The music store at which my father works recently obtained a style
"A" art glass Marquette Cremona with lamp posts and two Seeburg
instruments, including an early style "L" and a style "K."  Both
Seeburg instruments were rebuilt around 30 years ago and the Cremona
is unrestored.

Upon disassembly of the Marquette for tuning and cleaning (which
had for years experienced abuse at a public restaurant), my father
discovered several old Indian head cents, wheat pennies, and buffalo
nickels (which were most likely intended to be deposited into the coin
slot).

My father knows how much I love old coins and decided to save them
until I returned home for winter break.  He gave me the old coins as
a "Christmas present," and upon further inspection, I realized I was
holding a 1914-D Lincoln cent!  I think the chances of this are even
more scarce than winning the lottery, I told him.

Those of us in the numismatic (not pneumatic) trade know the value of
rare, key-date coins by evaluating their condition.  The 1914-D looked
G-4 to my eye.  However, I had it appraised and an old-timer said it
was in VG-8.  Eureka!  I hit the jackpot.  The money went towards
endless college expenses, into a hole so deep I won't be out of the
dirt for another ten years.

Anyhow, I enjoyed hearing my favorite rolls on the Seeburg "K" after
it was tuned.  It reminded me of my childhood when my family would go
to Farrell's Ice Creme parlor and enjoy chocolate covered malts to the
accompaniment of Seeburg piano music, or listen to the mighty Wurlitzer
Theater Organ at the organ grinder while watching Charlie Chaplin and
Buster Keaton on the silver screen.  Sadly, these places closed down
just a few years ago.  Many similar places I know have met similar fate
over the years.  It saddens me, anyway, to realize that these places
won't be around for future generations.

Sincerely,

Nathan Bello