The Musee Mecanique collection, presently housed in the Cliff House in
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, is known for its turn-of-the-century
automata, including "Laughing Sal", the lovable laughing machine!

Less appreciated by the coin-dropping visitors are the fine automatic
musical instruments collected since the 1950s by owner Ed Zelinsky.
The museum offers two CDs featuring their music machines; instruments
represented on "Vol. 1" are an Auto Electric style C, Cremona style 3,
National, Nelson-Wiggen style B, North Tonawanda style L, Regina 20-1/2
inch disc music box, Seeburg style C, Seeburg style K (very smooth,
indeed!), Seeburg KT Special, and a Wurlitzer style B.

I am delighted with the overall quality of "The Zelinsky Collection
Vol. 1" because (1) all the instruments play very well (those with
dynamic expression controls are obvious, too); (2) the tunes and
musical arrangements make me think, "This is great!  Why haven't I
heard this before?" and (3) the microphones are distant enough that
there aren't any confusing nearby echoes, as so often mar recordings
made inside cramped museums.

CD purchasing info is at the museum web site,
http://www.museemecanique.com/ and
http://www.museemecanique.com/2.html

Robbie Rhodes

PS: After listening to the CD several times, I telephoned the museum
and spoke with maintainer Larry Speer, who played a tune for me from
Clark roll M-723, "Jazz Time Jingles", on their newly restored 1911
Engelhardt orchestrion.  It sounds fantastic -- now I know why
collectors praise the musical ability of the rare M-roll instruments.