Hi all,

Just for grins I looked in the back of David Bowers' "Encyclopedia of
Automatic Musical Instruments", in the dictionary of Automatic Musical
Instrument terms. The word "disc" does not appear. However, under the
definition of the word "disc" the last two sentences read, "Also spelled
as 'disk.'  Synonyms [not in popular usage with collectors today]:
record, tune sheet."

On the other hand, on page 143 there are two ads for Olympia self-
playing music boxes, and both of the ads use the spelling "disk".

Further, in all the ads I could locate, Regina and Stella called them
"tune sheets".

Finally, from the little research I did on the matter, I never saw the
word "disc" in the ads of the day.  Does anybody have any old ads that
use that spelling?  Seems to me that may put an end to the discussion.
Then we could say, "Stop, we're -all_ right." Maybe we can make up a new
name for those "round, metal, circular shaped things with the tiny holes
or protrusions all over them."

The questions that come to my mind are:  Does it really make any
difference?  Exactly where is the point of confusion?  If the original
makers couldn't decide what to call them how are _we_ ever going to come
to a conclusion that everyone can agree on?

Call them what you like. If someone disagrees, that's their prerogative.

Musically, John Tuttle

 [ Ed. Note: Thanks for the research, John.  The evidence you present -- 
 [ the Olympia advertisements -- indicates that "disk" was the common
 [ spelling at the time, and this is in agreement with the entries in
 [ American dictionaries.  We, nowadays, can surely use either
 [ spelling without confusion.  -- Robbie