Hello again,  We have just had the Christies London mechanical music sale
this week.  Unfortunately, I couldn't attend due to a funeral; however
some of the highlights were:

  27 lots of radio stuff including two pairs of 'Butter Stamp' type
telephone receivers, reputedly from Windsor Castle, at only 690 GB.

  53 Lots of Gramophone and Phonograph things, including a rare Kaemmer &
Reinhardt Berliner Gram which fetched 5000 despite the reproduction horn
and arm.

  18 lots of pneumatic and stringed instruments, with several singing bird
boxes and one very nice Steck Duo-Art upright in a Chinese Black
Chinoiserie-lacquered case and matching stool.  This looked real good
and it was one of the items I left a bid on.  It was a pedal and electric
operated Duo-Art.  It went for 4600 GB.

There was a nice Bruder barrel organ with seventeen automated figures
to the front which fetched 25,300 GB.

Another lot I bid on was a collection of 72 red Welte rolls, but they went
for 805 GB.

There were 45 musical boxes, with the highlights being a Columbia Sublime
Harmonie Quatuor Interchangable by Paillard, with four grand format
cylinders in a large oak case with four turned legs; someone must have
liked it to pay 13,000 for it.

There was a nice Nicole 4 overture box in a burr-elm case which I bid on
but it went for 5980.

A number of disc boxes were included with a nice 21-inch Symph at 6900,
with 10 bells and 90 inches high, which I might have had a go at if I was
there.

Brian Chesters

 [ We always enjoy your jolly letters, Brian.  Are you still attempting
 [ "tax exile" in Isle of Man, far away from civilization?  Or has the
 [ bright light of the city overcome the advantages of the Isle residence?
 [ ;-)    Cheers, and keep in touch!  -- Robbie