 17a: Birds eye view of the front and right side with
winding crank and the different top.

September/October 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 39

Figure 17b: The Symphonion open with a disc in place and
a better view of the front which is identical to the ÒcarvedÓ
Celesta case. Notice that there is no lid picture, but rather just
the name ÒSymphonionÓ in fancy gold script.

Figure 18a: An angled view of the ÒPolyphon-Excelsior-
PiccoloÓ style 45a in the Frank Nix collection Òhighly elegant,
pressed richly decorated walnut veneered case.Ó

Figure 17c: With the disc removed the 41 tooth comb is
exposed, but has the added option of a zither attachment,
where silk covered tissue paper can be slid over the teeth to
give a plucked string effect. This effect is mostly only successful
if the disc has a mandolin style arrangement. The
serial number shown on the bedplate just to the right of the
comb block is 11384.

Figure 18b: Closeup of the top of the 45a exhibiting a pair of
lions facing each other like a coat of arms.

40 MECHANICAL MUSIC September/October 2018

Figure 19a: Pictures I took many years ago (pictures are dated
June 6,1999) at Siegfried WendelÕs Museum in Germany. It is a
pressed carved case but I do not know if it was a Symphonion
or Polyphon as I was unable to look at the movement.

ART CASES | From Page 37

beginning of the article the very high relief was achieved by
placing veneers that had been made very pliable, backed
by Òplastic woodÓ (sawdust mixed with hot animal glue)
pressed (molded) under high pressure and bonded (glued)
to solid wood planks. These panels were then glued
together to form a box with the corners usually covered by
wood strips. This process holds up quite well if the box is
kept in an environment which does not expose it to weather
that features extremes of heat and cold and it especially
helps to keep these boxes away from excessive moisture.
On Pages 42-43 are pictures of a Symphonion ÒRococoÓ
and a Regina Style 19 that were ravaged by exposure to
excessive moisture.

Sources

¥ My personal collection of original and re-print catalogs, original
advertising plus other ephemera.
¥ Volume 2 Number 5 March 1985, Music & Automata by Arthur W.
J. G. Ord-Hume pages 24 and 25. For Celesta information.
¥ Clockwork Music by Arthur W. J. G. Ord-Hume page 181.
¥ The Encyclopedia Of Disc Music Boxes by Q. David Bowers for
information on the Celesta music boxes Pages 113 to 117.
Figure 19b: Closeup of the top of the Wendel pressed carved
music box.

Figure 20: Pictures of what appears to be about a 105/8 inch
disc Symphonion in a carved case that showed up on eBay
several years ago. I have not seen this model pictured in any
catalog either.

September/October 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 41

42 MECHANICAL MUSIC September/October 2018

September/October 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 43

Sunbelt Chapter

Chair: Ray Dickey
Reporter: Diane Caudill
Photographer: Diane Caudill

Jul. 4, 2018 Ð Houston, TX

The Sunbelt Chapter held a celebra

tion full of fun, food, and music on Jul.
4, 2018 at the home of Alan Bies and
Steve Boehck.

Without even lighting a firecracker,
Alan and Steve managed another
spectacular show for the chapter
members. Serving plenty of hot dogs,
ribs, and potato salad, followed by
cobbler and homemade ice cream
(courtesy of Gary McGaughy), the two
hosts kept their audience entertained
with patriotic music box tunes and
band organ music.

Approximately 30 attendees braved
morning storms and sporadic street
flooding to travel to the Houston
Heights and be ÒwowedÓ by the Bies/
Boehck Victorian home which is full of
music boxes, clocks, fans, glassware,
and other interesting collections that
the pair have amassed over the years.

President Ray Dickey samples ice cream
and cobbler.

The rain forecast didnÕt dampen
any spirits even though the big band
organ had to remain in the carriage
house (instead of its usual move
outside for the full effect). It pumped
out song after song of well-known

arrangements, many created by Sunbelt
member Wayne Holton.

By the end of the day, the sun finally
made an appearance, and members
left full, happy, and glad they didnÕt
have to swim home.

Kurt Nauck, Terri Cunningham, Phil, Sandra, and Monicta Smith, Andy and Frances
Ware, Jennifer Lehman, and host Alan Bies celebrate the Fourth in front of the
Hupfeld Phonoliszt Violina.

Gary McGaughy and wife Phyllis brought two flavors of homemade ice cream com-
plete with music box themeÑCapital Cuff Crunch and Regina Vanilla.

Custom signs made to advertise the ice cream flavors.

Alan makes adjustments to new member Karen RueÕs Monopol
disc box, a family piece which she inherited. Having never
heard the box play, she was overcome with emotion when the
first notes sounded

Steve plays the Encore Banjo for the gathered guests. Steve and AlanÕs restored 26-inch Orphenion disk music box

September/October 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 45

Southern California Chapter

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

May 26, 2018 Ð La Mirada, CA

This was the third meeting this year
for the Southern California chapter
and it was again very different from
anything chapter members have
done before. Our host was Arnold
Applebaum, and he invited us to visit
his 20,000 square foot warehouse
full of art, sculpture, mechanical
music, antique radios and collectible
antiques. The variety of items was
breathtaking, and when our members
arrived they were so excited, like kids
in a candy store! At the entrance was a
Nelson-Wiggen Style 6T nickelodeon,
which is identical to the standard 6X
but equipped with an ADT shooting

Our host, Arnold Applebaum with the Wurlitzer 145 band organ.

The Wurlitzer Style CX with the roll changer and ÒWonder
Light.Ó

The Nelson-Wiggen Style 6T Nickelodeon.

The Weber Euterpe Orchestrion.

No matter how big the group, Lowell Boehland gets Ôem all in!

Diane and Bob Lloyd in the Gallery. Hans Davidson in repose.

Gloria Schack, Christian Eric and Roger DeWeese among the artifacts.

gallery game. The instrument plays
piano, mandolin, bass drum, snare
drum, triangle, xylophone and wood
block from a single 10-tune Style G or
4X music roll. It was formerly in the
Helene Sutter collection.

Not to be outdone was the Wurlitzer
Style 145 band organ, serial #4140,
shipped Feb. 2, 1929, to the Spillman
Engineering Co. in N. Tonawanda, NY.
This organ contains approximately
105 pipes, a 16-note set of orchestra
bells and plays Wurlitzer Style 150
band organ rolls arranged on a duplex
roll frame. It was formerly in the Warren
Deasey collection,

Next was the Wurlitzer Style CX
Serial #14493 circa 1910. It contains
the Wurlitzer six-roll automatic roll
changer, which uses five-tune 65-note
Automatic Player Piano rolls (APP). It
features piano, mandolin, snare drum,
bass drum and triangle, along with a
rank of 38 violin and 38 flute pipes.
It was formerly in the Helene Sutter

September/October 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 47

Members enjoying the refreshments.

Arnold and Robin conduct the business meeting.

A closeup showing details of the Weber Euterpe Orchestrion.

collection.

The last of the large instruments
is the Weber Euterpe Salon Piano
Orchestrion, originally converted
from a barrel instrument to Euterpe
rolls by Weber sometime around
1910. It was located in Germany and
imported to the U.S. by Jerry Doring.
The instrument contains several ranks
of pipes and percussion effects.

A number of beautifully-restored
disc and cylinder musical boxes
were on display, including some with
bells and organ effects. There was
a room devoted to 1920s era radios
and another room of 1930s radios and
phonographs. Another room was full
of antique clocks!

A nice variety of food and refreshments
was provided. Robin Biggins
conducted the business meeting. A
podium and microphone made it much
easier for everyone to hear Robin conduct
the meeting. We were pleased to
have our treasurer and recorder, Bob
and Diane Lloyd, in attendance.

Mr. Applebaum told us his parents
were collectors and he is simply
following the family tradition! Dana
Johnson provided the instrument
descriptions for this report. We had a
record 59 members in attendance. The
photos will give you some idea of the
variety of the items contained in this
wonderful collection.

Robin Biggins poses with a painting that
bears an eerie resemblance.

48 MECHANICAL MUSIC September/October 2018

Above, the clock room. Below, the radio room.

September/October 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 49

Snowbelt Chapter

Chair: Tracy M. Tolzmann
Reporter: Tracy M. Tolzmann
Photographer: Merrie Tolzmann

Jul. 21, 2018 Ð Saint Paul, MN

The MBSIÕs Snowbelt Chapter got a
late start on 2018 with its first meeting
of the year held on Saturday, Jul. 21,
at CafesjianÕs Carousel in Saint Paul,
MN, at beautiful Como Park. The
meeting was in conjunction with Òthe
Block-Heads tentÓ of the ÒSons of the
Desert,Ó the Twin Cities branch of the
international Stan Laurel and Oliver
Hardy appreciation society.

The evening began with socialization
shortly after 6 p.m. when the
carousel closed following public
rides. Tables and chairs were set-up
around the carousel pavilion while a
pot luck dinner spread was readied for
the 55 Snowbelters and Block-Heads
in attendance. There was plenty of
delicious food for everyone to share,
with lots of cool beverages to slake
our thirsts. A better evening could not
have been asked for as the previous
hot and humid weather took a break
making the event nearly perfect!

At 8 p.m. rides began on the merrygo-
round. CafesjianÕs Carousel was
the 33rd unit built by the Philadelphia
Toboggan Company and was installed
at the Minnesota State Fair in August
1914. ÒPTC 33Ó operated annually
during the fair for 74 years until the
owners decided to remove 20 of the
68 wooden steeds and place them up
for auction on the lucrative collector
market in the late fall of 1988. When
news of the impending auction was
made public, local carousel-lovers
Peter Boehm and Nancy Peterson
founded the non-profit corporation
Our Fair Carousel (OFC) and secured
the funding to purchase the complete
ride for $1.1 million backed by the City
of Saint Paul. The carousel was named
for its most-generous benefactor, the
late Gerard Cafesjian, who donated

Block-Heads Jenny and Liam MacKenzie enjoyed the carousel. Numerous young-
sters were present for the combined club evening Perhaps thereÕll be a future MBSI
member or two thanks to the joint event.

MBSI Vice President Tom Kuehn and his wife, Hongyan.

Snowbelter Mike Merrick restored and
maintains the Wurlitzer 153 band organ.
His meticulous attention to the instrument
makes it one of the best-sounding
153s in the country. Note the tracker
bar rollers on the hybrid, pressure-only

Snowbelt Chapter treasurer Gary Goldsmith aboard his trusty steed.

organ.

Snowbelt Chapter chairman Tracy Tolzmann straddles his
favorite horse, a stunning alligator-clad pony carved by mas-
ter PTC technician David Lightfoot.

Snowbelt member Carol Schultz enjoys her chosen horse.

Snowbelters and Block-Heads socialize before dinner.

Snowbelters Norma and Bernie Gaffron enjoy one of the car-
ouselÕs two chariots. Note the Wurlitzer 153 at the carouselÕs
center.

September/October 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 51

$600,000 toward the rescue effort.
The attraction has been running in
its custom-built Como Park pavilion
since October 1999, and is still owned
by OFC and is operated by a volunteer
work force.

A fire on the Minnesota State Fair
grounds on Jun. 2, 1939, nearly spelled
the end of PTC 33 when the conflagration
spread to the carousel building,
destroying the rideÕs band organ, and
charring eight of the wooden horses.
The ride was repaired and ready for
passengers when the state fair opened
late that August. With the limited
annual use of the ride, it was never
repainted (except for the eight damaged
steeds). The rest of the horses
all bear their original paint. An occasional
coat of varnish was applied to
give the horses a little gloss which was
carefully removed in the early 1990s
to restore the steeds to their original
glory.

Gerard Cafesjian admitted that his
initial interest in carousels stemmed
from his happy childhood memories
of hearing a band organ in a nearby
amusement park through the bedroom
window of his boyhood home. When
the idea of restoring live band organ
music to the carousel was suggested,
Cafesjian eagerly agreed to finance
the purchase of an apropos instrument.
Snowbelter Mike Merrick led
the search for an organ and arranged
for the purchase of a hybrid Wurlitzer
153 from Marty and Elise RoenigkÕs
Mechantiques. Since the organ had
already experienced some modifications,
MikeÕs meticulous restoration
focused on making the instrument
as maintenance-free as possible. The
pressure pump was removed and
Mike installed a new reservoir and
built a blower that is stationed inside
the carouselÕs center motor house and
is connected to the organ by an air
hose. The instrument is unique among
Wurlitzers as there is no vacuum in the
organ and it operates on all pressure.
Slotted rollers hold the style 150 paper
music rolls against the tracker bars
in the duplex roll frame. Mike had
to construct many devices to modify
the organ to the carouselÕs special
needs, particularly a ÒmuteÓ control
which allows the organ music to be

terminated for announcements while
not interrupting the progress of the
roll. Flipping one of the 3 mute control
switches starts the music again.
MikeÕs system prevents problems that
could result from interrupting the roll
frames during rewind.

When everyone had their fill of
carousel rides and the sun was getting
low, the eveningÕs comedy film program
commenced. The amusement
park-themed show began with the
animated cartoon ÒRoller Coaster
RabbitÓ starring Roger Rabbit. Laurel
and Hardy were up next as stable
hands in the 1929 Hal Roach Studios
silent short subject ÒWrong Again,Ó
where they mistake a horse named
Blue Boy for the famous stolen
Gainsborough painting. The paintingÕs
owner, unaware that Stan and Ollie
are returning the horse, tell the boys
to ÒPut him on top of the piano.Ó The
following scenes show their considerable
efforts trying to get a horse on
top of a grand piano! Next up were the
beautiful Thelma Todd and the Òplain
JaneÓ ZaSu Pitts in ÒOn The Loose,Ó a
1931 release. The girls are sick of their
dates taking them to Coney Island, so
when two English gentlemen promise
them a unique experience, they
expect the best, only to be taken to
Coney Island once again! (Seeing the
vintage fun house attractions such as
a centrifugal spinning floor and the
walk-through rolling barrel made one
realize why such amusements are no
longer used in our current litigious
society!) The program concluded

Twilight brought the screening of classic Hal Roach Studios comedies.

Oliver ÒBabeÓ Hardy on the left and Stan
Laurel on the right in ÒWrong Again.Ó
The horse, Blue Boy, is in the middle.
The 1929 Hal Roach Studios comedy
was one of Laurel and HardyÕs last silent
films, although it was released with synchronized
music and sound effects.

with the Our Gang kids deciding to
play hooky to go fishing, unaware that
their teacher has planned a free outing
for the class at an amusement park.
In 1933Õs ÒFish Hooky,Ó the teacher
conspires with her boyfriend — who
happens to be the local truant officer Ð
to teach the errant boys a lesson while
he chases them all around the park.

The piggy-backing of the Snowbelt
meeting with a gathering of classic
comedy buffs was a perfect blending
of the two hobbies. The music of the
expertly restored and always in tune
Wurlitzer 153 Ð which played the music
from the popular Hal Roach films that
were composed by Minnesota native
Leroy Shield Ð and the vintage comedy
films combined for an evening that
everyone enjoyed.

52 MECHANICAL MUSIC September/October 2018

In Memoriam In Memoriam
Stephen Kent Goodman

By Kelly Goodman

Stephen Kent Goodman, of Granada
Hills, CA, born on Aug. 12, 1949 in
Glendale, CA, to Naoma (Noble)
Goodman (deceased) and Kent Goodman
(deceased), passed away at age
68 on Jul. 18, at his home in Fresno,
CA. He attended USC, Cal Arts, and
Dick Grove School of Music.

He began writing marches at age 12
and continued composing professionally
up to the time of his death. He
was commissioned to produce music
for many bands/orchestras and cities
as well. He also restored and created
the music for automatic musical
instruments too.

A quote from his website:

ÒWhen I heard my first orchestrion
(automatic orchestra) perform at
age 17, a life-long love affair with
automatic music began. From the
very first coin dropped into its slot, I
wanted to get my own compositions
and arrangements onto paper rolls
which performed this mechanical
assemblage of real, acoustic instruments.
The sound was real- not a
reproduction recreated by electronic
speakers. I was hooked.Ó

His hobby was working on film
scripts.

Stephen is survived by and his wife,
Kelly, his brother, Garry, and niece,
Lisa Goodman. He also leaves behind

By Luke Myers

I just read a few moments ago of
the sad news on Stephen Kent GoodmanÕs
passing. I am very shocked to
say the least. He was an invaluable
resource and a great influence in the

his adored cat, Cindy Sue ÒTootsÓ
Meowz and many wonderful and dear
friends. He was a member of Baptist
and Methodist Churches.

He was a member of ASCAP and

mechanical realm. Stephen was one
of the restorers of the magnificent
Robot Band, just one of his many projects,
which can be seen here: https://
goo.gl/WQPVwA

Stephen is referred to as Òhaving
more credits to his name in mechanical

AMICA. The Neptune Society is han-
dling his final wishes.

A special thanks to Erin M. and
Christal M. for the care they gave
Stephen in his last days.

music than at the end of a Star Wars
movie,Ó in the above article.

I know that all of us will miss him
greatly and we all send Kelly our
deepest sympathies and prayers. This
is going to be a hard time for those
closest to him.

September/October 2018 MECHANICAL MUSIC 53

In Memoriam In Memoriam
John Motto-Ros

By Dave Corkrum

Golden Gate Chapter member John
Motto-Ros passed away on Jul. 3,
2018. He and his wife, Nadine, were
members of the chapter since at
least 1991. John was also a member
of the Founding Chapter of AMICA
and had served as its president from
2007 to 2009. John was very active
in his community of Sutter Creek,
CA, the ÒJewel of the Mother LodeÓ
which is located in the foothills of the
Sierra Nevada mountains. Although a
member of both MBSI and AMICA, his
real interest was paper rolls and the
machines to play them on. His music
room which he could see and hear
from above in his study was filled with
unique instruments and collections
of various items from the days of the
49ers.

John and Nadine truly gave of
themselves and their collections. John
was definitely a promoter of automatic
music. He once loaned a player piano to
a nearby car dealership to help develop
an interest among those shopping for
new cars. He organized a band organ
rally in Sutter Creek for many years
and then moved it to Jackson, CA,
where there was more interest. During
these rallies he was always on the
move, usually in a Model A Ford with
a calliope mounted on the truck bed. In
2009, he was the recipient of the MBSI
Roehl Ambassadorship Award.

At first, John and I did not get along
very well as I thought him too gruff,
but then when we started talking about
sharing the music with others, we
really became good friends. He gave
me ideas on ways to spread the word
and the music, such as advertising and
radio spots. Even with his illness, he
was always on the go! About a week

Photo by Chuck Schoppe
Top: John Motto-Ros with some of the mechanical music machines he loved.
Bottom: John with his wife, Nadine, and friends at a Ragtime West Meeting.

before he passed, he called me. He for an hour and at the end I knew I
told me of his illness and how he and was going to lose a very good friend.
Nadine were feeling about it. And we John, you did a lot of good for your
talked about how to get the word out community and the membership. We,
to the public. We must have talked and especially, I, will not forget.

54 MECHANICAL MUSIC September/October 2018

In Memoriam In Memoriam
Wallace C. Donoghue

By Ann Donoghue

Wally Donoghue was an avid follower
of Mechanical Music Digest
(MMD), a long-time member of MBSI
and AMICA, and enjoyed this crowd
very much. He passed away Jul. 17,
after a battle with ALS.

One of the first companies he
established, in the early 1960s, was
Plymouth Piano and Music Box Company.
Dad somehow stumbled upon
Harvey RoehlÕs book and since he was
already a piano player and lover, the
mechanical aspects of a reproducing
piano intrigued his engineering mind
greatly. He appreciated Ampicos and
Duo-Arts the most. He looked for and
picked up pianos that no one wanted,
restoring them and selling them.

He developed relationships with
local piano tuners and asked them to
tell him about any reproducing pianos
they came across. He frequently found
pianos just prior to them heading to
the garbage heap. I can remember
when I was a kid there were five grand
pianos in the living room and one in
the bedroom! These included pianos
that had signatures of Myra Hess and
Percy Grainger on the harp.

Dad and Larry Givens were fast
friends. They met in college when
Larry spotted DadÕs Model T (his daily
driver) and left a note on the windshield.
They shared many projects
together and often bought and sold

mechanical instruments from each
other. My first Knabe Ampico came
from Larry (Ken Long has it now).

Prior to closing down his business
in the 1990s Wally made sure everyone
in the family had a reproducing piano.
The family had a Mason and Hamlin,
two Knabes and a Steinway (the Percy
Grainger)! I say ÒhadÓ because a couple
of them have since been switched
out for other reproducing pianos, and
the Grainger Steinway went to CrankerÕs
Collection of Mechanical Marvels.

Many friends have found use for
the various parts left over after the
business closed and he delighted in
hearing about othersÕ projects and
how they put the parts to use! (And
there are still parts in the shop!)

My folks have a home filled with
music boxes of all kinds, the Mason
and Hamlin and clocks. Us kids enjoy
playing them whenever we can. We are
very grateful for the love of mechanical
music that they instilled in us, and
the pianos we all have.

Wally was born on Jul. 4, 1935 in
Boston, MA, to Lawrence Donoghue
and Helen Craven. He graduated from
Benson High School in Omaha, NE,
and received a Bachelor of Science
degree in electrical engineering from
Carnegie Tech University. He married
Marlene Speer shortly after graduation.

Wally and Marlene moved to Plymouth
in 1958, and Wally started a

career with General Motors, working
in the Noise and Vibration Laboratory
and other design areas. In 1969, he
left GM and with Marlene, established
several successful small businesses.
Wally designed and manufactured the
Slim Guide¨ Skinfold Caliper.

He owned and drove many classic
cars and was active in the Classic Car
Club of America, vacationing on more
than 25 CCCA CARavans. He was the
technical consultant for the Rolls
Royce Phantom Ill Technical Society
and delighted in helping fellow owners
figure out mechanical problems.

He was devoted to the family pets
and there were frequently more dogs
and cats (and a few exotic pets) in the
house than Marlene would have liked.

He will be remembered for his large
laugh and big smile, his curious mind
and his keen intellect.

Our Condolences to the families of these members in their time of loss

MBSI member and Southern MBSI member Ed Hattrup has Bill ChapmanÕs partner, John
California Chapter member Nick passed away at age 95. Ed was also Ohrenstein has also passed away
Monios from Long Beach, CA, has an AMICA member, belonging to that unexpectedly. He was only 59 years
passed away. Our condolences to his organization since 1970 He lived in old.
wife, Linda. He was a very caring and Ramona, CA.
faithful man.

September/October 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 September/October 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.

StantonÕs Fall Music Machine Auction StantonÕs Fall Music Machine Auction
To be held on the BARRY COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS 5 miles northwest of
Hastings, Michigan at 1350 N. M-37 Highway, Hastings, Michigan on:

THURSDAY, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY,
NOVEMBER 15, 16, & 17, 2018

Thursday starting at 12:30 P.M.
Friday and Saturday begins at 9:00 A.M. each day

We are in the process of accepting collections and additional fine

machines for our Premier Fall Event of antique and automatic musicmachines. Already included in our upcoming sale are excellent

collections of upright, table & floor model music boxes of all kinds

including Automatic changers, bell boxes, a Rare weight driven example,
Capitol Cuff, and more, antique phonographs including many rare and
exceptional examples ranging from a very Rare Edison School to a
Columbia Toy, Edison Doll, Rare coin operated machines including an

Edison Bijou and Excelsior, as well as a Columbia ÒSÓ, fine music boxes,
Another wonderful offering of floor model machines including Circassian

walnut examples, VTLAs, Victor VV-XX, a fantastic group of Sonoras,
Victor 9-54, RCA V-225, Edison C-2, Capehart Chippendale 400 series
in a walnut cabinet, records, advertising, and even a group of antique

furniture and great wall clocks will be sold. This is only a brief sampling,
of what will undoubtedly be included. Mark this sale on your calendar,
make your reservations and plan on taking advantage of these great

offerings from all over the country.

Contact us to have your items and
collections included in this sale.
Call and get included on our travel and pickup
schedule across the United States and Canada.

Steven E. Stanton, (517) 331-8150Email Ð stevenEstanton@gmail.com
Michael C. Bleisch, (517) 231-0868Email Ð mcbleisch@gmail.com

StantonÕs Auctioneers,
AUCTIONEERS & REALTORSSTANTONÕSSteven E. Stanton

(517) 331-8150 cellular

Appraisers, & Realtors

(517) 852-0627 evening

144 S. Main, P.O. Box 146
Vermontville, MI 49096 E-mail Ð stevenEstanton@gmail.com

Phone: (517) 726-0181

Michael C. Bleisch

Fax: (517) 726-0060

(517) 231-0868 cellular

E-mail: stantonsauctions@sbcglobal.net

E-mail Ð mcbleisch@gmail.com

Website: www.stantons-auctions.com

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
Regina Upright Changer
Upcoming at Auction – May 11 & 12
Accepting Quality Consignments
$7,000-$10,000
cottoneauctions.com
COTTONE AUCTIONS
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
Get noticed,
grow your business
Take advantage of MBSIÕs new advertising
program thatÕs perfect for small business owners
looking for a way to reach potential buyers
without a huge expense.
The MBSI BuyerÕs Guide section offers you six
business card size advertisements (3.5 inches
wide by 2.25 inches high) at a cost of $35 per ad
for members (or $40 for non-members). Total
cost is $210 (or $240 per year for non-members).
Discounted pricing in the BuyerÕs Guide
requires a 6-issue commitment and ads must
be pre-paid. Single-issue ads are $50 each.
Call (253) 228-1634 for information
or email mbsi@irondogmedia.com
VINTAGE Restorations, LLC.
Joe SmithÕs
Email: joe@vint-restorations.com | Phone: (555) 555-1212
Email: bill@wri-repair.com
Phone: (555) 555-1212
Website: www.Wri-Repair.com
Sample advertisement
Sample advertisement
Quality Work Done Right
WrightÕs Repairs
58 MECHANICAL MUSIC September/October 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

Mechanical
Music
DiRecTORY
MeMBeRs,
MuseuMs,
& DealeRs
2016 Ð 2017
Mechanical
Music
DiRecTORY
MeMBeRs,
MuseuMs,
& DealeRs
2016 Ð 2017
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 place
on 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 to
each 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 email
editor@mbsi.org to reserve your
advertising space now.

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 September/October 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

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

CREMONA COIN OPERATED piano -needs
retubing. Has 3 rolls and art glass. Piano
Player. Collection of SBMI Bulletins and magazines
from 1970 to present. Call RICHARD
NELSON at (845) 359-2721.

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

Display Advertising Dimensions and Costs
Dimensions 1 issue 3 issues* 6 issues*
Back Cover 8.75Ó x 11.25Ó $600 $540 $510
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ALL ADS MUST BE PREPAID

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ADVERTISING DEADLINES:

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Feb., Apr., Jun, Aug., Oct. and Dec.

Display ads may be submitted
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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.

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(253) 228-1634
Email: editor@mbsi.org

62 MECHANICAL MUSIC September/October 2018

in the continental U.S. Additional postage

charges apply for other locations.
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,
A REGINA Clock for a Regina Style 35 Auto-www.polyphonmusic.com
matic Changer Contact: CHARLIE BEATTY,

SERVICES
WANTED
(269) 637-9265, jcbeatty566@comcast.net 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

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

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Text of ad

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You know the old saying, ÒA photo is worth 1,000
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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
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2 Renaissance Antiques
56 Bob Caletti Music Box
Restorations
56 BenÕs Player Piano Service
56 Nancy Fratti Music Boxes
57 StantonÕs Auctions
58 Chet Ramsay Antiques
58 Cottone Auctions
59 McAlister Collection
61 Nancy Fratti Music Boxes
66 Marty Persky
67 Morphy Auctions
68 Auction Team Breker

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2016 2017
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September/October 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

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, Treasurer
Wayne Wolf, Vice Chair
Tom Kuehn, Vice President
Judy Caletti, Trustee
Peter Both
B Bronson

Marketing Committee

Rob Pollock, Chair
John Bryant, Trustee

G.Wayne Finger, Trustee
Bob Smith
Meetings Committee

Tom Kuehn, Chair, Vice President
Mary Pollock, Trustee
Don Henry
Matt Jaro
Cotton Morlock
Rich Poppe

Membership Committee

Rob Pollock, Chair
Judy Caletti, Trustee, Immediate
Past President
Linda Birkitt, Southern California

Membership Committee
(cont.)

Tom Chase, Snowbelt
Glen Crater, East Coast
Mary Grace, Sunbelt
Florie Hirsch, National Capital
Julie Hughes, Golden Gate
Julie Morlock, Southeast
Dale Stewart, Mid-America
Dan Wilson, Piedmont
Gerald Yorioka, Northwest IntÕl
TBD, Great Lakes
TBD, Japanese IntÕl

Museum Committee

Sally Craig, Chair, Trustee
John Bryant, Trustee
Ken Envall, Southern California
Julian Grace, Sunbelt
Wayne Myers, Southeast
Ray Parkinson, Northwest IntÕl

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, Vice President
Steve Boehck
Dave Corkrum
Christian Eric
Kathleen Eric
Terry Smythe

Publications
Sub-Committee

Website Committee
Rick Swaney, Chair
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 September/October 2018

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Date Event Location Sponsor
Oct. 7, 2018 Southern California Chapter Meeting Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, Gloria Schack
Oct 19-21, 2018 East Coast Chapter Meeting Westford, MA Mary & Dick Hunt
Oct. 21, 2018 National Capital Chapter Meeting Gaithersburg, MD Matt and Beni Jaro
Dec 2, 2018 Snowbelt Chapter Meeting Mahtomedi, MN Tom & Hongyan Kuehn
Aug 27-31, 2019 2019 MBSI Annual Meeting Rockville, MD National Capital 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: Rob Pollock
(937) 508-4984
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

September/October 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

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COIN-OP & ADVERTISING * OCTOBER 20 & 21, 2018
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For more highlights and videos, visit www.Breker.com/New Highlights
or youtube.com/auctionteambreker
Fully-illustrated bilingual (Engl.-German) COLOUR Catalogue available against prepayment only:
Euro 28.Ð (Europe) or elsewhere Euro 37.Ð (approx. US$ 44.Ð / Overseas)
(Bank draft, cash or by Credit Card with CVV and expiry date: MasterCard/Visa/AmEx)
. Consignments for Future Auctions Always Welcome! .
Ð The Specialists in ÈTechnical AntiquesÇ Ð
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e-mail: Auction@Breker.com á www.breker.com á Business Hours: Tue Ð Fri 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
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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: Maksim Suravegin, Tel. +7 903 558 02 50 * Maksim-ATB.ru@gmx.net
Éand many more!
Musical Clock
with Prototype
Cylinder
Movement, c. 1820
Estimate:
2.000 Ð 3.000  /
$ 2.300 Ð 3.500
Silver-Gilt and Enamel
Singing Bird Box
by Charles Bruguier,
c. 1845
Estimate:
20.000 Ð 30.000  /
$ 23.200 Ð 34.800
Palais Royale
Piano-Form Sewing
Necessaire, c. 1830
Estimate: 2.000 Ð 3.500  /
$ 2.300 Ð 4.000
Gold Pocket Watch with Sur-Plateau
Movement, c. 1815
Estimate: 1.000 Ð 1.500  / $ 1.160 Ð 1.740
Gold and Enamel Musical Pendant,
c. 1820
Estimate: 2.000 Ð 4.000  / $ 2.300 Ð 4.600
Superb Gold and Enamel
Musical Harp Pendant, c. 1805
Estimate: 10.000 Ð 15.000  /
$ 11.600 Ð 17.400
Exceptional Gold Musical
Presentation Snuffbox, c. 1810
Estimate: 10.000 Ð 20.000  /
$ 11.600 Ð 23.200
Monkey Fisherman Automaton
by Jean Phalbois, c. 1884
Estimate: 6.000 Ð 8.000  / $ 6.950 Ð 9.300
Rare Curved Musical Gold Snuffbox,
c. 1812
Estimate: 8.000 Ð 12.000  / $ 9.300 Ð 13.900
148th Specialty Auction
ÈFine Mechanical Music InstrumentsÇ
Featuring the Luuk Goldhoorn Collection
9 + 10 November 2018
Musical Sewing Necessaire
by F. Nicole, c. 1840
Estimate: 2.000 Ð 3.000  / $ 2.300 Ð 3.500
Fine Dutch Musical Sewing
Compendium, c. 1820
Estimate: 2.500 Ð 3.500  /
$ 2.900 Ð 4.000