Journal of the Musical Box Society International
Devoted to All Automatic Musical Instruments
Volume 65, No. 1 January/Feburary 2019
Mechanical Music
PuRchAse ¥ sAles ¥ consignment
of Quality Cylinder & Disc Music Boxes, Musical Clocks & Automata
For over forty years weÕve placed fine antiques in collections around the world.
Our reputation has been built upon appreciative buyers and satisfied sellers.
Pictured are a few of the high quality musical antiques in our current inventory.
496 First Street, California 93463 ¥ Ron & Julie Palladino
Open Seven Days a Week 10-6 ¥ 805-452-5700
www.renantiques.com ¥ info@renantiques.com
Visit the charming Danish Village of Solvang, half an hour above Santa Barbara in the beautiful Central Coast Wine Country
RENAISSANCE ANTIQUE S
Renaissance Antiques 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 The article will not be published with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 2019. 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 65, No. 1 January/February 2019
MBSI NEWS
5 PresidentÕs Message
7 EditorÕs Notes
10 Society financial reports
Features
8 Book Reviews
13 Nickel Notes
by Matt Jaro
CHAPTER
REPORTS
36 East Coast
40 Golden Gate
41 National Capital
43 National Capital
46 Northwest International
49 Southeast
51 Southern California
55 Southern California
On the Cover
Bob Caletti turns a pile of parts
in to a spectacular example of a
271/2-inch Symponion upright disc
player with 12 bells. See Page 20 for
more.
MBSI has replanted 40 trees so far as part
of the Print ReLeaf program.
January/February 2019 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.
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
Last name First Name Initial
Last Name First Name Initial
Address
City
State / Zip
Postal Code / Country
Phone
Fax
Sponsor (optional)
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.
Check or Money Order Payable to: MBSI Treasurer (US Funds Only)
Mail to: New Member Registration – MBSI
PO Box 10196
Springfield, MO 65808-0196
Visa/MasterCard
Exp. Date CCV
Signature
Membership Dues
US members (per household)……………………………………….$60
Student Membership…………………………………………………….$20
(online journal access only)
Canada…………………………………………………………………………$70
Other International………………………………………………………$75
(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
workshops.
Members receive the scholarly journal, Mechanical
Music, which also contains advertising space for members
who wish to buy, sell, and restore mechanical musical
instruments and related items; the Directory of Members,
Museums, and Dealers.
The only requirements for membership are an interest in
automatic music machines and the desire to share information
about them. And youÕll take pride in knowing you
are contributing to the preservation of these marvelous
examples of bygone craftsmanship.
More Information:
Phone/Fax: (417) 886-8839
Email: jbeeman.mbsi@att.net
4 MECHANICAL MUSIC January/February 2019
By Clay Witt
MBSI President
As I write this, I know IÕll soon be
getting out my Christmas music box
discs and hanging a Christmas wreath
around the neck of my favorite statute
of VictorÕs famous dog Nipper. On the
other hand, when you receive this
edition of Mechanical Music you will
most likely be putting all your Christmas
decorations away. I hope you
all had a wonderful holiday season
and that Santa brought you exactly
the right mechanical music treasure
youÕve been wanting.
As some of you may recall, I wrote
an article titled ÒName That TuneÓ
that appeared in the July/August 2018
edition of Mechanical Music. The
focus of that article was how to fully
identify songs on a music box when its
tune sheet has faded to a shadow and
has incomplete titles with mysterious
abbreviations all written in lovely,
but difficult to read, 19th century
handwriting. The vehicle for telling
that story was a tune sheet on an
1869 Nicole Frres box, which at the
time had suffered from some serious
neglect. I am happy to tell you that it
has since had a thorough restoration
and is once more playing the songs
identified in the article beautifully.
With luck it will do so for another
century.
An even more difficult job is identifying
music from days long gone by
where the tune sheet is missing. What
was a popular tune a century ago may
now be long forgotten. A byproduct
of the ÒName That TuneÓ article was
a note from MBSI member Dr. Elliot
Schuman letting me know about an
interesting book (or as it turns out a
pair of books) that can come to the
rescue in that situation. I thought you
might find these books quite useful if
you are not already familiar with them.
Both were written by a gentleman
named Denys Parsons, who must have
been a man of incredible patience and
industry, in the mid-1970s. One is titled
ÒThe Directory of Classical ThemesÓ
and the other is titled ÒThe Directory
of Tunes and Musical Themes.Ó The
former, exactly as the title implies,
lists only classical tunes. The latter
has two main sections, one with classical
tunes and the other with 19th and
20th century popular tunes. (I have
not undertaken the daunting task of
doing a side by side comparison, but
it appears that the former has more
classical tunes than the latter.)
The beauty of these volumes is that
they enable you to identify many old
tunes on your music box without
knowing anything at all about musicology.
All you need to be able to do
is recognize that a note is the same
pitch, higher in pitch, or lower in pitch
than the one before it. You just write
down the pattern of the first 16 notes
(or in some cases fewer notes). The
first note is represented by an asterisk,
which is a place holder. (What note is
actually being played is irrelevant as
we are only looking for a pattern.)
Each note after that is represented by
an R (repeat) if it is the same as the
note before it, a U (up) if it is higher
in pitch than the one before it, or a D
(down) if it is lower in pitch than the
one before it. Parsons sets these out in
a 6, 5, 5 pattern (the breaks are just to
make looking up the title a bit easier).
For example, God Save the Queen/
My Country Tis of Thee is *RUDUU
URUDD DUDDU.
Want to make sure the tune you think
youÕve identified using one of these
books is the right one? Fortunately,
it is now fairly easy to hear many of
them being played via the internet.
YouTube is an excellent resource in
this regard.
Parsons has given us the patterns
for what must be thousands of tunes!
Both titles can be had from Amazon,
ÒThe Directory of Classical ThemesÓ
as an updated current reprint and the
out of print ÒThe Directory of Tunes
and Musical ThemesÓ as a used hardback
in good condition. You may find
this resource very helpful if you want
to reconstruct a tune sheet for your
music box or just want to know what
you are listening to. And tracking it all
down is a bit of fun!
A very happy, prosperous, and
music-filled New Year to you all!
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
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.
.
.
..
¨.
(INTERNATIONAL)
ORGANIZED IN 1949
DEVOTED TO ALL MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
.
.
..
¨.
(INTERNATIONAL)
ORGANIZED IN 1949
DEVOTED TO ALL MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Musical Box Society International
P.O. Box 10196
Spring eld, MO 65808-0196
Phone/Fax: (417) 886-8839
Musical Box Society International
P.O. Box 10196
Spring eld, MO 65808-0196
Phone/Fax: (417) 886-8839
Dues Voucher Ð $15
New U.S. members may join MBSI for one year at $45 (instead
of $60); Canadians $55 (instead of $70; and, other International
members at $60 (instead of $75). This certi cate must accom-
pany payment and a copy of the completed membership
application from page 4 of this issue of Mechanical Music.
New Member Name(s):
Expires: 01/01/2019
Authorized by MBSI Administrator
NEW MEMBER
GIFT CERTIFICATE
New members are those who have never been members
of MBSI or those who have not been members for three
years prior to submission of this voucher.
New members are those who have never
been members of MBSI or those who
have not been members for three years
prior to submission of this certi cate.
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.
Gift Membership Name
Address, City, State, ZIP
Phone Email
Sponsor
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
MBSI Editor/Publisher
Welcome to a new year full of
Mechanical Music! We are now in the
65th consecutive year of publishing
this journal and I couldnÕt be happier
with the way so many of you, the
wonderful members of this society,
have responded to the call to submit
articles. In fact, so many new articles
and amazing photos have come in
over the past four months that IÕve run
out of space to publish them all for
two issues in a row now. I just donÕt
have enough pages!
In my eyes, this is cause to celebrate.
It means that together we are actively
fulfilling the mission of this society
which is to educate and inform people
about mechanical music. We are also
growing our archive of materials that
will serve for many more years to
come teaching the next generation
about this great hobby.
Please know that if you have submitted
an article anytime in the last four
months and you have not yet seen it
appear in the magazine, it will be published
as soon as I have the space to do
so. I am working my way through each
and every article and doing my best to
give them the time and attention they
need so that when they get printed,
they are the best articles they can be.
Anyone working on (or thinking
about starting) a new article, please
keep going and send it in as soon as
you have it ready. IÕll make sure to give
your article the same professional
attention and care as I do with all the
others that get printed on these pages.
We will be sure to find the right space
at the right time to get your work
published too.
This issue is packed with chapter
updates, several that were held over
from the November/December 2018
issue to make space for the fantastic
photography of Lowell Boehland, Ed
Cooley, B Bronson, Bob Caletti and
Michael Clark. Their photos brought
the experience of the 2018 MBSI
Annual Meeting home to those of
us who could not attend in person. I
cannot thank them enough for their
generosity in sharing such wonderful
images with us all.
I hope you can now enjoy catching
up on the activities of the chapters as
much as I did. We have two reports
from the Southern California Chapter
and two from the National Capital
Chapter, plus reports from the East
Coast, Golden Gate, Southeast, and
Northwest International chapters.
There is one bit of society business
to pay attention to on Pages 10-12 in
this issue. You may, or may not have
noticed but we mistakenly printed
the 2017 financial statements for the
society in the November/December
2018 issue instead of the 2018 financial
statements. This issue corrects that
mistake and includes the 2018 financial
statements to bring everything up
to date following the annual meeting.
Then we have Matt Jaro continuing
his excellent series ÒNickel Notes,Ó
this time holding a conversation with
longtime restorer Joe Hilferty about
how the mechanical music business
has changed in the past 50 years.
Bob CalettiÕs detailed article on the
restoration of a 271/2-inch Symphonion
will be sure to capture your attention.
The article includes many photos
showing the steps taken to get from a
pile of parts to the gorgeous finished
product you see on the cover of this
issue.
Charles Moore and Robin Biggins
also contributed informative reviews
of Kevin McElhoneÕs new works ÒSupplement
to The Organette BookÓ and
ÒSupplement to The Disc Music Box.Ó
Both titles re now available through
the Musical Society of Great Britain.
See Page 63 for ways to obtain them.
Once again, I wish to thank all the
writers, photographers, and proofreaders
who lent their time and talents
to help me send this issue off to the
printer so it could be delivered to you.
I hope you enjoy this new year, and
please keep sending in your articles
so we can continue producing more
journals like this.
Welcome new members!
October 2018
Daniel Horan & Celeste Horan
Windham, NH
Erik Schweppe & Sandra Vernon
Wheaton, IL
Yongdong Luo
Norwich, CT
Janelle & Harold Weatherford
Monticello, IL
Frankenmuth & Irene Atkinson
Frankenmuth, MI
Robert Weaver
Frederrickberg, OH
Dominique & Agnes LeFebvre Steven & Chele Kelly
Redessan, France Fredericksburg, VA
John Coffman Don & Carol Wright
Cape Coral, FL Tulsa, Ok
Michael Chalifoux
November 2018 Dedham, MA
William Faurot & Janet Reynolds Each OneLa Quinta, CA
Chaim & Ulrich Gluck Reach One
Lucerne, Meggen New Member
Jon Ford
Chambersburg, PA
January/February 2019 MECHANICAL MUSIC 7
Book Reviews
Supplement to The Organette Book
By Charles Moore
Kevin McElhoneÕs original ÒThe
Organette BookÓ was published in 2002
by the Musical Box Society of Great
Britain. In it, Kevin endeavored to, with
the help of many contributors, compile
the essential information available
about the organette. He defines the
instrument as Òan automatically operated
reed organ, most frequently for
indoor use, which is small and portable,
rarely has a keyboard for playing
manually and with the music program
transported through the machine by
a direct mechanical method.Ó The
main section of the original book is
an alphabetical listing of all of the
known organettes by name. To a new
enthusiast, such as myself, this was a
revelation. The variety of methods and
mechanisms that were developed in
various countries for producing music
with a small hand cranked instrument
was surprising to say the least.
Kevin notes in the introduction to
ÒThe Organette BookÓ that Òother
newly discovered organettes came to
light, too late to be included.Ó It was
clear that the story of the organette
was not fully told and Kevin requested
any new information be forwarded to
him Òso that details may be included in
later works.Ó
Now, 16 years later, the first of these
Òlater worksÓ has appeared. It is the
newly published ÒSupplement to The
Organette Book,Ó compiled and edited
by Kevin. The book is produced in an
8.5-by-12-inch format. It is 100 pages
with full color photos and scans on
literally every page, many of the pages
being almost entirely covered in photos.
Opened randomly to any page, it
is a feast for the eyes.
At the beginning of the new book is
a section with vintage photos containing
organettes and scans of original
trade cards and other ephemera. The
later sections of the book include
ORGANETTE BOOK | See Page 9
An example of a page in the ÒSupplement to The Organette Book.Ó This photo
shows a monster Orchestrionette model playing a 56-note presspahn loop.
8 MECHANICAL MUSIC January/February 2019
Supplement to The Disc Musical Box
By Robin Biggins
When the original 496-page ÒThe Disc Musical BoxÓ book
was published in 2012 it was considered a ÒcompendiumÓ
because of the extensive amount of information and photos
it contained. It seemed unlikely that any more important
information would warrant further publication.
That premise was obviously not held by the talented
author, Kevin McElhone, who has now compiled a further
100 page supplement, appropriately titled ÒSupplement to
The Disc Musical Box.Ó This work contains many more
photos and technical details.
For instance, there are 30 pages of new photos and
descriptions of disc-playing machines, a list of information
for 343 new models, and 1,411 additional serial numbers to
help identify and date makers and models.
There are 89 new lid pictures, and a page of additional
patent information relating to disc musical boxes.
There is even an index of the 3,637 illustrations shown
in the original book, the DVD and the supplement, to more
easily locate the total of 1,635 individual makes and models.
In my opinion, this is an incredible achievement by Kevin.
The publication of the original book, and now the sup-
plement, is a tribute to The Musical Box Society of Great
Britain for the historical documentation of these wonderful
mechanical music machines.
ORGANETTE BOOK | From Page 8
novelty items, updates and additions
to the tuning scales found in the original
book, lists of museums, patents
and an index of named instruments.
The main section of the supplement
is once again the alphabetical listing
of the organettes by name, in this
case not duplicating every named
instrument found in the original but
only those for which new information
or photos are included.
It was here that I started preparing
for this review by synchronizing the
supplement and the original book at
the listings beginning with ÒA,Ó intending
to go through and make notes. The
first entry in the supplement, the Abelofone
Pneumatico, is an instrument
found in Portugal and not documented
in the original organette book.
The next matching instrument
name, Amabile, is briefly described in
the original book with only a couple
of paragraphs covering the maker
and two models, one having 16 notes
and one having 18 notes. In the supplement,
however, there are full color
photos of actual 18-note and 24-note
desktop instruments and a 28-note
clockwork driven upright model from
this manufacturer. The next entry,
Amorette, in the supplement, includes
many new photos along with a 16-note
Amorette in an accordion format!
I didnÕt even make it through the As
before realizing that if I continued in
this manner my review might take longer
than Kevin took to write the entire
supplement. So, I switched to noting
just a few other discoveries I think
readers will find quite interesting when
turning through the book. First is a red
Intona that plays a metal donut type
disk in a hexagonal case. Then comes a
Tanzbar automatic accordion in a hexagonal
case, and next is a previously
unknown monster Orchestrionette
model playing a 56-note presspahn
loop. Included, as well, are photos of
many actual instruments previously
only shown in period advertisements.
Not surprisingly, the supplement
provides corrections to some of the
information found in the original book,
but even the supplement is going to
need a supplement as new information
is discovered all the time. For example,
on page 25 it is speculated that the
Auto-Organ is a 14-note instrument
but in fact it plays 22-note Autophone
strips. And on page 71, the Pneumatic
Organ by J. R. Holcomb & Co. looks
very much like a 14-note instrument in
size and case style but it is actually a
very compact pneumatic instrument,
playing 20-note Celestina rolls. This
information has been passed along
with KevinÕs appreciation and he asks
that any further corrections or new
information on any instruments not
already documented in the two books
be passed along to him.
As the author of this review, I should
disclose that I am credited in the book
as a contributor. However, I certainly
had no part in the compilation or
production of the book. As a collector
and organette enthusiast I can highly
recommend the book as a must have
reference along with the original
ÒThe Organette Book.Ó And, if you
are someone interested in mechanical
music more generally, I think you will
find it fascinating that there were so
many different models and variations
of these ingenious little instruments
which were mass produced for a wide
audience.
January/February 2019 MECHANICAL MUSIC 9
10 MECHANICAL MUSIC January/February 2019
January/February 2019 MECHANICAL MUSIC 11
12 MECHANICAL MUSIC January/February 2019
Nickel Notes
By Matthew Jaro
In this edition of Nickel Notes we
travel to the outskirts of York, PA, to
visit longtime restorer Joe Hilferty.
This is a slight departure from previous
columns, which focused on collectors.
Joe has interesting pieces, but that
is coincidental to his occupation of
mechanical instrument restoration.
He lives on a 12-acre farm with his
wife, Nancy, two horses and numerous
cats. The property is breath-taking. As
always, I first ask people how they got
started in mechanical music, and this
is JoeÕs story.
Beginnings
Joe was born in Philadelphia, PA,
and moved to York in 1970 when he
married Nancy. After a few years
in York, Joe went into business for
himself doing antique refinishing and
rebuilding. JoeÕs father-in-law bought
a player piano at an antique shop and
that was the first time Joe had seen
one. JoeÕs father-in-law wanted Joe
to fix it, but it was a junker Ð with a
bad mechanism and a bad piano. Joe
didnÕt get very far with it and kind of
got bored trying to figure it out, but
he bought one or two more anyway
hoping for better. These just happened
to be junkers, too, and he almost said,
ÒPhooey with this, IÕm not interested
in these things.Ó Before giving up
completely, however, Joe called Mike
McMillan who was in the restoration
business and lived about a half an hour
away. Joe was going to sell his pianos
to Mike if he wanted them. Mike said,
ÒOh no, youÕve got to rebuild them,
and hereÕs the company to go get parts
from (Player Piano Company).Ó
Joe was good mechanically and
started figuring a lot out for himself to
Joe (at right) and Nancy HilfertyÕs
12-acre farm in York, PA, is a tranquil
haven for their horses and cats.
get the player portions of the pianos
working again. Then his work restoring
mechanical music instruments
really got kicked into high gear in
1976 when Will Markey, who was in
the trucking business, wandered into
Hathaway and Bowers in California
and found himself the proud owner
of a Bruder band organ. Will looked
in the phone book, found JoeÕs name
under Player Pianos and asked if Joe
could fix the thing he just bought. Joe
went over to look at it and that was
the first time Joe experienced a band
organ.
Joe said, ÒThis is out of my league,
you should call Mike Kitner.Ó Mike,
who lived in nearby Carlisle, PA, took
the job and ended up helping Joe
with a number of other rebuilding
problems, in the process becoming a
good friend. Markey continued to buy
more pieces which he gave to Joe to
fix. Markey would then sell the pieces
and buy more.
Joe says he is more mechanical
than musical. He loves fixing the
instruments, but really doesnÕt have a
musical background. Over the years,
January/February 2019 MECHANICAL MUSIC 13
Joe branched out into rebuilding
regular grand pianos and fixing
nickelodeons and band organs at the
same time. It became a mainstay of his
business for many years. Joe says that
the piano business has really fallen off
in the past five years or so. ÒThere is
still a demand for rebuilding, itÕs just
limited to high-end pianos and family
heirlooms,Ó he says, adding that he has
seen many Steinway pianos shipped
to Asia in un-rebuilt condition simply
to become living room decorations.
The Restoration Business
The original player piano Joe got
was never rebuilt. He finally trashed it
10 or 15 years later after finding much
better players to rebuild. He even has
a couple of players now that nobody
wants and says they will likely end
up in the trash too. The problem is
the lack of interest. Joe says thereÕs
nobody calling him saying ÒIÕm looking
to buy a player piano.Ó Everyone
calling is looking to sell a player piano.
They say, ÒHey, you rebuilt this 10
years ago, do you want to buy it back?Ó
Joe declines most offers because he
canÕt turn around and sell them again,
but sometimes he will take a piano on
consignment. He said a woman called
him the other day wanting to sell a
carved case Steinway OR Duo-Art that
Joe rebuilt five or six years ago. She
said she had lost her job and needed
money for the kidsÕ college education.
She believed the piano was worth
$35,000.
Joe told her, ÒYouÕre not going to get
that,Ó but she felt like she could advertise
it extensively to attract a buyer.
Joe told her, ÒIt doesnÕt matter where
you go to advertise it, you might only
get half of what it brought five years
ago.Ó The 30- to 40-year-old crowds
who might have the money to buy a
piano like that just arenÕt interested
in antiques or pianos. Most younger
people donÕt even know these types
of pianos exist and if they did know
they still wouldnÕt be interested, Joe
says. Antique prices are down about
50 percent from five years ago and Joe
says he always cautions buyers not
to treat the machines as investments.
He advises people to only buy them if
they really love them.
This Seeburg E was found in an old farmhouse with all its parts stored in a barn for
30 years. ItÕs missing its toes and half an inch of wood from the back because the
farmer who owned it needed it to fit through his skinny farmhouse doors.
Joe says it would be foolish for him
to take in a player piano and do a $5,000
restoration on it, since he couldnÕt sell
one for $7,000. People want them for
$2,000, so he just doesnÕt do them.
Only people who wish to restore family
heirlooms would spend $5,000 to
restore their souvenir, he says. There
is still plenty of stuff to do (as Joe puts
it), and rebuilders are kept busy since
there are fewer rebuilders to compete
with now. The bigger problem, Joe
says, is that the rebuilders still out
there are getting older too. Joe is 68
and some rebuilders are in their 70s
and not rebuilding any more. ThatÕs
why customers can find it tough
getting things rebuilt these days, he
says. Not too many young people are
interested in the business like Dave
Ramey, Jr. is, Joe says. ÒA lot more
of my work is coming from a longer
distance away due to the fact of there
being fewer rebuilders around.Ó
I asked Joe how he first started
finding customers for player pianos.
He said, ÒThey found me!Ó
Back in the 1970s people would
knock on the door and say ÒI heard
you got player pianos.Ó Also, people
would call the local piano stores who
would, in turn, say, ÒWell, call Hilferty,
heÕs got the player pianos.Ó Joe said
he never had to advertise. It all came
from word-of-mouth and people who
tracked him down if they were looking
for a player piano.
Today, few people are looking, so
if you want to sell a player piano, you
have to find potential customers by
advertising or the internet. Joe says
that someone in the business today
really needs a website to make a
living. Joe hasnÕt had time to set up
a website. He doesnÕt really make a
living from player pianos and grands
anymore, but from rebuilding nickelodeons
and band organs. He has a
client list for those types of machines
that he says will provide business the
rest of his life.
Nickelodeons (The Seeburg E)
One day, someone called Joe on the
phone and asked ÒDo you buy juke
boxes?Ó Joe said, ÒNo, I donÕt do juke
boxes, but what do you got?Ó
The caller said, ÒIt says ÔSeeburgÕ on
it.Ó
Joe asked what it looked like.
The caller said, ÒIt has a keyboard
on it,Ó and Joe said, ÒWell, thatÕs not a
juke box.Ó
Joe went to look at it. It was a
Seeburg E sitting in the living room
in an old farm house. It was a nice
14 MECHANICAL MUSIC January/February 2019
original-looking nickelodeon Ð not
beat up or anything. It had nice stained
glass. Joe lifted up the lid, and there
was nothing in it except the piano. He
opened the bottom and again nothing
in it!
Joe said, ÒItÕs a nice piano but it
doesnÕt have the works Ð itÕs no good.Ó
Then the owner said, ÒWell I got the
works.Ó
Joe asked, ÒWell where are they at?Ó
The owner said, ÒTheyÕve been sitting
out in my barn for 30 years.Ó
Joe thought, ÒIÕll bet theyÕre in great
shape being in the barn with dampness,
bugs, dirt, etc.Ó
Joe said, ÒLet me go see them.Ó
The owner peeled a big cover off of
a shelf, and there were all the parts in
immaculate condition. There was a
beesÕ nest in a couple of violin pipes,
but everything was in good shape Ð not
damp, dirty or rusty and all covered
up. So, Joe bought it. The only thing
the owner didnÕt tell Joe was that
since he lived in a skinny little farmhouse
with skinny little doors, he had
chopped the toes off the front of the
machine. Even then it still wouldnÕt fit
so he chopped another half inch off
the whole back of the piano. He had
done such a good job that you couldnÕt
tell the machine was missing half an
inch off all of the posts in the back of
the pin block. Joe discovered it when
he found a pipe supply air channel
that goes up through the posts and he
could see where it was chopped right
through. Joe asked the owner how he
did it, since it looked really good.
The owner said ÒI just had a sharp
axe.Ó
The purchase of this Seeburg E
started Joe on nickelodeons and he
still has this machine. ItÕs been going
fine now for 30-plus years!
The Business Expands
Customers started bringing in nickelodeons
even though the bulk of JoeÕs
business was still rebuilding player
pianos and grand pianos. In the 1980s,
Joe noticed player piano work really
slacking off in favor of nickelodeons.
JoeÕs wife, Nancy, helped a lot with the
business. She would do sanding work,
pneumatics, valves, etc. In the 1980s,
Joe had double shifts going with a
A Wurlitzer C that had been painted red and had metal pipes sticking out the back
was expertly restored by Joe to its current fabulous condition.
couple of helpers. There was one guy
who worked at Caterpillar who would
come in at three oÕclock after work
and do music boxes, nickelodeons,
etc. A piano guy would come in at nine
oÕclock in the morning and work until
three or four on piano stuff. Joe was
working 12 to 14 hours, since he was
covering both shifts. Joe still hires the
piano guy occasionally.
Don Nielson started collecting in the
early 1990s and he needed someone to
fix stuff. Joe remembers seeing Don at
an auction in 1993, but Joe didnÕt talk
to him. In 1994, however, Don found
Joe through someone that knew them
both. Joe remembers doing at least
three or four photoplayers for Don,
who was really into photoplayers at
the time. Through the 1990s, Joe said
player pianos continued dying off, but
regular pianos were still pretty good
and grand pianos were selling like hot
cakes. During the housing booms of
the 1980ss and 1990s, people would
spend $400,000 or $500,000 on a house,
and then what would they need? They
needed a grand piano sitting in their
January/February 2019 MECHANICAL MUSIC 15
The center panel of the Wurlitzer C and its wonderlight add color and motion while the machine belts out tunes.
big fancy house, he says. So Joe was
really kept busy. By then, the non-piano
work was mostly handling DonÕs
stuff and working on an occasional
band organ. Then, the tech boom hit
in 2000 and sales of all pianos died off.
When the housing market crashed,
so did most of the rest of the piano
industry. Piano dealers began to fail.
The Wurlitzer C
JoeÕs Wurlitzer C came from the
Gay Nineties Village (Paul Eakins),
and then went to Disney World. Marty
Roenick then bought the Disney
collection. The Wurlitzer was painted
red (probably by Disney). It didnÕt
have the right pipes for it, so whoever
worked to make it play put metal pipes
hanging out the back. When Joe got it,
he rebuilt the machine, and tore off
the metal pipes. He waited about five
years to get the right pipes. He found
a Wurlitzer D in California, and he tore
the pipes out to put them in his rebuilt
Wurlitzer C machine. He then sold the
rest of the Wurlitzer D.
The Link AX
JoeÕs Link AX was bought in the
late 1980s. It was in a garage in New
Jersey sitting on a damp dirt floor. The
AX is extremely rare with only about
half a dozen existing. It came from a
guy who was getting divorced. Will
Markey and Joe went to New Jersey
with a friend and between the three of
them they bought about $80,000 worth
of machines (in 1980s currency). The
only thing Joe really wanted was the
The Link AX was purchased in New Jersey from a man in the middle of a divorce.
Joe and Nancy Hilferty in front of one of their 41-key Bruder band organ.
16 MECHANICAL MUSIC January/February 2019
The color and detail of JoeÕs Wurlitzer 153 band organ speak to the patience and
care he shows in doing the work that he does.
A closeup shows the detail of the facade
and figures that are part of the Bruder
band organ.
Link, so he bought that and rebuilt the
entire thing.
As a side note, the Wurlitzer
ÒMonsterÓ came from that collection.
That organ really made its rounds.
Someone from York, PA, bought it, did
some work on it, then sold to a guy in
Minnesota, who did more work on it.
Then it went to Marty Roenick who
changed it back to play the monster
rolls and then Joe lost track of it.
Band Organs
A Bruder 41 key organ in JoeÕs
collection is the same one that Will
Markey bought many years before
and wanted Joe to fix, but Joe recommended
Mike Kitner to do the work.
(What goes around, comes around!)
ItÕs quite an unusual organ in that it
has more pipes than most.
JoeÕs Wurlitzer 153 came from Steve
Lanick who sold it as part of a downsizing
effort. It was dismantled when
Joe bought it since Steve used the 153
to copy parts for other machines. It
was LanickÕs ambition to build a 153,
so he needed a machine from which
to copy the parts and he actually built
quite a few pipes copied from it.
Joe also has a band organ with
trumpets that was a North Tonawanda
The Standard O roll machine that Joe sold and then bought back again.
organ repurposed by Wurlitzer. The
machine belonged to a customer who
died, so now Joe is reselling it.
Standard O roll machine
There is also a Standard Piano with
a Standard player. Joe doesnÕt know
if the Standard Piano Company is
related to the Standard Pneumatic
Action Company. Originally, Joe was
going to build it up into a nickelodeon
and sell it, but he never got around
to it. He had the pneumatics and
the piano redone. JoeÕs refinisher
January/February 2019 MECHANICAL MUSIC 17
The logo on a PaceÕs Races machine is full of bright colors. The horses seem ready to run inside this PaceÕs Races.
Above, the inner workings of the PaceÕs Races machine and
below, various parts and pieces in the workshop.
Joe found a niche working on PaceÕs Races because he
understood both the pnuematics and the mechanical aspects
of the complex machines.
wanted a nickelodeon, so he sold it.
The refinisher built a case. When he
was done, Joe installed all the O roll
instrumentation Ð snare drum, bass
drum, cymbal, triangle, tambourine,
mandolin and a xylophone or pipes
Ð into it. The refinisher had it for five
years and then sold it to a third party.
Joe bought it back from this third
person. (The music goes round and
round!) Joe says that if youÕre selling
stuff, you end up buying it back later,
if you live long enough!
I find it strange that you see many
A and G rolls on eBay, but not many
O rolls, except for modern rolls (like
Allan StaffordÕs rolls). Joe says he
canÕt explain this either. He says there
are tons of machines and rolls out
there, but the rolls donÕt seem to turn
up. I asked Joe to keep an eye out for
H rolls for me, and he said, ÒThose you
donÕt find.Ó
18 MECHANICAL MUSIC January/February 2019
The exterior and interior of Matt JaroÕs Seeburg K that was restored by Joe.
Paces Races
A Paces Races machine is a horse-
race type of slot machine. What
makes it different is the fact that it is
controlled by a perforated roll, tracker
bar and pneumatics. Joe nearly came
to own a Paces Races machine when
he and a customer of his, who Joe
rebuilt a couple of nickelodeons for,
went into a dilapidated building and
saw two Paces Races sitting there.
The customer, who was in the vending
business Ð juke boxes, slots, etc. Ð in
Scranton, PA, asked Joe if he thought
he could fix them.
Even though he had never seen one
before, Joe said, ÒIÕll fix both and keep
one for fixing yours.Ó
Later, Joe decided that he needed
money more than the machine, so
they agreed that Joe would fix both
for the customer and charge him for
the work (instead of keeping one).
Slot machine repair people donÕt
work on these machines because of
the pneumatics, so Joe really found a
niche. Word spread to another dealer,
and Joe started doing more of the
machines. A punched roll is used to
determine the progress of each horse.
The direction of the roll changes with
each payout so there is considerable
randomness in the outcomes.
Odds and Ends
The Nelson-Wiggen 5X still plays but
has not been restored. The machine
was once at the Deansboro museum
in Vermont and Joe bought it from the
person who bought it from the Deansboro
collection.
Joe says his toughest restoration
was a Wurlitzer 165 built up from parts
owned by Steve Lanick plus parts
that had to be found. The case had
to be built; the faade had to be built,
but all the guts are original. Looking
around, you might see a Seeburg K
with xylophone in a corner. He says
itÕs unrestored. I asked if he was going
to restore it. He said, ÒEventually.Ó He
was going to do that for himself but
said he never had the time. He also
has a Seeburg L that is three-quarters
rebuilt.
I asked Joe if he was ever going to
retire. He said, ÒNah, IÕm slowing down
but I donÕt want to sit on the couch for
the rest of my life. I like rebuilding, so
IÕll just keep on until I fall over, probably.
I just wonÕt do as much, like the 60
hours a week I normally do.Ó
Joe buys many machines to rebuild
and resell. An excellent example of
this is my personal Seeburg K machine
with xylophone. I bought this from Joe
when he was early in the rebuilding
process for the machine. IÕve had the
machine for a number of years and it
always works perfectly.
Joe Hilferty can be reached at
jhilf148@comcast.net
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
November/December 2012 issue of The
AMICA Bulletin.
January/February 2019 MECHANICAL MUSIC 19
Symphonion
Widowmaker
Otherwise known as the resurrection
of a 27.-inch Symphonion upright
music box with 12 bells
By Bob Caletti
The restoration journey detailed
in this article started when I saw an
ad on the bulletin board at the MBSI
convention a couple of years ago in
Minnesota. Marty Persky was advertising
a machine for sale listing it as
a 271/2-inch Symphonion ÒProject.Ó
He had a picture of what a restored
version should look like since he
had recently sold one just like it to
Jonathan White. I learned later that
this particular machine is quite a rare
model and the one Marty sold ended
up being shipped to New Zealand. The
fellow that Marty bought the ÒProjectÓ
Symphonion from had given up on
restoring it. Since I am not one to
shy away from a challenge, I decided
to buy it. My wife, Judy, saw Marty
shortly afterward and told him she
forgives him for making her a Symphonion
widow. She didnÕt know how
long it would be before she would see
me again as I would be so focused on
restoring this ÒProject.Ó
A few months after agreeing to purchase
the machine, Marty was able to
get it shipped to me in California from
Chicago. It arrived on my birthday
with all of the pieces packed inside
the cases (top and bottom) plus an
extra box or two. After unpacking the
pieces, I laid them all out on my backyard
patio to assess what I had and
find out what might be missing. I find
itÕs always hard to really know exactly
what parts are missing or wrong until
you get into the restoration.
A careful inventory of all of the
parts was undertaken to determine
which parts were damaged and which
ones were completely missing. It was
determined that the restoration work
should start at the bottom of the case
and proceeded upwards to the top
where the entire gallery and center
¥ Photos of original machines/parts in
New Zealand by Jonathan White and
Rod Cornelius
¥ Restoration photos by Bob Caletti
and Jonathan Hoyt
¥ Woodwork mostly by Jonathan Hoyt
¥ Missing parts design/drawings by
Bob Caletti
¥ Mechanism restoration by Bob
Caletti and Jonathan Hoyt
¥ Photos of finished music box by
Robert Thomas
The door and case parts as received were laid out on the patio.
20 MECHANICAL MUSIC January/February 2019
January/February 2019 MECHANICAL MUSIC 21
Symphonion upper and lower case as
received from Marty Persky, most of the
case needed re-veneering. The bottom of the lower-case section being glued back together.
The bottom of the case showing missing moldings being fitted in. Note the double miters.
The door corbels are shown in the process of patching new wood into places where it was missing or chipped.
22 MECHANICAL MUSIC January/February 2019
crest was missing.
We started by disassembling the
entire bottom of the case section as
it was coming apart in places and
appeared to be warped. Each piece
that came off was carefully examined
for damage and notes were made
about the type of repair that would be
employed to bring the case back to a
proper alignment and appearance.
Chips and bits missing from the
door corbels were filled in so they
could be carved to match the original
curves and corners. Replacement
pieces were also glued onto the door
columns so they could be carved to
match the original length and size.
This case was very fancy with a lot
of interesting details. In order to make
new versions of the missing molding
pieces, custom router bits had to be
manufactured.
Ordering custom router bits involved
first sending the router bit manufacturer
an accurate profile of the desired
molding. (See sidebar on Page 24 and
25 describing how to do this.)
Computer Aided Design (CAD) drawings
were sent back to me from the
router bit manufacturer. I compared
them to the original moldings and
found that they matched up exactly, so
I gave the router bit manufacturer the
go ahead to make the new router bits.
When the new router bits arrived,
SYMPHONION | See Page 27
Chunks of wood are fitted to the door columns in preparation for finish carving.
A round rosette shape had to be replaced on one of the columns so a new one was
carved and fitted onto the column.
Above: Fretted moldings for the upper door mid-repair. Right:
Upper door assembly nearing completion. The door has been
re-veneered. Note the left column piece that was incorrect
and had to be made new to match right side, new part shown.
January/February 2019 MECHANICAL MUSIC 23
A closeup showing the lower door mold-An example of the CAD drawing that is compared to the molding before a custom
ing cutter. router bit is created.
Making custom router bits
By Bob Caletti
There were a lot of missing and incorrect moldings on
the 271/2-inch Symphonion case that were the result of
previous attempts at restoration. Replacing these moldings
required first making several custom router bits that would
cut the exact patterns needed to bring the case back to its
original appearance. The following text and pictures show
how that process is done.
If the molding to be replaced can be cut and placed flat
on a piece of paper, simply tracing the profile of the molding
actual size and sending it to the router bit manufacturer
is all that is required. If the molding cannot be cut, the
process on Page 23 shoud be used.
The router bit manufacturer will then generate a CAD
drawing to scale and send it back so it can be compared to
the original molding profile. Each line in the drawing must
match up perfectly with the molding profile, so it is worth
paying extra attention at this point in the process, or as the
old saying goes, Òmeasure twice, cut once.Ó
If all the lines match up and the measurements are exact,
then authorization can be given to the router bit manufacturer
to make a carbide cutter like the one shown on the
top left of this page.
Some of the moldings for this case took two separate
cutters and multiple passes to produce the profile that was
desired..
CAD drawings and cutter for moldings shown with the resulting
product.
24 MECHANICAL MUSIC January/February 2019
How to make a router bit from a sample molding that canÕt be cut
Mark Slabaugh,
Orbit Tool Works
Here is how to make a cast of the
existing shape. This works well if you
cannot cut a cross section, and cannot
photograph the cut directly.
I find that Bondo body filler works
well when making a cast of the shape.
You can purchase Bondo at your local
auto parts store. You will also need a
mixing stick, plastic wrap and masking
tape. Cover the part to be molded
with plastic wrap and hold it in place
with masking tape. Leave slack in
the plastic so that the Bondo can be
pressed in (Fig. 1).
Figure 1
Mix the Bondo, and fill the area to
be molded. Place more plastic wrap
over the Bondo and press it into the
cut (Fig. 2 and Fig. 3).
Figure 2
Figure 3
The Bondo will harden enough to
handle in a few minutes. Remove it
from the form and cut a cross section
using a hacksaw. Sand or file the face
to form a sharp edge on the Bondo,
and check the fit (Fig. 4 and Fig. 5).
Figure 4
Figure 5
Scan the Bondo shape with a scale
and send the scan to us. Include pictures
of the part you are replicating so
that we can better match the shape.
Notice that the Bondo did not replicate
the undercut well and we will
need to make a correction during the
next step (Fig 6 and Fig 7).
Figure 6
Figure 7
When we receive the scan and pictures
from you, we use them to create
a scale drawing of the shape (Fig. 8).
Figure 8
This trace of the shape is used to
create the cutter drawings (Fig. 9).
Figure 9
Dimensions are then added and the
drawing is sent to the customer for
approval.
Approved drawings are used to
create a CNC lathe program to cut and
mill the body of the custom router bit.
A steel blank is rough turned, and the
shank is ground to size. The router bit
body is turned to size on the lathe and
the blade pockets are cut on a milling
machine.
The drawings are used again to create
a CNC grinder program. Carbide
blades are brazed onto the body of the
router bit and the blades are ground to
shape on the grinder.
The router bit is then inspected,
packed and shipped to the customer.
January/February 2019 MECHANICAL MUSIC 25
Making the round corner moldings for the upper top section. A close up of routing operation for round corner moldings.
Finished round molding with center section cut out and ready The top section molding as received with pieces missing and
for cutting segments needed to make other pieces like the veneer coming loose. The molding is shown upside down. A
one shown. completely new molding was created in solid oak.
An all new solid oak molding made for the upper part of the top
section (below the gallery). Note the elaborate corner details. Repaired parts sanded, carved and ready for the refinisher.
26 MECHANICAL MUSIC January/February 2019
Bob Caletti makes scale drawings and layouts for missing parts. Note the many images enlarged to actual size on the desk.
SYMPHONION | From Page 23
we got to work right away making
new moldings out of solid oak.
We soon discovered we would need
to order another custom router bit so
that we could make a replacement
molding for the bottom door. Part of
the molding was original and part was
a different molding that was pieced in
before we got it, so we decided to just
make all new molding for this door
panel.
A third custom router bit was
ordered to make new moldings for
the upper top section. These moldings
were made using the router bit and
a router table for the straight sections
then a rotary table on a milling
machine for the curved moldings. (See
images on Page 26.)
MBSI members Jonathan White and
Checking the height of finial and gallery spool pictures with a ruler.
Rod Cornelius from New Zealand both were missing.
have 271/2-inch Symphonions and were Most significantly, the entire gallery
very helpful in providing pictures and that sits on top of the machine was
measurements to help me identify and not present when I purchased the
make new parts to replace those that ÒProjectÓ Symphonion. Johnathan
January/February 2019 MECHANICAL MUSIC 27
Finished CNC turned finial and spool
ready to be stained and installed.
Custom made parts for the top gallery.
are glued together before installation.
The top Gallery was laid out on paper to scale and the needed pieces were made
to fit the layout.
White sent me one extra spool, several
images and a variety of different measurements
to help me make all new
finial and gallery spools. Scale layouts
were done, and drawings were made
for each of the parts and assemblies
that were missing.
A lot of time was spent analyzing
the pictures of parts, comparing the
relative size and locations of the parts
and their radiuses, so that we could
be sure all the parts would fit together
correctly and be consistent with
the original music box. Some of the
pictures of the case were blown up to
actual size to better see the details of
the case.
Actual size layouts were also done
to determine the size and location
of the missing top gallery and other
assemblies. Some parts required
special tooling or cutters to make,
others would be made by Computer
Numerical Control (CNC) machines.
CNC is the automated control of
machining tools (drills, boring tools,
and lathes) by means of a computer.
The top gallery features a complex molding configuration. Careful attention was
paid to grain directions
Another view of the top gallery bottom board nearing completion.
28 MECHANICAL MUSIC January/February 2019
The top gallery including spindles, corner blocks, and top molding is left to dry.
An outline of the top crest is roughed out and holes are drilled
for center cutout patterns.
A photo of the gallery center pediment block from Jonathan
White in New Zealand was used to copy carving details.
January/February 2019 MECHANICAL MUSIC 29
The top crest cut is cut out and made ready for carving.
Enlarged pictures were used to get the proper dimensions for
the top crest carving.
A photo showing finished turned spools and finials in what will
be their final positions. Boy this case is tall – nearly 9 feet.
30 MECHANICAL MUSIC January/February 2019
Frame for the new soundboard is laid out and center board glued in.
Missing carvings were made by first
cutting out the rough shape and then
hand carving the detail into the wood.
The soundboard for this particular
machine was a piece of plywood when
it arrived at my door. A new soundboard
was constructed using Sitka
Spruce, and attached to the original
frame.
To make a missing disc support
bracket (photos at the bottom of this
page) I used a picture sent by Jonathan
and scaled it using Photoshop
to the actual size it would be in the
machine. A mockup was then made in
alumnium, which is soft and pliable,
so that the part could be bent and
changed to fit. The aluminum mockup
was then used to make the final brass
piece. The dimensions on the disc
support bracket are very critical and
position sensitive.
Missing brass pieces, like the key
escutcheon and the winding crank,
Remaining Sitka Spruce boards are laid into the diagonal pat-
tern and trimmed to the correct size.
The finished soundboard prior to installation.
This photo of a disc support bracket was used as a template
to make new brackets during the restoration.
A mockup of the disc support bracket was made out of alumi-
num so it could be bent into the needed shape.
January/February 2019 MECHANICAL MUSIC 31
The top photo shows the fancy cast pat-
tern on an original crank handle while the
lower photo shows a side view. These
images were used to make drawings so
new crank handles could be cast.
The coin tube mocked up in cardboard.
Door key escutcheon photo sent to help
make replacement parts.
were made by scaling pictures, making
drawings by hand, then having CAD
drawings made so that CNC machines
could carve patterns in wood that
were then used to make sand castings
and finally brass castings.
A new coin tube was mocked up in
cardboard and then made in brass and
installed where the original had been.
The machine takes English pennies as
payment to play a tune.
This completed the parts for the case
and accessories. Now attention was
turned to the music box mechanism.
The comb and bedplate as received
showed very little wear and only light
surface rust. The combs were cleaned,
screws polished, and the bedplate
painted gold. The pressure bar was
polished, and the pressure bar rollers
The new coin tube installed just under the bell assembly.
32 MECHANICAL MUSIC January/February 2019
The fit of the spring motor, bedplate and bell mechanism was
checked in the restored case.
The bedplate was completely disassembled for restoration.
were checked to make sure they were all the same size,
round, and rotated freely.
In the star wheel gantry there were some bent and corroded
star wheels that had to be removed for straightening
and lapping. This meant that the damper rails and center
post had to be removed so that the star wheels could be
taken out and restored.
It is imperative that the star wheels rotate smoothly. If
any of the star wheel spokes are bent and donÕt turn freely,
that star wheel can destroy a disc projection which would
cause the music not to play correctly.
When I got this machine, I noticed that all of the bell
tracks were wiped out on the discs I got with the machine.
This was because of stuck star wheels shearing off the disc
projections. That will not happen any more.
Great care was taken to identify where all the parts
of the bell assembly were located so that it could be put
back together the same way. The bells were marked with
numbers 1-12 and each bell was kept with its striker and
connection hardware so they can be put back on the bell
assembly in the same location they came from. Each bell
sounds a different note, and bell strikers had to be individually
adjusted after assembly for proper striking.
Turning my attention to the center post and the damper
rail, I fixed metal plates into position before removing
The comb and bedplate as received. Fortunately, the combs
had very little wear and only light surface rust.
The star wheel gantry is shown with some of the star wheels
removed.
A starwheel is straightened and lapped to ensure that it will
rotate freely on the gantry.
January/February 2019 MECHANICAL MUSIC 33
The back side of the bedplate showing the bottom of the bell
assembly before separation.
either the center post or the damper
rail. This was so that they could
both be put back in exactly the same
position they were taken from. The
damper rails and center post have
very critical alignments and need to
be put back exactly where they were.
Fair warning, the job of removing
the center post and damper rail is not
a job for an amateur. Done incorrectly,
it can negatively impact the operation
of the entire machine and reduce its
value.
The center post was checked to
make sure there wasnÕt any wear that
would affect the centering of the disc.
The mechanism that rotates the
disc is a dimple drive style from the
German version of this music box.
Anyone who purchased this same
music box in the United States would
have gotten a conventional sprocket
drive that interfaces with the holes in
the perimeter of the disc.
The parts were all removed from
the motor drive casting, the casting
was cleaned, painted and pen striped.
All bearing holes were cleaned and
readied for reassembly.
The spring barrel needed a new
Geneva stop that had to be fabricated
as the original was missing. The
spring had been stored in a wound-up
position for a long time which resulted
in a spring that had taken a set and
lost its power. A new spring had to
be installed. The governor had to be
rebuilt, including a new jewel and
The bell assembly was completely disassembled, and great
care was taken to identify where all the parts were located so
that they could be put back the same way.
DAMPER RAIL
A bottom view of the bedplate showing fixturing to preserve the original location of
the damper rail before removal.
The spring motor assembly with governor and winding shaft removed.
34 MECHANICAL MUSIC January/February 2019
a rebuilt endless screw. New fan blades had to be made
because the original ones were damaged. All of the parts
were assembled into the top and bottom castings minus
the spring barrel and governor to make sure all the parts
rotated freely. The governor was then added and free
movement of the parts were checked again.
Lastly, since all the discs I received when I purchased
the machine had the bell projections missing, I ordered a
The spring motor sparkles after restoration.
A view of the bedplate, motor and bells with no disc.
new set of 271/2-inch discs from Lester Jones who lives in
the United Kingdom.
Standing nearly 9 feet tall, this Symphonion is once
again a wonderful machine to look at and listen to. I know
my family will enjoy it for many years to come.
Credits:
Thanks to my wife, Judy, for her support and encouragement through
this whole project including giving up a dresser in our bedroom to make
space for this very large music box.
The motor installed and ready to play a disc.
Discs are stored in a fold out drawer at the bottom of the case.
January/February 2019 MECHANICAL MUSIC 35
East Coast Chapter
Chair: Bill Wineburgh
Reporter: Carolee Wineburgh
Photographers: Bill and Carolee
Wineburgh
Oct. 19 – 21, 2018 Ð Westwood, MA
We began our weekend meeting
on Friday evening at the Westwood
Regency hotel in Westwood, MA. We
gathered in a meeting room to socialize
and renew acquaintances as well
as meet new people. Among the new
faces were Paul and Hadley Veeder,
Barry Kasindorf and Dan Horan, and
first time chapter meeting attendees
Joe and Ann Malyndziak along with
Dave and Christine Cosmo, and guest
Doug York.
On Saturday, after a light breakfast
at the hotel, we took a comfortable
charter bus to the Mason & Hamlin
Piano Factory in Haverhill, MA. The
six-floor building is in what used
to be a shoe factory that has been
repurposed for making pianos. The
factory was not in operation on
Saturday so it was quiet and we were
treated to practically all of the areas of
manufacture and showroom. Mason &
Hamlin currently produce five models
of grand pianos as well as one upright
model. Our tour guide, Victor, was
very knowledgeable about all of the
aspects of manufacturing the current
models of the grand pianos. He talked
about the wood the company uses, the
gluing methods, various presses, saws,
actions, and so on. Their use of composites
for the action was explained
in detail as was their exclusive crown
retention system with a spider-like
tension resonator. Finally, we had an
opportunity to see and play several of
their finished grand pianos. That was
fun! Victor was both informative as
well as entertaining. We only wished
we had a few more hours to spend
there!
We went to nearby RomaÕs Restaurant
in Haverhill for a delicious
lunch and then re-boarded the bus to
Ken and Sandy GoldmanÕs home in
Chapter members listening to Victor, our tour guide, at the Mason & Hamlin factory.
Westwood, MA.
The Goldmans have a fabulous
collection of mechanical music and
automata. Ken provided great stories
about many of the pieces in his collection.
Included in the GoldmanÕs huge
music room are a Style II/25 Hupfeld
Helios Concert Orchestrion, a Model
I Philipps Paganini Violin Piano, and
a Grand Orchestral Interchangeable
Cylinder Box by Gueissaz Fils et Cie
that was once owned by Prince Mirza
Khan, Shah of Iran. In addition, we
saw a Model A Hupfeld Phonoliszt-Violina,
and excellent early cylinder and
disc musical boxes. The GoldmanÕs
automata collection included examples
by Vichy and others, including
smokers, acrobats and clowns. Our
visit with the Goldmans was a treat
for the eye and ear. On behalf of the
chapter, Chapter Chair Bill Wineburgh
presented Ken and Sandy with a certificate
of appreciation for opening their
home and collection to us.
Saturday evening, we had a sit-
down dinner where we tasted several
items from the hotelÕs menu and had
The Mason & Hamlin logo on a door in
the factory.
good conversation. Geoff Wilson, our
chapter treasurer and registrar, had a
surprise for Bill and his support team
(wife Carolee).
As this would be BillÕs last meeting
as chapter chair, Geoff presented a
souvenir booklet containing emails
and letters from chapter members
congratulating him on his many years
of tireless work on behalf of the East
Coast Chapter as well as thank you
cards for Bill and Carolee signed by all
of the attendees. Further, there were
Our group packed into an elevator at the Mason & Hamlin factory.
Jack Breen plays ragtime on a Concert Grand at the Mason & Hamilin factory.
congratulations for receiving the MBSI
PresidentÕs Award at the Annual MBSI
Meeting in Detroit, MI, earlier this
year which Bill was unable to attend.
The award was accepted on his behalf
by former MBSI Trustee Judy Miller,
who once was an East Coast Chapter
member and is still a long-time friend
of the Wineburghs.
Sunday morning, after a full buffet
breakfast at the hotel, we held our
chapter business meeting. Previous
meeting minutes, the treasurerÕs
report and the registrarÕs report were
read and approved. Thanks were again
made to the Goldmans and especially
to Mary and Dick Hunt who were our
meeting hosts. They did a great job lining
up the hotel, the restaurant and the
coach we used for transportation and
Victor Explains About Sound Board
Construction
Geoff Wilson presents the chapterÕs
thanks to Bill Wineburgh for his longtime
service as chapter chair.
Bill Wineburgh presents a music box
to Geoff Wilson as a thank you for his
years serving as chapter treasurer and
registrar.
January/February 2019 MECHANICAL MUSIC 37
Chapter members gather for a group photo in front of the Style II/25 Hupfeld Helios Concert Orchestrion.
Ken Goldman explains the flute-player automaton (far left) to
interested onlookers.
A Philipps Paganini Violin Piano in Ken and Sandy GoldmanÕs A grand orchestral interchangeable cylinder box by Gueissaz
collection. Fils et Cie in the GoldmanÕs home.
38 MECHANICAL MUSIC January/February 2019
Bill Wineburgh presents a certificate of appreciation to Ken and Sandy Goldman.
Marilyn and Ray DauphineeÕs mart table filled with intriguing items.
Elise and Brooks Low look over the wide variety of mart selections on display while
Nancy Fratti chats with Bill Wineburgh in the background.
their efforts were much appreciated.
Bill read his annual chapter report
that was presented at the Detroit
MBSI Annual Meeting meeting.
The chapter discussed and approved
several donations that will be made by
the chapter. One is to the Warren G.
Harding Presidential Center in Marion,
OH, to help restore the ArtEcho
Reproducing Piano that President
Harding played in the White House.
The piano is being restored by Terry
Haughawout in nearby Bloomdale,
OH. A second donation is to the Morris
MuseumÕs Guinness Conservation
Project to restore a B.A. Bremond
Orchestral Interchangeable Cylinder
Musical Box. A third donation is being
made to the Museum Committee of
MBSI for conservation of pieces in
the MBSI collection. We view these
donations as one way to further the
spread of mechanical music to a
greater audience.
Elise Low from Guilford, CT, was
elected chapter chair for a one-year
term to begin on Jan. 1, 2019. No one
was nominated for vice-chair, so that
position will remain vacant. Geoff
Wilson was re-elected treasurer and
registrar, and Claudia Molinari was
re-elected as secretary.
Finally, as turnaround is fair play,
Bill surprised Geoff with a small
music box engraved with recognition
of his devotion as chapter treasurer
and registrar.
Our members-only mart was held
immediately after the business meeting
where a number of books, musical
boxes and ephemera changed hands.
Thanks to all who came Ð see you
next meeting!
Each One
Reach One
New Member
January/February 2019 MECHANICAL MUSIC 39
Golden Gate Chapter
Photos and Article By David Corkrum
On July 21, I organized a display at
the California Radio Historical Society
(CHRS) in Alameda, CA. This was
their annual ÒRadio DayÓ in which they
held tours of their museum, auctioned
approximately 200 antique radios, had
a flea market of radio related items
and performed a radio program from
the 1940s titled ÒPat Novak for Hire,Ó
a detective story starring Sam Van
Zandt who is a local radio personality.
The original star of the program was
Jack Webb who later starred in the TV
series ÒDragnet.Ó
CHRS started in 2000 when a few
people got together to save an old
radio station in Berkeley, CA. They
occupied that building until 2010
when it was sold. However, their
membership grew and in 2015 they
purchased an old telephone building
in Alameda and began to restore it for
their purposes. One of their goals is
to restore the facade of the building
to its original. You can see this in the
pictures.
Luckily for me, CHRS had very few
places for displays, so they put me
at the entrance in front of their new,
ADA-approved elevator, which had
not been approved for use yet. I was
only able to display a few instruments,
so I chose a 14. inch Polyphon, a
keywind and a lever wind cylinder
Scenes from inside and outside the
California Radio Historical Society
building.
box, and three manivelles. I also had
handouts describing what mechanical
music was along with some past issues
of Mechanical Music.
About 300 people came through and
I was able to grab interest from some
of them by playing the instruments
and discussing how they worked and
how they were made. All handouts
were taken along with many of MBSIÕs
business cards and about seven of
the journals. The event lasted eight
hours and I had a great time talking
with those who attended along with
a number of local AMICA and MBSI
members who also attended the event.
If possible, I plan to repeat this display
next year and maybe have a few more
instruments to demonstrate.
It just shows that even at an unlikely
event such as this you can garner
attention and educate the public
about mechanical music. Give it a try
in your area!
National Capital Chapter
Chair: Matt Jaro
Reporters: Donna and Gene Borrelli
Photographers: Gene Borrelli and Paul
Senger
Oct. 21, 2018 Ð Gaithersburg, MD
The National Capital Chapter held
its fall meeting at the home of Beni
and Matt Jaro in Gaithersburg, MD,
on Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018. There were
28 members in attendance, including
three new members, David Burgess,
Laura Bates, and Rory Lehman. Following
lunch, the meeting was called
to order by Matt, in his role as the
chapter chair. The meeting focused
on preparations for the 2019 MBSI
Annual Meeting which will be hosted
by the National Capital Chapter.
We then enjoyed Matt and BeniÕs
extensive collection of mechanical
New member Rory Lehman and meeting host Matt Jaro in front of the Western
Electric Mascot C, with the Seeburg K on right.
Jack Hardman warms up before lunch on the JaroÕs grand
piano.
Don and Peg Lundry, Dick Hack, Jack Hardman and Robert
Barnett at the collection tour. A Seeburg G and H are shown
in background.
Donna Borrelli, Beni Jaro and Ginny Little get some quiet time Helen Stiskal, new members Rory Lehman and David Burgess,
before the business meeting. and Mildred Hardman.
Chapter members listen attentively during the business meeting.
Richard Simpson and Knowles at the business meeting. Matt demonstrates the Nelson-Wiggen 4X to Rory and Robert.
music including one Seeburg K with
xylophone and another with pipes, a
Seeburg G, and a Seeburg H (recently
upgraded with the addition of a
MIDI system). Their collection also
includes a Nelson-Wiggen 4x Orchestrion,
a Wurlitzer 153 Band Organ, a
1926 Chickering AMPICO piano and
a Western Electric Mascot C model
which they recently had fully restored.
The Jaro home also features a
modern film movie theater, specially
designed to enhance Technicolor
movies. There is an extensive film,
roll, and 78 rpm record collection.
Following the meeting we enjoyed
listening to Matt and BeniÕs assortment
of nickelodeons. One of our
new members Rory Lehman, brought
a Wurlitzer 150 style roll to try on
the JaroÕs Wurlitzer 153. It was a Halloween
roll arranged by the late Rich
Olsen.
The NCC Holiday meeting will be
held at the home of Cheryl and Dick
Hack on Sunday, Dec. 9, in Annapolis,
MD.
42 MECHANICAL MUSIC January/February 2019
National Capital Chapter
Chair: Matt Jaro
Reporters: Donna and Gene Borrelli
Photographers: Gene Borrelli and Paul
Senger
Jul. 29, 2018 Ð Reston, VA
The National Capital Chapter held
its spring meeting on Sunday, Jul.
29, at the home of Donna and Gene
Borrelli in Reston, VA. There were
25 in attendance including one guest
visiting from Ohio.
The business meeting focused on
arrangements for the 2019 MBSI
Annual Meeting which will be hosted
by the National Capital Chapter. Chapter
President Matt Jaro aired the video
showing the hotel that will be used as
well as descriptions of the collection
tours that will be available to those
attending the convention. This video
is now available on the MBSI site
and will be shown at the Detroit, MI,
convention later this year.
Following the business meeting
Gene and Donna demonstrated their
collection to members. The BorrelliÕs
collection includes a Wurlitzer CX, a
Regina 20.-inch disk box, and Pail-
lard and Nicole Freres cylinder boxes.
The Borrellis have a larger clock collection
which includes several English
Lantern Clocks from the 1600s and a
very large English Longcase Clock by
Dent, the maker of Big Ben.
Gene told an interesting story on
how they obtained their Wurlitzer
CX. At the Florida MBSI convention
in 2014 a Wurlitzer CX was advertised
for sale in Europe. Gene was interested,
but it was problematic since the
machine was in Europe and its condition
was questionable. He sought
the advice of fellow National Capital
Chapter member and well-known
restorer Dick Hack. DickÕs conclusion
was that the machine might need
extensive restoration. Dick put the
word out that Gene was interested
in making the purchase, and word
came back that Art Reblitz knew of a
Wurlitzer CX that might be available in
Meeting host Gene Borrelli shares the history of his Wurlitzer CX.
Colorado. Gene ended up purchasing
the Colorado machine over the winter
and planned to have it transported
in the spring to avoid snow. Then he
had the opportunity to piggy back on
another move being made in early
March. But of course, there was a blizzard
the night prior to the machineÕs
scheduled arrival. Gene had to shovel
a path from his driveway to the front
door, so the main part of the machine
could be rolled in on plywood. When
the movers were done, the living room
was cluttered with five large boxes of
parts in addition to the disassembled
large pieces. This was only two days
prior to his daughterÕs baby shower
that they were hosting. Dick Hack
came to the rescue again, driving
65 miles the next day as the blizzard
continued. While it took all day, he
succeeded in assembling the machine
Gene with the Dent English Longcase
clock
and tuning all the pipes. They had to
shovel out DickÕs car and push it out
of the driveway, so he could get home.
Gene has been able to research the
history of the machine. According to
the Wurlitzer ledgers, it left the factory
on Dec. 29, 1911, and was shipped
to Philadelphia, PA, to an unknown
location. From around 1939-1961 it
was in a dance hall above YoungÕs Tea
Garden, on 52nd and Market Street in
Philadelphia. It was then purchased
by Walter Nuss of Newfield, NJ. The
machine was in very poor condition
at that time. Apparently, sometime
after it was installed in the dance hall
there was construction happening in
the building and the machine could
not be taken out via the stairs. It had
to be disassembled and removed in
pieces via the fire escape. It weighed
1,300 pounds. When Walter purchased
it, there were 1912 newspapers in the
bottom of the machine stuck to the
bellows. It did not have bells or a Wonder
Light at that time. Then, in 1985,
it was purchased by Will Markey of
Dallastown, PA. He had the machine
Knowles Little, Terry Bender and Allen Cassity enjoy the Wurlitzer CX.
Gene with an English Bracket Clock ca 1760
44 MECHANICAL MUSIC January/February 2019
Allen Cassity and Dick Hack discuss the dayÕs events.
An English Lantern clock with verge
pendulum ca 1680
An English Lantern clock ca 1670.
completely restored by Mike Kitner
and Joe Hilferty, with completion in
1987. Bells were fabricated by Mike
Kitner and a Wonder Light was added
at that time. It was sold again in
March 2009 to Bill Maher of Colorado
Springs, CO. In 2013 Art Reblitz made
some minor repairs and then Gene
purchased it in January 2015.
Matt Jaro conducts the business and 2019 planning meeting,
Gene shows a book on lantern clocks.
Members enjoy a pot luck lunch on the back patio
January/February 2019 MECHANICAL MUSIC 45
Northwest International Chapter
Chair: Rick Swaney
Reporter: Rick Swaney
Photographer: Rick Swaney and Dale
Tyvand
Oct. 6-7, 2018 Ð Edmonds and Lynnwood,
WA
The Northwest International Chapter
split its Fall 2018 meeting between
the cities of Edmonds and Lynnwood,
WA. Both cities are located in Snohomish
County, which is about a 30-minute
drive north of Seattle.
Saturday began with a visit to the
Edmonds Summer Market, which
shuts down traffic in six blocks of
the cityÕs downtown core to make
space on the streets for booths selling
items that are either handmade or
home grown in Washington. Offerings
include fresh flowers and produce,
clothing, jewelry, art, soaps, and
wines. There are also plenty of food
booths where one can purchase a
meal or just a yummy dessert.
The market ran until 3 p.m. at which
time chapter members reported to
the Edmonds Historical Museum for
a private, guided tour. The museum
occupies a restored 1910 building
which was originally a library financed
by a gift from Andrew Carnegie. The
lower level is dedicated to the history
of Edmonds from its founding in 1890
to today. It features a reconstructed
hotel room, office, school room, jail
cell, and Victorian parlor. There is also
a sizable model train layout and model
lumber mill.
The upper floor has changing exhibits.
We saw memorabilia from 1950s
restaurants and the 1920s prohibition
era, including a still used to produce
illicit alcohol.
After the tour, we headed to Arnies,
a nearby waterfront restaurant. Those
of us who arrived early took a leisurely
walk on the adjacent pier. The fishermen
we encountered werenÕt catching
many fish but they were having some
luck with their crab traps.
By dinner time our group had grown
Annie Tyvand shows off the result of her 2.-year bow front art glass project.
to 14 strong. We were seated at a long
table in the rear of the restaurant,
featuring a panoramic view of Puget
Sound and the Olympic Mountains.
Dinner consisted of primarily local
seafood dishes, an appropriate
amount of wine, and a wide range of
conversation topics. Two hours later,
we said our goodbyes and departed
for our various homes or hotels.
At 10:30 a.m. Sunday morning, we
reconvened at the home of Dale and
Annie Tyvand. As people arrived Annie
was busy in the kitchen finishing the
Some scenes from the Edmonds Summer Market.
Dale Tyvand, Larry Cardy, Kathy Baer, and Terry Cardy take in the Puget Sound view
from the end of the pier.
Jerry Yorioka, Dale Tyvand, Kathy and
Rick Baer, and Rick Swaney reconsider
our economy accommodations in
Edmonds.
meal preparations. We soon sat down
to a delicious spread of baked ham
and scalloped potatoes supplemented
by several side dishes and desserts
brought by members.
Then came the business meeting
conducted by Chapter Chair Dale
Tyvand. We began by approving the
minutes of the last meeting. This was
followed by the committee reports.
During the new business segment, we
decided on the hosts and locations
for the next few meetings. Then we
elected the officers for 2019. Dale and
Chapter Vice-Chair Rick Swaney volunteered
to swap their roles. Chapter
secretaries Larry and Terry Cardy and
treasurer Kathy Baer volunteered to
continue in their current roles. The
proposed slate of officers was unanimously
approved.
On conclusion of the business
meeting, we held our usual show-andtell
session. Dale showed a recently
acquired Bontems singing bird in a
cage. Annie informed us that it is an
actual stuffed bird expertly preserved
by a professional taxidermist. Annie
January/February 2019 MECHANICAL MUSIC 47
The model train room of the Edmonds Historical Museum.
Jerry Yorioka, Rick Baer, Larry Cardy, Kathy Baer, and Nina Yorioka enjoy the show-
and-tell session.
showed the art glass front she created
for a 151/2-inch Regina Changer. This is
the culmination of a 21/2-year project
consisting of research, searching for
the proper glass and jewels, cutting,
and finally assembling the glass
pieces. Everyone agreed it was a very
impressive achievement.
Rick demonstrated a remarkable
antique printer that could not only
print blank sheet music and national
anthems, but also produced punched
music rolls. In the end, Rick revealed
that the contraption was actually a
Kathy Baer gets booked for going a little
to close the 1920s still exhibit.
Rick Swaney demonstrates the opera-
tion of his antique Òinkless printer.Ó
magic trick that he had purchased at a
recent magicians convention.
That concluded our Fall meeting.
The next get-together will be the
annual Christmas cookie exchange
and luncheon to be hosted by Rick in
early December.
48 MECHANICAL MUSIC January/February 2019
Southeast Chapter
Chair: Judy Miller
Reporter: Martin van Zanten
Oct. 26-28, 2018 Ð Titusville, FL
FloridaÕs Space Coast was the
location for our most recent meeting,
which was hosted by Alice and Wayne
Finger along with Clay Witt. As is our
tradition, the Fall meeting was held
jointly with the Piedmont Chapter.
The weekend started on a high note
Friday evening when more than 40
members and guests gathered at ClayÕs
third-floor condo for an open house.
Located on Merritt Island, Clay has a
wonderful collection of clocks, phonographs,
disc and cylinder boxes,
perhaps more than you could imagine
fitting into the space available.
Saturday morning, following a brief
Piedmont Chapter business meeting,
Wayne Finger held a book give away
featuring books donated by Elayne
and the late Moe Goldy. Members
expressed appreciation for the GoldysÕ
generosity.
Southeast Chapter President Judy
Miller opened the Southeast Chapter
business meeting and upcoming chapter
events were announced. During
the weekend of Dec. 15-16, 2018 many
members will again demonstrate various
items from their collections at the
6th Annual Christmas show in The Villages,
FL. During the weekend of Jan.
18-20, 2019, Mark Yaffe is planning a
Chapter meeting in Tampa, FL.
Looking ahead, our chapter will
host the MBSI Annual Meeting in 2021.
Planning is now getting underway.
The location is still to be determined
and all Southeast Chapter members
will be called upon to work on this
event.
The final order of business was the
election of Southeast Chapter officers.
The following people were elected to
serve a two-year term: president, Jack
Hostetler; vice president, John Leuenberger;
secretary, Julie Morlock; and
treasurer, Clay Witt. Congratulations
Co-Host Wayne Finger, Òthe mad doc-
tor,Ó discusses some of the instruments
in his collection.
A Grebe ÒSynchophaseÓ battery radio
with speaker horn that sits on a 1920s
era Atwater Kent radio in Clay WittÕs
home.
Meeting co-host, Clay Witt gives his
workshop presentation.
Co-host Alice Finger Òthe Good Witch,Ó
greets members at her Open House.
to all.
Later in the morning, there were
three workshop presentations: ÒMusic
Box MaintenanceÓ by Dan Wilson;
ÒName That TuneÓ by Clay Witt; and
ÒWhat to look for when buying or
selling a music boxÓ by Wayne Finger.
All were interesting and informative.
A mart was held after lunch which
was then followed by an open to the
public workshop called ÒChildrenÕs
Music Box Maker.Ó This was an
inter-generational program where
children and their parents could learn
about music boxes by assembling a
small box. It was led by Mary Ellen
and Wayne Myers.
Following a group dinner at Dixie
Crossroads everyone gathered at the
home of Wayne and Alice Finger. In
addition to viewing and listening to
the FingerÕs outstanding collection, we
enjoyed an evening of Halloween Fun,
with many members having donned
costumes. The FingerÕs seasonal decorations
were outstanding, as were the
various refreshments.
Chapter Chair Judy Miller and Marilou
van Zanten at the Dixie Crossroads
restaurant.
A Paillard snuff box circa 1855 in Clay
WittÕs collection. The box plays two
tunes on a 2.-inch cylinder.
A group of Southeast Chapter members and guests at the
Saturday evening dinner.
Each One
Reach One
New Member
Another group gets ready to order dinner and enjoy some
good conversation on Saturday.
Chapter members and guests gathered at the FingerÕs home.
50 MECHANICAL MUSIC January/February 2019
Southern California Chapter
Chair: Robin Biggins
Reporter: Linda Birkitt
Photographers: Lowell Boehland and
Ed Cooley
Oct. 7, 2018 Ð Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
This Southern California Chapter
meeting was graciously hosted by
Gloria Schack in Rancho Palos Verdes.
Fifty-six members and guests were in
attendance, and holding true to her
gold standard, Gloria, Òthe Hostess
with the Mostess,Ó presented us
with a cornucopia of treats to enjoy.
There was no need for dinner after
sampling her fare. Not only was the
food delightful, but the weather on
the Palos Verdes Peninsula provided
us with a gorgeous ocean view from
the patio.
MBSI members were given the
opportunity to play GloriaÕs monkey
organs and listen to her other musical
instruments, including a Welte Style 3
orchestrion, a Steinway reproducing
grand piano, a Weber Otero orchestrion,
a double Violano and many
other musical boxes.
The chapter business meeting was
called to order by Chapter Chair
Robin Biggins at 1:45 p.m. New
members, Steve and Cheryl Kosakura,
were introduced, as were nine guests.
Diane Lloyd, acting treasurer, reported
that the chapter is solvent. No further
details were available.
In review: the chapter has held
meetings in San Diego, CA, with
Lelland Fletcher, the Musical Instrument
Museum in Phoenix, AZ, Arnold
ApplebaumÕs collection in La Mirada,
CA, Brent HoagÕs home in San Diego,
CA, as well as Gloria ShackÕs home
in Rancho Palos Verdes. The MBSI/
AMICA December meeting will be at
the home of Frank Nix in Woodland
Hills, CA, for the annual chapter
Christmas Party.
The Nethercutt Museum has
announced that it is selling piano rolls
in lots. Apparently there are thousands
of rolls for a Welte, a Duo-art
Meeting host Gloria Schack welcomes guests, including (left to right) Albert Metzger,
Jeff and Sandy Oliphant, Cecil Dover, Cathy Feldman and Linda Birkitt just inside
the doors to her music room.
Cecil Dover photographs a Mermod & Freres cylinder music box that sits on a high-
ly-polished stand holding 19 additional cylinders for the same machine.
The assembled members applaud Chapter Chair Robin Biggins during the business meeting.
Jon Lang turns a tune on one of the street organs while Gloria Gloria and daughter, Linda, in front of instruments in the front
Schack and Mark De Sio look on. hall.
Robin Biggins demonstrates an automa-Gloria with the note she wrote her hus-Inside one of the gleaming cylinder
ton during show and tell. band Ralph asking him to marry her. boxes in GloriaÕs music room.
52 MECHANICAL MUSIC January/February 2019
Jon Lang records his name on the sign-in sheet while (left to right) Linda Birkitt,
Ardis Prescott and Lucille Ciuffini supervise.
Robin Biggins and Ed Cooley chat over a Polyphon ÒEmeraldÓ folding top disc box
with 16 bells while Peggy Cooley and Gloria enjoy a moment together nearby.
and Ampico.
A motion was made by Betty Green,
and seconded by Linda Birkitt, to
donate $200 to help restore the Warren
G. Harding electric reproducing piano
in Ohio. The piano actually belonged
to President HardingÕs wife, Florence.
She brought it with her to the White
House in the early 1920s. This piano
was made by the Alvin B. Chase Company
that was established in 1875.
This piano is currently housed at the
Historic WomenÕs Club in Marion, OH.
A previous evaluation of the piano
set the cost of restoration at $10,000.
A current evaluation will be required
before work is begun on the instrument.
After restoration, the piano will
become part of the Exhibit Hall in the
Warren G. Harding Presidential Center
scheduled to open in 2020.
Six members from Southern California
Chapter attended the MBSI Annual
Meeting in Detroit, MI. Those attending
were the Cooleys, the Palladinos,
Ardis Prescott and Robin Biggins.
Rockville, MD, will be the meeting
place for the next MBSI Annual Meeting
hosted by the National Capital
Chapter.
Mark and Gail Weber volunteered to
host a chapter meeting in the spring,
and Sandy and Sumi Lechtick offered
to host a meeting next year.
It was announced that the Train
Museum at Griffith Park in Los Angeles,
CA, will have Halloween festivities
next weekend and tickets could be
obtained from Thane Morris.
Ron and Julie Palladino held a show
and tell with a gilded silver snuff box
GloriaÕs music room has something for everyone to marvel over.
January/February 2019 MECHANICAL MUSIC 53
Everyone gathered for a group shot to commemorate the day.
Robin Biggins and Cecil Dover view the roll mechanism and
inner workings of the Weber Otero orchestrion.
made in the 1810s and a music box with bells that played
10 tunes. An automated smoking monkey, a brass piano
in miniature, and a smokerÕs musical ashtray with Lalique
crystal made in the 1920s was also presented. A Cremona Orchestrion keeps the crowd entertained with
The meeting was adjourned at 2:03 p.m.
bright stained glass and upbeat music.
54 MECHANICAL MUSIC January/February 2019
Southern California Chapter
Chair: Robin Biggins
Reporter: Ardis Prescott
Photographer: Lowell Boehland
Aug. 4, 2018 Ð San Diego, CA
Our August chapter meeting was
held at the lovely hillside home of
Brent Hoag. It was a clear sunny day
in San Diego so we could enjoy the
spectacular view of the San Diego Bay.
Shortly after our MBSI members
and guests arrived, Brent provided
the group with a delicious catered
luncheon.
After lunch, with ample time to
visit, Chapter Chair Robin Biggins
conducted the business meeting.
New member Gary Christoff, of Yorba
Linda, CA, was introduced. It was
announced that long time member Ed
Hattrup had died.
Robin reminded everyone about the
Aug. 19 Phonograph Show in Buena
Park, CA. Fliers for the show were
available next to the sign-in book if
anyone was interested in attending.
The upcoming September MBSI
annual meeting in Detroit, MI, and
Canada was discussed with a show of
hands of those who planned to attend.
The next Chapter meeting will be
Oct. 7, at the lovely home of Gloria
Schack in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.
There will be a combined AMICA
and MBSI Christmas party at the home
of Frank Nix in Woodland Hills, CA.
Details will be announced later.
After the conclusion of the business
meeting, the balance of the afternoon
was spent enjoying BrentÕs wonderful
collection. He is the ultimate host who
knows how to entertain his guests
and knows how to demonstrate and
explain everything about his musical
instruments. He is able to give an
educational tour that keeps his guests
spellbound. He demonstrates the
machines so we can really appreciate
the different arrangements and
formats.
Our photographer, Lowell Boehland,
was kept busy photographing BrentÕs
Meeting host Brent Hoag and Chapter Chair Robin Biggins with an upright 195/8-
inch Polyphon disc player with matching cabinet below to hold additional discs.
Robin Biggins with a knitting and rocking
automaton for show and tell.
Brent demonstrates a Reuge automaton that resembles Mozart.
Brent enjoys providing details about his
varied collection which includes carved
ivory (above), 1980s reproduction
Faberge eggs (left) and gorgeously-restored
cylinder music boxes (below).
56 MECHANICAL MUSIC January/February 2019
collection and Òrounding everyone upÓ
for our usual group photograph.
It was then time to thank our host
for an enjoyable afternoon and head
home in heavy freeway traffic. Brent
was very generous in sending leftovers
with us should we get stuck in heavy
traffic!
What a guy!!!
Brent shares details about one of his fat
cylinder music boxes.
Some of the music boxes in BrentÕs col-
lection have ornately-carved cases that
make the machines fascinating even
when the lids are closed.
Another shiny brass cylinder reflecting
the San Diego sunshine streaming in
through the windows.
From left to right: David Frank, Anita Lichtman, Don Caine, Phyllis DeSio, Ardis
Prescott, Gary Christoff, Mark De Sio, Gloria Schack, Brent Hoag and Robin Biggins.
Chapter members and guests watch as Brent describes the details of one of his
Faberge eggs.
A closeup of one of the carved ivory
pieces in BrentÕs collection.
Left to right: Ardis Prescott, Robin Biggins, David Frank and Anita Lichtman and
Gloria Schack enjoy a wonderful luncheon.
January/February 2019 MECHANICAL MUSIC 57
GOLD LEAF GALLERIES
Band Organ Music rolls & midi files
Now selling MIDI files NOW AVAILABLE! from the Broadway hit
musical MAMMA MIA MAMMA MIA rolls for style 150
Band Organ Music rolls & midi files
Now selling MIDI files NOW AVAILABLE! from the Broadway hit
musical MAMMA MIA MAMMA MIA rolls for style 150
Chet Ramsay
Antiques
as arranged by Andy Park. organs. Roll 1 (14544) will have
10 tunes. Roll 2 (14545) will have Tunes via email for only the other 8 tunes. Rolls are $85 $10 each, or $15 each for each plus $7 for S&H. Call or send files sent on SD card.
a check. Specify which roll you
want. Email for tune list.
New Holiday tunes for
Complete Restoration
Services Available.
Specializing in Music Boxes
Ð Ð
Bought ¥
Sold ¥
Repaired
¥
Outside Horn Phonographs
¥
Music Boxes
the style 165. MIDI files PLUS! Rolls / MIDI files for style
for $10 each. 165 organs still available! Only a
few copies left, so order soon.
ÒNew Country Carousel No. 4Ó
rolls and MIDI files for the style 150 arranged by David Stumpf
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
All rolls sell for $85 ea + $7 S/H in the U.S.
See tune lists for all rolls online.
Email sales@wurlitzerrolls.com for a sample clip.
Order at www.wurlitzerrolls.com or call 860-261-5923
Gold Leaf Galleries 410 Emmett Street #86 Bristol, Ct 06010
Fine Art & Antique Consignments
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
The highest level of customer service plus private,
professional and confidential transactions.
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
January/February 2019 MECHANICAL MUSIC 59
Stanton’s Upcoming Music Machine Auction Stanton’s Upcoming Music Machine Auction
To be held on the Barry County Fairgrounds, at 1350 M-37 Highway, Hastings, Michigan on:
Thursday, Friday & Saturday, April 25, 26 & 27, 2019
Accepting quality collections
and specialized itemsfor our Spring Event. Music
Boxes, Band organs, Phonographs,
roller organs, recordsand other fine examples of
automatic music machines.
Already included are 3 excellent
Band organs includinga North Tonawanda Model
182, Wurlitzer Model 146A,
and a smaller Wurlitzer unit,
phonographs including Edison
Operas, a rare Berlinertoy phonograph, Excellent
music boxes, fine Herzogand Salter record cabinets
and lots more.
Contact us to be included in our travel and pickup schedule and get your collections and machines in ourexcellent spring event. Between now and the time of the auction, we will be traveling from coast to coastacross the United States and throughout Canada.
Get your items included in this upcoming auction. StantonÕs will handle the cataloging, photography, packing,
insuring and moving of all collections, as well as the promotional and complete advertising process that will
bring serious and sincere collectors to the auction and collections that we will be offering.
Steven E. Stanton Ð 517-331-8150 cellular/days, or 517-852-0627 eveningsDirect E-mail -stevenEstanton@gmail.com
THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER FANTASTIC YEARÉ 2018 has produced over 170 individual auctions across
Michigan and brought in collections, items and buyers from around the UnitedStates, Canada and the World to our auctions. From interesting and small
events to $1,000,000 offerings of individual owner collections, we appreciateall of the interest and participation that everyone has placed in our auctions.
We hope to see all of you, and are able to make new friends and business
relationships, at our upcoming sales in 2019.
Many of you know us for our on-site and estate auctions, some for our largespecialized sales of phonographs and music boxes, others have seen us
selling antique automobiles, coin operated machines, gas enginesÉ maybeyou have attended our monthly firearm and military auctions, participated in
our petroliana, advertising and country store auctions, or possibly you have been one of the bidders or even sellers in one of the
specialized sales of Art Glass, Lamps, Pottery or auctions of antique furniture. Whatever, your involvement has been we want to thank
you for working with us during this past year, and permitting our firm to continue to grow and carry on what was started 64 years ago,
when William J. Stanton founded the business. Our firm has conducted over 7,500 individual auctions during this time and continue
to market all types of quality items throughout the state and around the countryÉtraveling from Coast to Coast working with sellers.
If you have collections that you are interested in selling, contact us to discuss our complete service. Referrals available.
AUCTIONEERS & REALTORSSTANTONÕSStantonÕs Auctioneers,
Appraisers, & Realtors
144 S. Main, P.O. Box 146
Vermontville, MI 49096
Phone: (517) 726-0181
Fax: (517) 726-0060
E-mail: stantonsauctions@sbcglobal.net
Website: www.stantons-auctions.com
Steven E. Stanton
(517) 331-8150 cellular
(517) 852-0627 evening
E-mail Ð stevenEstanton@gmail.com
Michael C. Bleisch
(517) 231-0868 cellular
E-mail Ð mcbleisch@gmail.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
AEOLIAN ORCHESTRELLE. Beautiful
restored walnut case with bench. 6 rolls.
Nelson Wiggins coin-op nickelodeon. Mills
Single Violano. Baciagalupo Barrel Operated
Monkey Organ. Several smaller music boxes.
Contact: BECKY SODERSTROM, (209) 6698709,
bannsode@gmail.com
ALL ADS MUST
BE PREPAID
We accept
VISA/MC and
Paypal.
ADVERTISING
DEADLINES:
The 1st day of
each even month:
Feb., Apr., Jun,
Aug., Oct. and
Dec.
VIOLANO VIRTUOSO Serial #260 44 key
piano, REGINA CORONA Style 34 27Ó
Automatic Changer, ENCORE AUTOMATIC
BANJO (reproduction), HOWARD BALDWIN
– WELTE MIGNON REPRODUCING PIANO
with bench. Please call or e-mail for more
information. Buyer responsible for shipping.
Contact: CHRISTINA IRONS, (626) 7959020,
info@vintagemusicboxes.com, http://
www.vintagemusicboxes.com. Pasadena, CA
91103 United States
EDWARDIAN MAHOGANY Musical Longcase
Clock of exceptional quality. Attributed to
London makers J.J. Elliott Ltd, who were
synonymous with the highest quality work
ever produced in English clock making. This
supreme example built to regulator standards
sets the bar, with 7 different chimes
on a set of 9 Tubular Bells. Switches to a
different tune each day, if required. The clock
is currently in the UK. International Shipping
can be arranged. More photos on www.mbsi.
org. Contact: STEVE GREATREX 0044 7774
418 706 spg1@hotmail.co.uk
O-ROLL ORCHESTION collection of 75 rolls.
Excellent condition. $2500. Contact: ROBERT
WERTH, 208-920-3453, werth2b@yahoo.
com Sandpoint, ID 83864
62 MECHANICAL MUSIC January/February 2019
MERMOD IDEAL Sublime Harmony Cylinder
Music Box with Matching Table. Beautiful,
Large Oak. Excellent condition. Additional
cylinders. Previously owned by an original
founding member of the Musical Box Society.
Pictures, details available upon request. Contact:
SUE SALAS, 314 973-3034, jvtsalas@
yahoo.com United States
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. $20 USD. Free shipping in the
continental U.S. Additional postage charges
apply for other locations.
WANTED
REGINA 20-3/4 inch Changer in mahogany.
Prefer dragon front case in good operating
condition. Also looking for a Wurlitzer CX or
LX. Contact: DON KROENLEIN, (217) 6208650,
fbac@one-eleven.net
EMPTY 27Ó REGINA case (upright, single
play, not a changer). Also looking for bell
Òshut-offÓ levers for 22Ó Polyphon (barbell)
and needing 22Ó Polyphon discs. Contact:
JACK KANE, 713-726-6927, Luvstocook@
gmail.com Dallas, Texas 75224 United States
LOOKING TO BUY Grand Roller Organ
32-note cobs. Contact: DAVID COSMO, 845224-
6355, dave@cprdave.com
SERVICES
REPRODUCTION POLYPHON discs; Catalogs
available for 19 5/8Ó, 22 1/8Ó, and 24 1/2Ó.
DAVID CORKRUM 5826 Roberts Ave, Oakland,
CA 94605-1156, 510-569-3110,
www.polyphonmusic.com
SAVE $Õs on REUGE & THORENS MUSIC
BOX REPAIR & RESTORATION Ð MBSI
MEMBERS RECEIVE WHOLESALE PRICING.
40 + Years experience servicing all makes
& models of cylinder and disc music boxes,
bird boxes, bird cages, musical watches, Anri
musical figurines, et al. All work guaranteed.
WeÕre the only REUGE FACTORY AUTHORIZED
Parts & Repair Service Center for all of North
America. Contact: DON CAINE -The Music
Box Repair Center Unlimited, 24703 Pennsylvania
Ave., Lomita, CA 90717-1516. Phone:
(310) 534-1557 Email: MBRCU@AOL.COM.
On the Web: www.musicboxrepaircenter.com
Display Advertisers
2 Renaissance Antiques
58 National Capital Chapter
59 BenÕs Player Piano Service
59 Chet Ramsay Antiques
59 Cottone Auctions
59 Gold Leaf Galleries
60 StantonÕs Auctions
61 Nancy Fratti Music Boxes
62 Bob Caletti Music Box
Restorations
63 Musical Box Society of Great
Britain (MBSGB)
66 Marty Persky
67 Morphy Auctions
68 Auction Team Breker
The Musical Box Society of Great Britain announces the publication of two new books
Published in September 2018
100pp Hard Back ISO A4 format [8.27Ó . 11.70Ó; Profusely illustrated in Supplement to colour throughout with Additional Illustrations of Models, 89 Additional Lid
The Disc Musical Box Pictures Additions to Lists of Models, Patents, Tune Lists & Serial Numbers;
Combined Index of Images in the original book and its Supplement. Compiled and Edited by
Kevin McElhone Originally published in 2012 and still available The Disc Musical Box
ISBN 978-0-9557869-6-9 is a compendium of information about Disc Musical Boxes, their Makers and
their Music; profusely illustrated in colour throughout with Illustrations of
each Disk Musical Box Model, and with Catalogue Scans, Lists of Models,
Patents & Tune Lists.
Supplement to 100pp Hard Back ISO A4 format [8.27Ó . 11.70Ó; Profusely illustrated in
colour throughout;Additional Illustrations of Models; Additions to Lists of The Organette Book Patents, Tune Lists & Tuning Scales; A New Section on Trade Cards;
Compiled and Edited by Combined Index of Images in the original book and its Supplement.
Kevin McElhone
ISBN 978-0-9557869-5-2 The Organette Book is a compendium of information about Organettes,
their Makers and their Music. Originally published in 2000 but now out of
print although second-hand copies are occasionally available in online
auctions.
************************************************************************************************************************
For all MBSGB Publications, please refer to the Musical Box Society of Great Britain website for further details including latest
availability, discounted prices and information on how to order. -www.mbsgb.org.uk
January/February 2019 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
Museum Sub-Committees
Ohio Operations
Emery Prior
Nominating Committee
Dan Wilson, Chairman
John Bryant, Trustee
Judy Caletti, Trustee
Mary Pollock, Trustee
Johnathan Hoyt
Judy Miller
Dale Tyvand
Bill Wineburgh
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
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 January/February 2019
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Date Event Location Sponsor
Jan. 18 -20, 2019 Southeast Chapter meeting Tampa, FL Mark Yaffee
Apr.5 -7, 2019 Southeast Chapter meeting Joint with COAA,
(Plus MBSI Trustees Mtg.)
Naples, FL Bob Yates
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: Elise Low
(203) 457-9888
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: Aaron Muller
(847) 962-2330
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: Rick Swaney
(425) 836-3586
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: Jack Hostetler
(352) 633-1942
Dues $5 to Clay Witt
820 Del Rio Way Unit 203
Merritt Island, FL 32953
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
January/February 2019 MECHANICAL MUSIC 65
MARTY PERSKY
Instrument Brokering & Locating / Appraisals / Inspections / Free Consultation
Spectacular Ruth 38
Popper Felix Mortier 84 key CafŽ Hupfeld Helios II/25 Welte 4 Concert
Wurlitzer 850A Wurlitzer BX with Wonderlight Bow Front Violano Niemuth 45-Key Bacigalupo
Visit www.Mechmusic.com for information on these and other fine instruments.
T:847-675-6144 Email: Marty@Mechmusic.com
4520 Arville St.#1 | Las Vegas, NV 89103 | MorphyAuctions.com | 877-968-8880
NOW ACCEPTING CONSIGNMENTS FOR 2019
4520 Arville St.#1 | Las Vegas, NV 89103 | MorphyAuctions.com | 877-968-8880
NOW ACCEPTING CONSIGNMENTS FOR 2019
Closing date for entries: 1 March 2019
ÒAubade ˆ la LuneÓ
Automaton by
Gustave Vichy, c. 1890
Sold: 20,150 / $ 23,00
Nicole Frres Musical Box with Bells
and Chinoiserie Automata, c. 1885
Sold: 11,300 / $ 12,880
ÒStationÓ Musical Box Chalet
by Mermod Frres, c. 1900
Sold: 27,700 / $ 31,580
Grand Format
Variations Musical Box
by Nicole Frres, c. 1865
Sold: 26,370 / $ 30,850
Very Rare Symphonion
ÒNon Plus UltraÓ
Disc-Changing
Musical Box, c. 1900
Sold: 44,070 / $ 51,560
Silver-Gilt and Enamel
Singing Bird Box by
Charles Bruguier, c. 1845
Sold: 32,740 / $ 37,300
Monkey Fisherman
Automaton by
Jean Phalbois, c. 1884
Sold: 11,300 / $ 12,850
Exceptional Gold Musical Presentation
Snuffbox, c. 1810
Sold: 17,600 / $ 20,050
Rare Curved Musical Gold Snuffbox, c. 1812
Sold: 25,180 / $ 28,700
Superb Gold and
Enamel Musical Harp
Pendant, c. 1805
Sold: 36,500 / $ 41,600
Model 252 Twin-Disc
Symphonion, c. 1905
Sold: 18,900 / $ 21,500
Symphonion Eroica
Model 38A
Triple-Disc Musical
Hall Clock, c. 1895
Sold: 62,900 / $ 71,700
ÝÝMechanical Music
& AutomataÜÜ
WorldÕs Leading Specialty Auction of
Ð Illustrated are just a few of our highlights from 2018 Ð
Free consignment shipping to Germany Ð if delivered or sent to our location
in Garden City Park, NY 11040 (10 miles east of JFK Airport)
Free shipping for any major consignment from the U.K.! You just pack Ð we do the rest!
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
P. O. Box 50 11 19, 50971 Koeln/Germany á Tel.: +49 / 2236 / 38 43 40 á Fax: +49 / 2236 / 38 43 430
Otto-Hahn-Str. 10, 50997 Koeln (Godorf)/Germany
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
Japan: Murakami Taizou, Tel./Fax (06) 68 45 86 28 * murakami@ops.dti.ne.jp á China: Jiang Feng, Tel. 138 620 620 75 * jiangfengde@gmail.com
Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore: Alex Shih-Chieh Lin, (HK), Tel. (+852) 94 90 41 13 * alexsclin@gmail.com
England: Tel. (0)777 963 7317 * AuctionTeamBrekerUK@outlook.de á France: Pierre J. Bickart, Tel. (01) 43 33 86 71 * AuctionTeamKoln@aol.com
Russia: Maksim Suravegin, Tel. +7 903 558 02 50 * Maksim-ATB.ru@gmx.net
Consignments are invited for our
Spring Auction on 18 May 2019