Hello,  I'm not sure if the title is correct but Nancy Fratti gave me
this e-mail address and said it was a music box discussion group.  It
is possible that I didn't get it right and that it is really a mech-
anical music discussion group.  In either event, I would like to join
the group.

I collect and restore music boxes, phonographs and organettes.  I have
been doing restoration work since 1970.  Most of my work is in the
phonograph area, especially in coin operated phonographs.  I have a
machine shop capability, do a portion of my own casting and my own
nickel plating.  While I enjoy all of the mechanical music, I very much
enjoy the mechanical aspects and bringing a nice mechanical instrument
back to life.   Since I must maintain a real job to eat and pay the
rent, my work on mechanical devices is restricted to a part time basis.
Even so, I am generally working on 8 or 10 different project all the
time.

I am very interested in serious discussions in this field where
thoughts can be exchanged and other opinions sought.  I am always
looking to acquire new information on various aspects of the hobby.
I'm not interested in any group that has one sided discussions and only
one person is ever correct.  Other's opinions must be respected and
given due consideration.  If that is the type of group this is, then I
would very much like to participate and believe I have things to share.

Along this line, I would like to have some discussions with someone/s
that have a knowledge of street pianos.  I am writing an information
paper for the widow of a friend that had a nice collection of
mechanical music instruments.  One of them was a street piano and I
have found very little information on them.  Can anyone in this group
help?

Hoping to share and participate,

Ken Danckaert
kennethd@ix.netcom.com

 [ Welcome aboard, Ken.  Do browse the archives at the MMD web site.
 [ We've had articles in the past, and I think there was a fine letter
 [ about street pianos in Spain!  -- Robbie