A dealer near me has a cylinder music box for sale that I'd like some
advice on. It has been obviously repaired once (teeth replaced), it
appears unprofessionally (scuff marks around adjustments, etc.), but I
played it and noticed the following problems. It would not correctly
shift between selections and a few pins are bent. More importantly, the
"tune" was non-melodic--perhaps the teeth are misaligned? It soulded
like random notes playing.

Several immediate questions come to mind, since I am NOT an expert:

   Can pins be easily straightened, or will they break?

   What is causing the non-harmonious play? Is it likely repairable?

   Are these things I can repair, or only by an expert?
   
   How much beyond the initial cost am I likely to spend?

Thanks for any and all advice!

- Todd Augsburger¶
allmax@kenton.com¶
Central Ohio, US