Hi All,  While on a visit to my daughter in Kankakee, Illinois,
I made a "discovery".  My daughter had told me that there was
a "player piano thingy" in the basement.  It did vaguely look like
a player air motor but on closer inspection it turned out to be
a small roll operated organette, made by the Mechanical Orguinette
Company, New York, serial number 11887.

Since I am not an expert on these, here is what I found on the web
about the machine.  It was made around 1880, 14-note.  A crankshaft
operates three bellows, with one equalizer.  It appears to be original
and basically untouched.  The equalizer return spring is missing,
and there appears to be place for a relief valve in the equalizer
(I suppose it is to release the suction when cranking is stopped).

The flap valves are gone.  It looks like it would take very little
to get it to operate.  All the reeds speak on suction.  The gold leaf
designs are faded on the case, and I am afraid to attempt cleaning it
until I know the proper procedure.  Also the "rubber" on the rollers
is long gone.  I saw photos today of the identical machine with and
without roll take-up spools.  I suppose this was an option; this one
is without it.

How rare is this device?  Where would I find music (and the tension
spring) for it?  I would like to restore the machine.  But I will not
touch it until I find out more.  Any advice would be much appreciated.

Andy Taylor