Wishing Best New Years Wishes to all and wanted to share a new
"Murphy's Law" of everything that could go wrong, will!

My modest collection thrills me daily, but during the holidays I get
the expanded chest and ego and, for a brief moment, I believe that my
many holiday guests are somewhat interested in mechanical music.  So
I proudly put my Christmas rolls on the Duo-Art Steinway, the A-roll
Coinola (thanks to other members), the O-roll machine, the little
Ampico, the Regina and all the bird devices, and expect their rapt
attention...  NOT!

If there was any holiday when my beloved toys take on a personality
of their own, it was this Christmas.  My normally beautifully-behaved
Reproduco decided to re-roll in mid-flight of the "Nutcracker" roll,
the Dou-Art played with the "loud" intensity stuck, the O-roll tracked
like chickens walking over a mountain.  Thankfully, the A-roll played,
but for the first time ever the "damper" manual stop stuck mid-stream
on "Rudolph".  The Victor Orthophonic decided to skip on a vintage "White
Christmas" record; the only star was the Regina and the Kalliope.

I had an audience of 14 guest for my fiasco.  If I had not had a CD of
Xavier Cougat, and plenty of camp stuff everywhere, I would have felt
like The Grinch.  Of course, everyone took it well, but I just wondered
if anyone else had ever had such bad luck.  I spent two afternoons
getting everything ready, not to mention years of restoration.

Santa Claus brought be a table model stereoscope (art case French, ca.
1870) and wonder if any one else enjoys those old views while listening
to their toys?

Best Regards,
John McClure
Marietta, Georgia