Dear MMDs,  Skinner's next specialist auction of Mechanical Music,
Automata, Science & Technology takes place in Boston on 29 July, 2006,
followed as always by our Toy & Doll auction.  The printed 1000-lot
catalogue is now available by calling the Gallery (see number at the
end of this posting).  Or, for a lighter version, please visit the
web site at www.skinnerinc.com.  Mechanical Music starts at Lot 442.
Highlights include:

Two exceptional phonographs: a recently-discovered Edison North
American Class M Phonograph, and a Columbia Toy Graphophone in its
original box complete with instructions and five unused brown wax
cylinders.

Many cylinder and disc musical boxes, including a Langdorff key-wind
overture box with mandoline expression and an unusual programme
featuring "Othello" and "The Bronze Horse", a key-wind four-overture
box by Humbert Brolliet, and a folding-top Regina on stand.

Three fine, early movements: a silver basket containing sectional-comb
chevron-comb musical box, a three-air musical fusee clock, and a Louis
XVI marble and ormolu barrel organ clock base.

Large machines: a Wurlitzer 125 Military Band Organ, an oak
coin-operated Mills Violano with many of its original accessories,
a Steinway grand Duo-Art reproducing piano with mechanism by the
Aeolian Co.

Fifty lots of French automata, singing birds, and related material by
Gustave Vichy, Roullet et Decamps, Leopold Lambert: a rare Theroude
magician with two cups, Thibouville Lamy reed organ with automaton
monkey, Ives General Grant Smoker, and a very early Rochat bird box
numbered "91".

Other highlights include a superb 1916 Harley Davidson, a fine
telegraph instrument by Siemens & Halske, and a David Rittenhouse
compass.

The sale takes place at 63 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116, tel.
1-617-350-5400.  Any questions?  Please feel free to contact me
on tel. 1-978-779-6241, ext. 244.  Hope to see you there.

Nick Hawkins