Rolmonica Provides a Very Merry Christmas

Better sit down for this one...  I could not believe my eyes when I saw
the article in The Bee (Antiques and The Arts Weekly), issue of December
24, 1999, page 42.  Louis Santucci reports on the October 9th auction
at Paula Hantman's in Potomac, MD.  Their web site is at
http://www.hantmans.com/

Santucci reports that a Rolmonica with 16 music rolls and original box
sold for $4,190.00.  Now, are you still sitting down?  On top of that
was a 15% buyer's premium, bringing the total cost for the buyer to
$4,818.50!

Unless that was a mis-print, the consignor should be enjoying a very
merry Christmas right now.  And I suspect we may see a flood of Rol-
monicas come up for auction shortly by other owners looking to make a
good profit.  I sent her an e-mail to confirm the price in the story.
If it is in error, I'll let you know.

A Mermod Ideal Orchestral cylinder musical box (appears to be an
interchangeable, but the story does not state that) with bass drum,
snare drum and 6 bells with enameled bees and butterfly strikers in
a typical carved oak case, with a Jacot's Safety Check and Zither
attachment, sold at the same auction for $6,000 plus premium.  That
seems much more reasonable in today's market than does the Rolmonica.
A somewhat fuzzy picture of the musical box can be viewed at:
http://www.hantmans.com/10-23-99%20Brochure/25.JPG

Well, Happy 'Musical' Holidays to all of you MMDers.

Bill Wineburgh
http://members.aol.com/mboxmuseum/museum.html