Hi folks,  Several weeks ago, I excitedly announced that the 'musical
box auction of the century' would soon take place on the East Coast.
Although final details can not yet be released, I can tell you that
the auction will be on Saturday, May 9th, 1998, in South Carolina.  The
auctioneer tried to tie the auction in with the MBSI Annual Meeting in
Charlotte, NC, at the beginning of September but the owners are ready
to sell now.

Full details will be available as a spin off of our shoppe's web
page and will contain a full listing with up to 4 megs of detail.  The
framework of this particular web page has already been formulated and
should be fleshed out by April 15th (hopefully).  The auctioneer hopes
to offer Internet absentee bidding after  a potential buyer establishes
an appropriate credit line.  I have been asked to use my 30 years of
musical box collecting and selling experience to put together the
catalog and Internet display.  There should be lots of pictures of
at least the best items.

The response to my first announcement was great.  I received the names
and addresses of about 100 MMD subscribers, many outside the United
States, who wish to receive a catalog (bulletin).  Those names have
been turned over to the auction house.  There will be a 10% buyer's
premium and South Carolina has a hefty sales tax (I believe 6%??).
Nearly 10,000 music box disks, of all sizes, and makes will be sold.
There will be thousands of rolls for music machines, i.e., player,
Ampico, Duo-Art, 58-note organ rolls, Apollo, and many others for sale.

There should be over 200 great condition musical boxes including disks,
interchangeable, single cylinders, manivilles, overature, keywinds,
uprights, some with bells....etc. etc. etc.  (The owners are currently
considering keeping a few of the best items and disposing of the
duplicates.  Remember, there are more than 6 overture boxes that are
magnificent.)  Each member of AMICA and MBSI will receive an auction
catalog.  The auction details will also appear in the Antiques and Art
Weekly. etc.

If there are other members on the MMD who will not be included in the
above groups and do not have Internet access, just send your name and
address to cotps@aol.com and I will see to it that you receive auction
information by the last week in April, okay??

I will provide other information as soon as it is released.  Until
then, save your money for this fine auction.

Regards,

Rick Cooley
http://members.aol.com/cotps/