Jody,

I try to keep things on the positive side and I don't look for fault in
anything unless forced, but I think the down side to this kind of list
server is the short memory of the readers. If it's not the most recent
"HOT TOPIC", it is forgotten?

I recently asked to see if I could get further information from other MMD
readers about a "VERBENA" toy barrel piano but got very little response.
(Three to be exact (1 directly to me 2 through the MMD) Could this unit be
that rare that know one has seen one, has one, or knows of one, or too minor
that no one cares about the "VERBENA" by REIG? I know it's just a toy but I
had to sit through MMD after MMD of BEER SONGS. Can't others please help me
in my quest.

I include a copy of the description offered before:

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.

Thank you

Gary Stevenson

 [ Gary,
 [
 [ I'm enclosing this message (again) in the hopes that it will
 [ get some additional responses.  Sometimes the surprise will be
 [ that months from now someone who's not a subscriber will find
 [ an article via one of the search engines and reply.  We get
 [ new subscribers that way from time to time and it seems like
 [ its happening more often.
 [
 [ Please let us know if you get any private responses.  I think
 [ they should get posted here for completeness.
 [
 [ Thanks.  Jody