Regarding Bernt Damm's request for information on Empress Electric
orchestrions, I can only say that they are fairly few in number.
Original production figures are probably unknown.  The only Empress
Electric I have ever personally seen is a style Y.

Empress Electric Orchestrions were originally sold by Lyon & Healy
[the big musical department store in Chicago] and used interior
components exactly the same as Coinola instruments.  There are no
particular restoration obstacles.

Values are difficult to estimate as you can imagine.  Perhaps you can
do some research and see what similar instruments in the same condition
have sold for recently, although this information is not always useful.
Consider what the instrument is worth to you, what you can afford to
spend, plus what you will need to invest in restoring it.

To own these machines is a love affair.  Often times the cost of
purchasing and doing a top-notch restoration on a machine is equal
to or greater than the actual value of the item.  If you are purchasing
it with the desire to recoup your investment, chances are you'll be
disappointed.

John D. Rutoskey