I am in a good position to reply about mechanical music in the Emerald
Isle as I lived there for 5 months last year.  I came across only
three player pianos in that time, the most notable was a Hupfeld
Pianotist installation in an old London piano.  It was missing the
handle but it looked as if it would play.  I note from an auction
magazine that the contents of the house were up for sale last month,
so it's gone now.

There were a few musical boxes but nothing to write home about.
Gramophones were in abundance and, in the area I was, there were four
or five avid collectors.  One young man (about 22 years old) had about
twenty in his living room.  You expect this kind of behavior from an
old guy but not a young 'un! (Do you think this will provoke a
reaction?)

I was given an address of a man in Cork who collected a few barrel
organs which sounded like Chamber organs and was interested in selling,
but I have yet to follow this lead up.  It's a long way to Cork and
Tipperary!

Brian Chesters
brian@blackpool.net