[ Editor's note:  I've snipped out about a paragraph of administriva...]

To respond to Larry Smith's query into someone who could work on the
innards of a Regina music box:  Robin Biggins in California does some
of the best comb and mechanism work I've ever seen (he's worked on my
Mira, Kalliope and Polyphon.) He is a master at comb repair and I
defy anyone to detect a replaced tooth on which he's worked (he's got
a slitting machine and is remarkable with his technique.)  He is also
quite reasonable and is more prompt than most in his turnaround time
( I've heard of wait times from other craftsmen as long as 15 months.)
Anyway, Larry, you might file that name away with your list.

Regarding the development of a "new-fabbed" cylinder box -- it's
quite a tricky little bugger.  I would encourage anyone who was
interested in this venture to join the MBSI and get a copy of the
bulletin in which they featured Charlie Hind's account of how he made
his.  The critical aspect (aside from a focus just shy of obsession)
is to have the right equipment including a grinding machine, drill
press, rotary drill, kiln, quenching bath, etc...  I have myself
"had" a 27" Regina comb fabricated and, according to a music box
authority, it is a "live" comb and, if tuned, would work.  HOWEVER,
do keep in mind that a slitted piece of metal doth not a comb make.
It had to be hardened (the steel used back in the "old days" was a
particular grade of steel which was produced specifically for comb
fabrication -- I used oil hardening steel) and I had the little pup'
slitted with the EDM process (mucho expensive.)

Would I do it again?  Probably not.  If you want to make a box,
you've got to have the tools to get the job done properfly.  I will
say that the endeavor taught me a lot and enabled me to network with
a number of people who were a wealth of technical and anecdotal info
on the subject.

On a different aspect of music boxes:  anyone out there interested in
disc music boxes?  I'm interested in arranging new tunes for the
machines.

  [ Added by Editor:   Jack Kane