Hello!  I have been subscribed to MMD for a couple of months and have
found it to be both interesting and entertaining.  I found the digest
via a link from the Fair Organ Preservation Society web site:

    http://www.ndirect.co.uk/~fops

My interests cover all forms of mechanical music, but particularly
organs of the fairground / dance variety.  My interest was originally
ignited when, aged 5,  I spent an afternoon listening to an 84-key
Gavioli barrel organ playing in a park near home.  It was assumed by
most people, at the time, that I would get over this fascination  --
20 years later it is still there!

Incidentally, I believe that that particular organ, which I have
never seen since, was converted a few years ago to book operation
(unfortunately, in my humble opinion, as I am not aware of any 'large'
barrel operated organs now left in the UK).

For my contribution to 'the cause' I renovated a 65/88-note player
piano.  This particular instrument could not have seen use for many
years -- many of the original lead tubes came to a stop in little piles
of white dust!

Looking forward to future Digests,

Douglas Bush
UK

 [ Welcome aboard MMD, Douglas.  What make is the 65/88 player?
 [ There's lot of interest in those, here in the Colonies!  -- Robbie