Eat you heart out!  I'm off to Switzerland on the MBSI "Flying Pig
Tour" and will be able to attend the auction in Ste. Croix in
conjunction with the 200th Anniversary Celebration for the Music Box.
Several of the items in the catalog are of interest to the group.  Not
one, but 2 Chordephons are included in the sale. Other unusual items
are: A very rare disc playing Organette in the shape of a house, and
with dancing dolls; A Lador "Musicano" - a disc playing machine with
movable projections on the disc so you can arrange your own music (2 of
these); a musical Stereoptic Viewer!, a bicycle race with a cylinder
music box, coin operated; a wide variety of old and new automata,
several Reuge items, both old and new, an Erocia 3 disc player with
clock, a Hupfeld Phonoliszt Violina Model B, several monkey organs, a
beautiful fairground organ, assorted Nicole cylinder music boxes
including a Grande Format Forte-Piano Overture, several interchangeable
cylinder boxes, and a variety of disc players, phonographs, and
novelties.  Perhaps the most fascinating item in the catalog is
described as "An antique and most wonderful Tool Table of a worker who
assembled music boxes.  All tools on table are original and mainly are
bronze or brass.  The whole fully overhauled and in very good
condition.  This table was first used around 1880.  Length of table: 43
1/2".  Est. $3,600/4,000." I'll be front and center to see just what is
there!!  Oh yes -- there is a Musical Box Maker's Tuning Comb that I
hope finds a new home in Florida!

I'll let you know about the auction and the trip when I return!

Beatrice Robertson