Jody,  I was recently asked to see if I could repair a small contemp-
orary barrel piano and I would like to get further information from
other MMD readers about it if possible.

The unit has two markings screen printed on it, the first is on the
front of the case and says "VERBENA";  the second is "REIG" and is
printed in the same yellow color on the round barrel door.  The barrel
door also has the words "PATENADO", "MADE IN SPAIN" and "MUSIC BY
REIG".  This small but nicely made toy is painted a slick maroon with
four screened printed pictures on it's front.  It also has a stylized
yellow note and lines boarder design on it's case.  Glued onto the back
of the there is an instruction sheet marked # 728 or 72B.

The music is made within the instrument by 15 tuned note bars, being
hit by 15 plastic hammers on the ends of wires.  The unit also has 2
saucer bells hit by wires alone, two cymbals, one movable, one attached
to the case, and a wood block that is hit like the music bars by 2
plastic tipped hammers on wires.

The music barrel in this unit is made of gray injected plastic with
white plastic ends and contained 4 tunes.  A loose tune sheet attached
to the piano sides, marked #1,  identifies the songs of this pianos
barrel as "Cielito Lindo" (pt1), "Cielito Lindo" (pt2), "The Man On The
Flying Trapeze", and "The Band Played On".

I have made the part that was damaged, (it was a pot-metal barrel
shifting cam) and judging from what it was made of and how bad this
part look when I started, I believe others may need this same part.

Having been working in the new MBSI index, I know there has not been an
article written about this barrel playing toy piano.  I would like my
findings to become an article in a future installment.  But if not I
know any information sent in will be enjoyed by me as well as the
person getting her piano repaired.

For this group I ask:  Were other sizes of this unit made?  Or maybe
other case designs?  Were other barrels in fact made?  If so, what were
their tunes?  Should I have my working part cast in bronze or aluminum
for others before I return the unit, or should I just send the finished
part down the road with the working piano.

Jody, please assure your readers that any information used from the MMD
in my article, regarding this piano, will be noted by this author.
That is if an MBSI article is wanted or produced.

Thank you

Gary Stevenson