To Bill Bones, regarding Stella in Seattle:  You have an excellent
contact for music box info in Seattle.  He can educate you on Stellas.
His name is Larry Karp, E-mail <lkarp@serv.net>.

A basic overview of Stellas:

Because of their 'different' star wheel mechanism design, they are
prone to having MANY broken teeth.  You might see six broken, but there
may also be many more 1/2 teeth broken under the bar that is screwed to
the top of the top comb.

Most of the 17" Stellas I've seen have been double-comb, though they
certainly did make single-comb machines too.  The second comb is very
hard to see because it is mounted vertically under the bedplate.  Look
near the center spindle and see if you can see the bass lead of the
bottom comb.  If you can't see any lead, the box is a single comb.

The other problems you could encounter:
  Bent, mangled, broken dampers
  Broken star wheel points (because of mis-alignment of the bar screwed
    to the top comb)
  Lead Oxidation
  Worn Pressure arm rollers on the hold down (pressure) bar

As for value?  IF I had a 17" double comb Stella, and it were fully
restored, I would sell it for about $6000-6500 with at least a dozen
discs.  Notice, I said *fully restored*, not 'playing good'.  A good
restoration could cost upwards of $700 for the basic overhaul, without
any comb work.

Enjoy!

Nancy Fratti - Panchronia Antiquities
PO BOX 210 - Whitehall, NY 12887-0210 USA
518-282-9770  or fax: 518-282-9800
Disc & Cylinder Musical Boxes - Musical Box Restoration Supplies