Dear MMDs,  On Sunday was an auction of mechanical music instruments
and automatas in Chartres (France), about 150 items were in this field.
You may have seen the catalog with some pictures on the MMD web site
at  http://mmd.foxtail.com/Events/

I sent to Robbie a complete (unofficial) listing of results, to be
added to the web site.  Here is a summary of the auction.

As usual, the auction room, in an old gothic chapel, was full of many
people from France and abroad (Belgium, Great Britain, USA, etc.).  The
results are given at the hammer price (add circa 11% for premium and
taxes).  (1000 FF is roughly a little more than US$ 150.)

The best results were reached by two large picture clocks (ca 100 or
110 x 75 cm), which are landscapes with many, many animated figures,
trains, carts, etc., but small musical movements.

  No. 703 : 185.000 FF (ca 28.500 $)
  No. 737 : 130.000 FF (ca 20.000 $)

And a very large fairground cast-iron coin-operated fairground
attraction (not musical, but speaking) of a black boxer, almost 7 feet
high, weighing more than half a ton):

  No. 799 : 170.000 FF (ca 26.000 $)

Several small objects, rather unusual, fetched high prices in their
category :

  No. 663, a rare metal musical tea pot, in very good condition,
1900 FF (almost 300 $)

  No. 785, a very rare promotional miniature duo-art roll,
1300 FF (ca 200 $) (see my posting of Nov. 11th in the MMD).

Several plates picturing organ grinders (No. 653, 761, 761 B) fetched
between 1500 and 2000 FF each (230 to 300 $).

  No. 674, a rare musical album of very good quality and appearance,
playing "American Patrol" (composed in 1885), 3600 FF (ca 550 $).

Otherwise, prices reflected, as in the recent auctions at Christie's
in London and Australia, a rather calm market, with a difficulty to
get high prices even for good technical or musical items. (Curiously,
an auction small in quantity but good in quality at Sotheby's London
on Nov. 9th got better results).

It seems the buyers prefer "show-off" pieces, with accessories
(bells, drums, dolls, etc.) to the real collector's pieces ...
Are times changing ?

So you could buy also at Chartres :

- a 15 stops Orchestrelle in very good condition for as few as
20.000 FF (ca 3000 $),

- a good pianola 65 notes push-up (in very good operative condition,
which is quite rare) for 4200 FF (650 $),

- a superb 4 stops Gavioli barrel organ for 38.000 FF (a little under
6000 $)

- or a small "orgue de salon" as a 3 stops perroquette, for 12000 FF
(ca 1850 $).

Next auction in May 2000, probably on the 21st.  Ask the auction house
for a catalogue !

Best regards,

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

 [ The complete list of prices paid is now at
 [ http://mmd.foxtail.com/Events/  -- Robbie