•[ Ref. "Need Help With Musical Cuckoo Clock" by Justin J. Miller [ in 130122 MMDigest -- Hi Justin, In response to your posting on MMD: Sorry, I can't help identify the tune(s) from the YouTube Video, but I can tell you that it was designed as a 50-note changing/shifting mechanism, and therefore ha...

•In response to Bob Taylor's posting in the 130315 MMD about how to handle "Unforeseen Circumstances" when making an estimate for repair, I would suggest that he consider presenting his Estimate as a "Guesstimate", with the explanation (addendum) that experience has shown that there is almost always...

•I've found that modern round leather belting works amazingly well on instruments used in indoor settings with reasonable humidity control, if the groove in the motor pulley matches the one in the pump pulley, if the belt is the right cross-sectional diameter to fit well in both grooves, and if the ...

•It is a great pleasure to announce the sale by online auction of the "Automaton Museum" from Nice, France. Over 800 items will change hands on 20-21 June, 2015, without reserve or with very realistic reserves. All items have at the end of their description a country code with their current location...

•Hi Steve, You've got the terminology right. Unfortunately, you are seeking two small part (that are relatively inexpensive could you find them) for an antique (probably Swiss) mechanical musical mechanism from an unknown maker. That's tantamount to asking an auto parts shop for a hub cap and a brak...

•I have a wireless MIDI solution for the Android but it does not simply use the Bluetooth capability in the Android device -- it requires a combination of products. (1) The Android app is "MIDI Voyager Pro" by "bytebolt" from the Google Play store. It is a MIDI player that will direct the output to ...

•A large part of the Daphne Ladell collection of Automata and Musical Boxes has now been sold. There are plenty of small novelty-type items but also the following much larger items left for sale, priced in UK £ sterling and to be collected by your agent from Surrey, England. If you would like a full...

•Although a bit off topic this is in reply to John McClelland's question about roll scanners and roll readers. For a number of years I thought it would be fun to be able to play some of my MIDI instruments from a 31-note organ roll. To be able to play a physical roll I believe adds to people underst...

•Hello MMD. It has been a while since I last posted. On this occasion I am hoping that someone might know the whereabouts of another one of these rare weight driven organettes. I am hoping to restore this instrument or have it restored; however, without some additional information or photos there wi...

•In 1990 Christopher Wilkins, the conductor of the Colorado Springs Symphony (today reorganized as the Colorado Springs Philharmonic) performed the original arrangement of "Rhapsody in Blue" using Dick Kroeckel's 9'6" Steinway Duo-Art. Chris contacted [pianist and conductor] Newton Wayland to see if...

•[ Ref. Ron Schmuck in 250129 MMDigest ] The links which Ron shared contain some good overall photos of MIDI installations on both pneumatic and solenoid controlled accordions. Thanks, Ron. I've described the evolution of Erie Airs in the "Carousel Organ", the COAA magazine, but haven't spread the w...

Dave Clark wrote: >> Date: Thu, 11 May 1995 07:21:58 -0400 >> From: ClarkDC251@aol.com >> To: automatic-music@foxtail.com >> Subject: Attaching a midi to my organ. >> >> Hi, I while go there was a post that mentioned something to the effect > can hook a MIDI to anything>. Well I would like to talk t...

The message in Digest 960107 explains 'why' I didn't get a card or annual Yuletime message from pianist Wally Rose (born Walter Lewis Rosa) this year. I am happy to learn that my friend and pianist-musicologist Peter Mintun is assisting with Wally's affairs, and my association with Peter goes back t...

•[ Forwarded to MMD from Mark Curtis. -- Robbie ] Hi GusLuke@aol.com > Dear Ingmar, Thank you so much for responding to my letter. I am > such a novice I don't even know enough to respond to your questions. No problem, but you will have to help me. I can't guess what you don't know, so keep asking. ...

•I attended the auction of mechanical music items in Sydney (mentioned by Michael Wolfe) and can add some more details. All prices are in Australian Dollars. On top of the prices shown, the auctioneers applied a 10% "processing fee' and a "bank charges recovery fee" of 0.08%, i.e. a knock-down price...

•We here in the first of the 21st century can still remember playing an original, unrestored foot-treadled player piano. We can remember collections of hundreds or thousands of original rolls. We have seen collections of vast numbers of these instruments, and they are still turning up in the newspap...

•Hello MMD readers, Recently, there have been a series of postings about the problems and solutions of taking a player instrument, usually an upright, out of one's residence and bringing it to a public event. I do believe that I've had more experience in this activity than most people, especially si...

•Bill Maguire's statements about the PTG and RPTs cannot go unanswered, because they are filled with unsupportable generalities and misinformation. I quote him, followed by my responses: > The biggest weakness of most RPTs as I see it is mechanical > inclination. I believe most player technicians ar...

•[ Re MMD 040710, "Blow-a-Tune" Player Panpipe Musical Toy ] Dear Phillip & Bea: "Blow-a-Tune" was made by Kenner Products, Cincinnati, OH, c. 1949. Cardboard discs are punched to play a tune on 10 fixed plastic organ pipes. The player's air power operates the pipes as the handle turns the disc. It ...

•Roger Wiegand asked about sourcing MIDI from something other than a floppy or proprietary ROM. I have implemented a MIDI file player that uses a compact flash card instead of the floppy diskette. The main issue is how the songs are supplied: you cannot just take a MIDI and expect it to play on any ...