You can add yet another to the list of women who enjoy both mechanical
music, and this forum.  I've enjoyed automated music machines since
I was knee-high.  My introduction came by some wonderful collections
open to the public: Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm in Southern
California, and the twin ghost towns of Virginia City and Nevada City
in Montana.  And I've always enjoyed carousels, with their lively band
organ music.

Growing up in San Francisco in the 1960s, I discovered the Mission
Piano Store, and would always have a dime (thanks to Grandmother)
to drop into the A-roll nickelodeon, sitting by the front door.
(By the way, would anyone happen to know who manufactured that piano?).

I recently went into an antique store that had a reproduction O-roll
nickelodeon.  Out came the quarters (what happened to the dime slot?)
and I dropped one in, as heads turned.  It was nice to see that people
are still intrigued by how these machines play.  The ragtime tunes
really livened up the place.  I wish every antique store had one.

Although I do not currently own any large-scale instruments, I do have
a few smaller music boxes (the oldest ca. 1950, with dog and clown
automation, unknown manufacturer).  I also have a fairly large collection
of mechanical music recordings.

Sharon Marie