Hi guys,

The "phonograph" music box described by Jim Cavanaugh is available at
Walmart (at a much reduced price) and I concur - the fellow that
designed it had a truly misguided idea about mechanical music.  The
combination of perforated roll to play a music box comb in a phonograph
look alike - oh, really?  One thing - this music box has several
collectibles covered! Outside of that, it is a really outstanding
little novelty music box, with a pretty good sound and nice music.  For
those of us looking  for inexpensive mechanical music for ourselves and
as gifts to encourage young people to collect, this is one of the
better items.

The Southeast Chapter MBSI meeting in Savannah gave one of these
"Phonographs" away as a door prize, and the item generated a lot of
interest in the group there. Let's face it - in order to encourage more
people to collect and enjoy mechanical music, we need to encourage
these modern mechanical music items. Most young people can't afford
player pianos, antique music boxes, or orchestrions. But they may be
able to afford some of the fine Reuge music boxes, antique musical toys
and musical compacts and cigarette lighters. MBSI has started a section
in its publications on affordable mechanical music - it is amazing what
they put music into over the years!

Thanks, Jim, for mentioning this neat little Christmas gadget.  So it
is a bit confused in design - it's cute and plays music.  What more can
you ask?

Beatrice Robertson