Dear MMDs,  The auction in Chartres (France) of mechanical music,
automatas, phonos, arcade machines etc. was certainly a success,
especially for automatas.

I think a world record was obtained by No. 642, the Cambodgian
dancer by Gaston Decamps (built similar to the Snake Charmer, but
rarer) with a hammer price of 290,000 euros (ca. 440,000 US dollars,
premium included).

Some other good automatas fetched high prices, such as a clown as a
diabolo player by Vichy at 70,000 euros, and a magician with tumblers
by Theroude at 45,000 euros.

For mechanical music fans, a large array of instruments was for sale,
from small "snuffbox" size musical boxes (3 to 500 euros), good
standard boxes in the range of 1000 to 1500 euros, a rare Billon Haller
interchangeable with 7 cylinders for 8000 euros, several good parlour
cylinder organs and musical clock pictures for ca. 4000 euros, and
a large mechanical coin operated barrel piano for 2200 euros.

A large 52 keys Gasparini organ went for 28,000 euros.  In this auction
of ca. 250 items were also many arcade machines and phonos.

You may see the catalogues and lists of prices paid (including the
one for this sale) on the MMD web site at
http://mmd.foxtail.com/Auctions/Chartres0612/index.html

Thanks to Robbie Rhodes and Joyce Brite.
Next auction: May 2007.

With best regards,
Philippe Rouillé (Paris, France)
http://www.musicamecanica.org