Dear MMDs,  Let me give you some precisions about an auction of
mechanical music instruments and automatas which will take place in
Chartres (1 hour journey from Paris, France) on Sunday, Dec. 5th, 1999.
(There are two auctions of this kind every year in Chartres).

I should call it a "large medium-size auction", with more than 100 lots
of mechanical music, more than 40 lots of automatas and fairground
artifacts, about 65 phonographs, and 35 coin-operated or gambling
machines (and a lot of dolls, but that is another story).

Some interesting pieces will be (besides the usual small items such as
musical plates, caskets and photo albums, musical clocks, Aristons,
etc.):

 - A rare 4-tune early musical box movement (ca 1820) with teeth in
groups of 4, playing remarkably well;

 - A Forte Piano Ducommun Girod 6 tunes musical box;

 - A nice musical ormulu French clock from the beginning of the XIXth
century, on a base containing a small snuffbox movement "Alibert",
teeth by 4's;

 - A Rzebitschek 2 tunes musical box movement (bass teeth on the right);

 - A good 50 cm disc Polyphon;

 - a good perroquette in the shape of a small "orgue de salon";

 - Several reed or pipe portable cylinder or book organs (one
by Gavioli);

 - many automatas by Lambert, Vichy, Roullet-Decamps, etc., amidst them
a rare waltzing couple by Vichy;

 - 2 large automaton pictures with many movements (each with a small
2-tune musical movement), one by Wurtel marked 1849;

 - an Aeolian orchestrelle.

Estimated prices go from a few hundred francs to circa 100.000 FF
(circa US$15,000) for the best automaton pictures.

As I act as consultant for this auction; I may give you some details on
the instruments which could interest you, but if you want to order a
catalog (30 pages on these items), please ask directly the auction
house by sending them 50 FF (or the equivalent in your currency).

Please specify clearly that you want also the English translation.
Auction house fax from abroad : 33 2 37 36 34 71 (No e-mail, but they
take the major credit cards.)

Of course, after the auction, I shall give you the results and some
comments.

Best regards,

Philippe Rouille  (Paris, France)
http://www.cnam.fr/museum/musica_mecanica/

 [ See the complete text and photographs at
 [ http://mmd.foxtail.com/Events/   -- Robbie