Mike Knudsen wrote:

> Many thanks to Larry Smith for commenting on the new boxes.  I once
> got a San Fransisco Music Box catalog in the mail, but it was almost
> all treacly novelty items, with part of the last page devoted to
> "real" boxes.  I don't recall any sublime harmonie boxes there -- or
> maybe the prices erased my memory.  :-)

Actually, the Heritage Collection has never been advertised in any of
their catalogs that I've seen, which may be one reason why they sold so
few.  You had to go to one of their stores to see any -- and not even all
of those.  The Heritage Collection also included one- and two-bird boxes
and Reuge musical watches, although at $1500 apiece, I couldn't see
getting one to tell what time it was, that's for sure.

> As for Larry's warning on auditioning boxes in shopping malls --
> substitute "Union, IL" or "any MBSI swap mart", or whatever, and any
> age or quality of music box.

Most of us who are very "into" musical boxes are aware of this advice,
but I wouldn't have even thought of applying it to a nice, shiny, new
movement from a living music box company until I heard the squeaks
myself; and, given the mall setting of many of these stores, it seemed
like a good reminder for folks.

regards,
Larry Smith