What do you know about this instrument?  It was owned by the late
Ralph Heintz of MBSI, but that is all I have been able to find out.
Where might it have been before that, and what could be its history?
For a memory jog, see my notes and pictures at
http://www.firedragon.com/~kap/Langshaw

It is odd that this would come my way.  My interest has always been
in listening to fine classical music on the piano and I have kept my
Chickering Ampico B in use since 1966.  When a Symphonion disc box
came to us with only two discs, I kept my eye out for more of this
odd size and found them at an Edison Galleries auction of items from
the collection of Mr. Heintz.  They are now here and play nicely.
As you might guess, there were other items in the auction sale...

This fascinating chamber barrel organ was a surprise purchase, since
caring for museum pieces is quite far from my plan.  I was merely
bidding very low on items just to make sure my connection was working
and on the off chance of getting a bargain well below the bottom end
of the auction estimate.  After some investigation after the sale,
I guessed that it may have come to me because of its renown musicality,
as it is quite rare to find a builder's musical sensitivities singled
out in print as in Ord-Hume's "Barrel Organs..." and Grove's
encyclopedia.

Any anecdotes and wild guesses will be greatly appreciated.  Meanwhile
I will try to get it back in adjustment so the barrels stop floating
from tune to tune and the obvious air leaks are brought under control.

Since they couldn't play in all keys, might these short-compass
instruments be tuned in quarter comma mean tone?

Karl Petersen
Washington, Illinois