In article <40dp8v$58p@nntpd.lkg.dec.com>, larrys@enemax.zk3.dec.com (Larry Smith USG) writes:
> >
> Best selection of tools?

A milling machine is a must. A Bridgeport type would be best because of its
ability to handle tougher materials.
> What grade steel for the comb?

Spring steel would probably be the best, it can take the stress of being bent
without breaking and is hard enough to give a good tone. You may be able to
buy a comb that is sufficient for what you want to do. Porter Music Box Co.
and others have made replacement combs for Reginas and certain cylinder boxes.
However if you must you could probably fab one.

>
> How to attach the lead?
> Some of the teeth on the steel comb are equipped

Why not just adjust the teeth by hand, leave them long enough then shorten them
one by one a little bit at a time to bring them to the desired pitch?

>How do you machine the cylinder?

If you could import the midi file to some sort of cad system such as AutoCad,
and get dimensional placements for each pin it could be drilled on a verticle
milling machine with some sort of dividing attachment (rotary table, dividing
head) to precisely rotate the cylinder to the next pin location. If you want to
make a large quantity then you would need a 4 axis CNC mill with the 4th axis
being rotary.

> What to make the pins from?

Drill rod ( O-1 oil hardening tool steel)
>
> How to machine gears?
>
Buy them from Boston Gear if you can. They have a huge selection of all types
of gears. If you must make them I don't have enough time now to go into all the
methods for doing this.

> How to build or procure spring motors?

You could build one using a clock spring or phonograph spring.

Hope you have lots of free time this is a big project and a very interesting
one too. Good luck.