Hi, Rick:

There is a barrel organ (flute pipes) writing desk pictured in Dr.
Alexander Buchner's book, Mechanical Musical Instruments on pages 99-
100.  I'll look in my library and see if I can find any others.  Can
you e-mail a picture (post on MMD)?

Biedermeier is an art period that developed in Germany in the early
and middle 1800's.  The name came from a humorous character in German
popular literature around 1830.  "Papa Biedermeier" represented solid,
comfortable living.  The name 'Biedermeier' was applied to houses,
interiors, decorative arts, and furniture of solid, comfortable design
made for the German upper middle class.

Biedermeier furniture was an adaptation of French 'Empire' design and
was made chiefly of local woods, such as cherry, pear, maple, birch and
beech.  Even some mahogany.  Early Biedermeier was very simple in design
and later the pieces were richly ornamented with applied carved, gilded
motifs and metal decoration.  That may help in dating your piece.

Regards,

Bill Wineburgh
http://members.aol.com/WWineburgh/musicbox.html