I just returned from two sunny, wonderful weeks in Italy. I covered
Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples and Capri. The food and wine was
only good and better.
I have the impression the Italians are far too busy with live music
to be into mechanical music. One notable exception in Rome near the
Piazza Navone is the Collaterale a cura di Milens Tance, 230 via dei
Coronari, tel 06-68806052, a shop run by a husband and wife with
helpful English and a wonderful collection of music boxes, mechanical
organs, automata, etc.
I came home with a lovely miniature bird box ca. 1905 (the airport
security x-ray loved that; I had to show it in Naples, London and
Atlanta). They have a website: http://www.paginegialle./it/tancamilen
and a nice printed brochure showing "carillions, automi e pianole
meccaniche". The trip to the ruins of Pompeii and its treasures in
the National Museum in Naples were worth the trip alone.
Best Regards, John McClure
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