Greetings;  Every once in a while I run across illustrations in the
comic pages that deal with mechanical musical instruments.  This seems
appropriate since these instruments are supposed to bring pleasure and
fun so why shouldn't they be the subject there.  Obviously, in many
cases, and especially regarding organ grinders, there is a negative
slant.

On the positive side, the coming strip "Red and Rover", by Brian
Basset, in today's (4 March) Washington Post, showed a sick boy (Red)
in bed with his faithful dog Rover.  They are watching a TV game show
and the winner won a "hand-cranked street organ complete with a monkey.
The winner did _not_ win a "trip to sunny Rio de Janeiro or a 30 foot
cabin cruiser."  Red's response was "Cool, a hand cranked street organ
and a monkey!"

My question for the faithful readers of MMD is:  Has anyone kept
collections of such illustrations or comic strips that deal with
mechanical musical instruments? Ralph Heinz has done a great service
in printing in the MBSI journals collections of the old post cards.
I would be interested in communicating with people who cut out other
illustrations.

Terry Bender