Hi,  I was corresponding with a well known restorer and the subject of
"amazing" repair jobs came up.  Every once in a while I run across the
most astonishingly awful attempts at restoration.  He has done hundreds
of boxes but even I have had a modest amount of experience with disc
and cylinder music boxes and barrel operated organs of various types.
You know the type I mean.

The most typical repair is the "razor blade in the governor" job
instead of the correct jewel.  How about a ruby from a piece of costume
jewelry?  Then there is the guy who fixed a loose corner joint in
a music box case by drilling a hole down through the joint and pouring
it full of epoxy.  And then there is the modern, faux grained box with
a few coats of urethane varnish -- nice and shiny!

So, I was thinking, how about writing an article for the MBSI Journal
with a collection of disastrous restoration jobs.  Besides being
humorous, it might serve to educate people about things to look for
when buying a box and things not to do yourself.  If it included
a brief description of how you fixed the problem or even a picture,
all the better.

So -- this is a call for you to send me a short description of the
two or three most amazing restoration blunders that you have come
across.  If you can send a picture or two that would be even better.
If I get a nice bunch of items, I'll write it up for an article.

Regards,
Craig Smith
near Rochester, New York, USA

P.S.: How about the fellow who asked his auto mechanic brother-in-law
to adapt a distributor drive gear to replace the governor worm shaft?!