In 120512 MMDigest Marc Goodman mentioned an upright player piano
marked "Mason & Hamlin".  I have a very fine music box which is
stamped "Nicole".  The marking did not resemble any Nicole Freres
music box cartouches, so I took pictures and asked the experts.

The answer was simple.  Even in 1880 they were not against trademark
infringement and that the stamp was probably put on the box by a
unscrupulous dealer.

Is it possible that someone at one time added the "Mason & Hamlin"
fallboard decal to a nameless piano?  (Is the soundboard also labeled
"Mason & Hamlin"?)

Eli Shahar
Sonora, California