Hi all,  Here in the UK in the next two weeks, there are two separate
auctions with two nice music boxes.  First, a 4-overture Nicole, quite
late at 45,000 with gaudy carrying handles to each end.  It sounds very
nice though and plays four well-known overtures.

The second is an F. Lecoultre key-wound three-overture box playing two
by Rossini and Harolds Zampa.  This box was bought in the early 60s
by a collector and, at that time, there was no one in the MBSGB who
had figured out how to re-pin cylinders.  There was a company called
Baud Freres in Switzerland who used to advertise in "the music box"
magazine, so the cylinder was dispatched to them.

Many years went by and hundreds of letters, it was only when the trade
commission at the British embassy got involved that the cylinder was
returned.  It was a perfect re-pin, but it took a full nine years.

I have several being repaired at any one time, one has just passed
its first anniversary and another has been away for three and one half
years; I understand its done now, but -- 9 years?

Brian Chesters
brian@blackpool.net