Hi again,  Well as usual, all the best items come up for auction
here in the UK.  Below are three items in a forthcoming sale.
I fancy the Eroika!!

Brian Chesters   <Brian@blackpool.net>

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#315  A fine Symphonion 135/8 Eroica German, late 19th century, the
upright case driven by two motors with triple comb playing on three
discs and 135/8 disc movements, contained in carved walnut case with
classical painting of female nude on the inside of the glass door, with
full frontal drawer for disc storage together with an oak disc bin with
compartments containing approximately 100 discs.  For a similar model
see Arthur W. J. G. Ord-Hume, The Music Box, a guide for Collectors,
page 216.  186 cm, 6 ft 1 in. high E8000-10000


#316 A 30 cm 1 3/4-inch Symphonion musical long case clock, German,
circa 1910, the moulded and carved walnut case with two train clock
movement striking on a gong, centre drive musical movement with sublime
harmonie comb arrangement, together with seventeen metal discs, winding
handle and key 193 cm, 76 in. high E5000-8000

#317 A rare Roepke orchestral coin operated book playing musical box,
German, circa 1900, playing a 36.5 cm wide cardboard musical book on two
combs, activated by a coin-operated movement, the winding handle with
ornamental surround, complete with chute and trap, with painted paper
guide with patentees name, a carved, mahogany case with decorative
pediment, together with fourteen musical books in a dismantled state,
partly incomplete: missing linkage from spring mechanism to comb, one
tooth missing and one plucker damaged.

Roepke was manufactured both in Leipzig and in Manchester by Carl Albert
Roepke, although his book-playing musical boxes, of which this is an
example, were manufactured in Leipzig.  A similar model to this example
can be found in the book entitled Musical Box, Arthur W. G. Ord-Hume,
George Allen & Unwin Ltd, plate 159, 1980, although this example is not
surmounted by a clock.  The only other three known existing examples of
Roepke musical instruments are the long-case vertical movement in The
National Museum van Speelklok tot Pierement in Utrecht.  Another which
has the addition of three bells and plays books 14.6 cm wide, and a
third which plays music 10 cm wide.  208 cm, 82 in high, 51 cm, 20 in
wide   E2000-3000