I have returned from Germany (on a trip with J. W. Miller) where we saw
the collection at Siegfried's Mechanisches Musikkabinett in Ruedesheim
am Rhine.  There is a very large collection there containing many
different instruments.  On the tour they play one or two instruments
in each room.

Some of the instruments we heard were a very large Weber (Maesto
Konzert-orchester) which sounds rather like a small player theatre
organ, a Weber reproducing grand, a couple of flute clocks, and a large
Hupfeld double violin orchestrion.  There was also a Mills Double
Violano in a corner, which was not played for the tour.  There were
also a couple band/fairground organs which played books.

I found the Weber Maesto a very nice machine, and wouldn't mind having
one, if I had the space (probably 10 feet high and wide, and 6-7 feet
deep.  I purchased the three tapes of it from the gift shop, where they
have many tapes and CDs (I spent 250 DM there).  The Hupfeld with it's
6 violins and large rotary bows was also very interesting.

Edward "Dan" Copeland - edcplnd@thebestisp.com
See "Our Musical House"
Http://www.thebestisp.com/~edcplnd/index.html