There is a Berry-Wood AOW in the DeBence Museum in Franklin,
Pennsylvania. This instrument was formerly in upstate New York and
was headed for my collection in the mid-1960s. Larry Givens learned
of it, and I commissioned him to buy it for me. The price was $2,000,
a good price when a Seeburg H was valued at about that.
Jacob DeBence went along with Larry for the ride. When Larry came
back he told me that DeBence had persuaded the owner to sell it to
_him_ instead. Thus, the character of Mr. DeBence, now deceased, was
revealed. I ignored his later invitations to visit his museum, etc.
Oh, well...!
I might suggest that someone copy the orchestral arrangements on these
rolls, perhaps to convert them to G or H or other rolls for which many
instruments exist today. I, for one, would enjoy listening to
Berry-Wood arrangements, with which I am not at all familiar.
My best wishes to all for Merry Christmas season.
Dave Bowers
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