Well, I've been bopping around the newsgroups gathering
information, and I thought I'd summarize it for the
interested.

The general consensus of opinion on rec.crafts.polymer-
clay is that the clay is more decorative than structural,
and certainly not up to holding pins in musical box cyl-
inder.  Actually, it was a bit stronger than a consensus,
I'd say.  =)  So, scratch that idea.  As far as I can tell,
ye olde metal-cylinder-and-pins is the only reasonable way
to go.

rec.crafts.metalworking has lots of useful information,
and are very willing to host a discussion about musical
box reproductions.  They are unanimous in recommending
a Sherline mill and lathe for doing such work, it's
designed for producing _extremely_ precise parts that
are not very big - but they should be quite adequate
for all but the biggest boxes.  They also have optional
NC for computers, which put them into the $700-$1000
range.  Is this the system someone on this list had in
mind when they recommended NC?  It certainly seems like
it could handle everything short of the actual pinning.

A lot of useful information is also lurking in some
related mechanical disciplines.  I will be picking up
some information on clocks and orreries, both also
interests of mine, that documents methods of producing
gearworks of considerable sophistication, and even touch
on musical and chiming movements.  If any of it seems to
bear directly on mechanical music, I will, of course,
post pointers.  Shall I post a summary of this research
to this list?  It won't be directly automatic music related,
but it might be of use to some like me that are looking
for all related information for proj- ects of their own,
and it shouldn't be very long.

I heard about Charles Hind from Nancy Latti at Panchronia
Antiquities as a well-known gentleman producing modern
music boxes the equal of antiques, and I notice he is
hosting a workshop at the convention.  Luckily, my wife
and I were planning a trip to Walt Disney World this
October, so it looks like I might get to meet him.  I
_have_ joined MBSI - at least, I sent them money.  Can
anyone here confirm that my membership has been processed
and whether I need anything to confirm my membership
before I go down there?  I would be really annoyed to show
up after travelling 1800 miles and re-arranged a whole
vacation only to be denied entrance because the application
was lost or something.  Perhaps there is a phone number I
can call to get positive closure?

I think that's it for now.

regards,¶
Larry Smith