Thanks to Jeff Bridges for showing the link to the Google patent
search.  A few years ago I spent some time searching for mechanical
music patents.  At the time the patents were not indexed other than
by number.

Playing about with the Google search of the OCR keywords I found a
whole bunch of interesting patents by searching for patents filed in
"North Tonawanda."  These are the foundations of the DeKleist/Wurlitzer
automatic systems for mechanical musical instruments.  I include a few
theater organ patents as I have some of these parts and the remains of
a automatic player for a Wurlitzer pipe organ.

Feed mechanism for perforating machines (& tempo compensation)
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT1085986

Double tracker musical instrument
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT1312917

Tracker board (this is the tracker bar proper)
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT1205231

Mechanism... (coin register and accumulator)
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT1191205


These are more related to the theater organ, although I have
a player that works with this technology:

Device for tuning reeds (in reed pipes)
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT1059365

Electric organ coupler assembly (for tone generators)
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT2547918

Electropneumatic organ valve (chest magnet valve)
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT1604467

Staccato mechanism for musical instruments
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT1115541

There are more, relating to amusement ride devices, which are
outside the scope of the subject at hand.

Julie Porter