Recently a significant item of musical box ephemera unexpectedly
turned up hidden amongst a collection of instruments I was asked to
help disperse, as mentioned a few days ago on MMD.  Whereas these
things will most likely be of little interest to a potential new
instrument owner, they are often highly valuable for research purposes.

I would urge everyone who is charged with dispersing a collection to
carefully check first for any ephemera, and pass it on to a suitable
recipient for safe keeping, to avoid the information being lost for
ever.  Unfortunately in dealing with some collections I have been
told that all paperwork has already been disposed of which is rather
upsetting.

A number of organisations have an archive or library.  As I was
previously the GBSGB Archivist for ten years could I suggest Archive
of the Musical Box Society of Great Britain, which for example, is
accessible on request to any bona fide researcher, and welcomes further
donations of material.  Alternatively could I suggest you scan any
original ephemera now so that you know the information is saved for
the future.

In the past I have bid on lots in auction just to get the ephemera but
I am not longer able to do this so I hope any buyers in the future
reading this might share their finds with other collectors.

Kevin McElhone