Hello Susan, and of course, the MMD list as well!  I think it is pretty
well known that there is a connection between automatic musical
instruments and trains (in particular those run by steam!)

I am, as you probably have guessed by now, actively involved in both
hobbies and have an eclectic accumulation of steam powered models and
musical instruments.  Other collectors, such as my friend Rusty King of
New Jersey, are not only heavily involved with railroading as a career,
but have extensive collections of automatic musical instruments.

I once mentioned to my late friend, Comdr. E.J. Quinby, U.S.N. Ret.,
that a lot of folks like himself were always showing up at the functions
of a small group of seemingly unrelated interests.  Jay Quinby was at that
time the Chairman of the Board of Greene Line Steamships, the owners of
the Delta Queen steamboat.

Jay also had a huge pipe organ installed in his home, and had been one
of the founders of the Branford Electric Railway Museum.  Jay said that
he to had noticed that he would see the same core group of enthusiast
at both pipe organ recitals and steam railroad excursions.  Or at
Musical Box Society meetings and shows with gas and steam farm
equipment.

After a while, he came to the conclusion that these were merely the
folks on this Earth who had good taste!

Sincerely,

Keith Taylor
Eastern United States Secretary of the International Brotherhood of
Live Steamers and collector of Reproducing and coin operated pianos.