Just a note to wish everyone a Happy Holiday season before the university
shuts down for the holidays.  (I'll keep it short so that Robbie can get
some sleep).

The diversity and the depth of knowledge of the members of this list never
ceases to amaze me.  Having grown up with many members of my family owning
player pianos, I took them for granted.  This digest has shown me that
there are more aspects and issues to player pianos and other mechanical
music instruments than I ever realized.

I wish to thank our editors for all their hard work and the time they
have contributed in keeping this digest vibrant and informative. To Jody
Kravitz, who begin it all, whose continued effort keeps everything going,
and is always looking for ways to improve the dispersal and archival of
information about mechanical music, and to the inimitable Robbie Rhodes,
for filling in for Jody, and stimulating discussion by challenging us
with his insight and own brand of humor, everyone will join me in
saying THANKS!

Merry Christmas, Joyeux Noel, Froehlich Weihnachten, Feliz Navidad,
God Jul, Mele Kalikimaka to all!

Joyce Brite

 [ Thank you, Joyce, and all the others for your notes of encouragement
 [ and compliments.  Our subscriber list is growing at a phenomenal
 [ rate (it seems that way, anyhow), as fans of old-fashioned music
 [ boxes and Pianolas discover the new-fangled Internet!
 [
 [ I want to tell the music box collectors just how much I admire
 [ your patience, as you sift through weighty paragraphs about equally
 [ weighty pianos!
 [
 [ The other group with admirable patience is our members in the
 [ non-English-speaking lands.  You foreign fans of mechanical music
 [ deserve special praise for your dedication, inasmuch as the Digest
 [ is not written by "professional writers" who use "simple English".
 [
 [ Best wishes to all from
 [
 [    Jody Kravitz, Editor/Publisher
 [    Robbie Rhodes, Relief Editor
 [    Mechanical Music Digest
 [
 [ G'nite, Joyce.  (Yawnnn...  ;-)

 [ Other editor's Note:
 [
 [ The words of support are really apprecated.  I'm greatful to
 [ Robbie for giving me some extra time for my family this Christmas
 [ season.  And a thanks to Terry Smythe, who first contacted me about
 [ two years ago suggesting that such a forum should be started.  After
 [ some foot-dragging on my part, I accepted the challenge, and a list
 [ of about 35 names in April of '95.  Its hard to believe that I added
 [ the 425'th subscriber to the list tonight -- thats 425 currently
 [ receiving the Digest!
 [
 [ Thanks again to everyone for their support and participation.
 [
 [ Jody