Arno was born at Amsterdam on September 19, 1950.  He studied for
technician and was employed by the Dutch aircraft industry with the
name Fokker.  After a great reorganization whereby as a matter of fact
his job was abolished, he choose to be an independent restorer of
mechanical musical instruments.  He followed a course of lessons in the
USA with Nancy Fratti, although he had already many years of experience.

His specialty was antique music boxes.  At first he worked -- since his
youth -- in the parental home with the well-known address Apollolaan 70,
Amsterdam, where he had a complete workshop in the cellar with a
wonderful assortment of machines and music boxes.  In 2009 he moved, for
the first time, into a beautiful house in Lisse with sufficient room for
his work.  In nearly all important collections in the UK, the Netherlands
and Germany he brought old instruments to a new musical life.

He travelled regularly abroad in the USA, to the sales in Rüdesheim
(Germany) and to the yearly general meetings of musical box societies,
for example, the MBSGB in Croydon, the "Gesellschaft für selbstspielende
Musikinstrumente" in Leipsig (2008) and Königslutter (2010).  He was a
very active and well-respected member of the Netherlands Pianola Society.

In 2012 a very aggressive illness manifested itself, being the cause of
his unexpected death on December 30, 2012.  He was scarcely 62 years
old.  We all will miss him very much.

Hendrik Strengers
Delft, the Netherlands
hekaton@hetnet.nl.geentroep [delete ".geentroep" to reply]