Every now and then someone contacts Mechanical Music Digest or the
MBSI (Musical Box Society International) to ask about the music boxes
designed by Fred Zimbalist, a cousin of Efrem Zimbalist, and made for
him in India.  Although those boxes are very collectible, their appeal
is due more to the artistry of their cases than to the musical
movements they contain.

I have just been in contact with Laurel Musick, Fred's niece, to
inquire about Fred, who was at last report (several years ago) in
a nursing home.  Laurel reports that both Fred and his wife are
deceased, as is their older daughter, Abbey, who was an accomplished
pianist.  Only their younger daughter Francia is still living.

So Fred is gone but his music boxes live on.

Matthew Caulfield
Irondequoit, New York