Herewith is a short report on the specialized auction of mechanical
music in Chartres (France), on Sunday, May 23d, 2004.  To see the
complete catalogue and price list, please go to the MMD web site at
http://mmd.foxtail.com/Auctions/

Prices in euros, add a premium of 15% (and so you get roughly the
hammer price in dollars!).

More than 350 lots were presented to the rather calm international
audience inside the old gothic chapel where auctions take place.
To sum up, prices were rather sustained for the numerous lots which
were sold, but curiously a certain number of very interesting lots
(some humorous postcards, several instruments) were not considered
by potential buyers -- and we wonder why !


 - The Claude Marchal postcard collection

About 1500 postcards were offered at auction (lots grouping 10 to 30
postcards, usually from 100 to 350 euros per lot), of which more than
800 dated before 1940.

All postcards featuring carousels or large organs were sold at rather
high prices : for example, 1000 euros for the 17 French postcards,
500 for the English ones, 240 for four Belgian ones, and 500 for 16
rare old Mortier advertising cards.

But curiously, many documentary (photo-like) or humorous postcards
featuring barrel organ players (Italian, Russian, German, English),
or various animals playing barrel organs (some very surrealistic or
kitsch), were not sold.

We would very much like to know why, as it is a very rewarding and
amusing collection, certainly less expensive than collecting even small
old instruments.  And many of these cards are very hard to find in good
condition...

Notice amidst the curious cards sold as unique: a very rare card which
makes noise when pressed (ca. 1930) sold for 70 euros; Charlie Chaplin
as an organ player (1920's) for 60 euros; a rare old stereo postcard of
a Spanish mechanical street piano (organillo) in Sevilla for 100 euros;
and a very rare and fine Czech perforated postcard, to be played on a
small 8-note Orion Organette (not present!) for 65 euros.  Has someone
really seen this small organette ?

 - Mechanical music instruments.

A large 35-key Limonaire replica with 4 automatons by the Manufacture
Fournier (ca 1981), in good condition: 14,000 euros.

A smaller Limonaire replica by Damien Jeanne (ca 1970's) needing
restoration: 4000 euros.

Three excellent barrel pianos (2 with coin operated spring motor,
and one Spanish handle-operated "organillo") were sold at 2400, 2000
and 1700 euros.

Three "orgues de salon" (with necessary revisions or restaurations),
fetched respectively 1900, 1500 and 1300 euros, and a very fine
"perroquette" (a large serinette of 3 stops) by Clement, with 3
cylinders and maker's labels, needing restoration: 1800 euros.

A fine English vertical portable piano in the "Hicks" style, from
the first half of the XIXth c., with strings, 7 bells, and a stop
of 15 pipes, needing to complete the restoration: 3200 euros.

There were many organettes, amidst them a rare Kalliston with
percussion, which fetched 2600 euros.

We have to mention too a 37-key Melotrope (to put on a piano or
keyboard), with 60 good books of music, operating instructions and
catalogue of the available tunes: 1700 euros.

A rare "Livre d'images parlantes", where animals are pictured and
by pulling a cord their various cries are heard: 1050 euros.

Many musical boxes of every kind (musical tiles, musical alarm clocks,
etc.) and prices.  We shall mention a few very good boxes bought by
"connaisseurs" and lovers of good music: a good fortepiano Ducommun
Girod went for 2700 euros; a rare F. Nicole 4 tunes snuffbox for 2400
euros; a very original burl-wood snuffbox, in the shape of a small
nave, with stacked teeth movement, for 2100 euros; and a fine two-tune
snuffbox with teeth by groups of four, for 900 euros.

 - Automatas

A curious electrified semi-modern automaton of a "levitation by
hypnosis" trick, possibly  by Triboulet-JAF (?) went for 5200 euros;
a fine animated picture of a farm scene (but without movement) for 6600
euros, and a automaton picture clock (without music) for 8200 euros.

- Documentation

Many books were in English.  Amidst the 35 lots, sold at reasonable
prices, should be noted the famous "Monde des Automates" by Chapuis and
Gelis, in 2 vol., for 1050 euros, and in 1 vol. by Chapuis and Droz for
200 euros.  A reprint of Dom Bedos "Le Facteur d'orgue" (Kassel) went
for 350 euros.

Then were sold scores of gambling or arcade machines, and many
phonographs.

The next auction in Chartres is the beginning of December, 2004.

With best regards,

Philippe Rouille (Paris, France)
http://www.musicamecanica.org/