Dear fellow MMD'ers,  As most if not all of you know, Mr. Gerald
Stonehill's collection was offered in auction on May 31, 2006,
when I was at Christies, directing their mechanical music sales.

Thinking that this was it, I was proved wrong when I contacted Gerald
in December to see how he was.  After exchanging pleasantries he asked,
"So when do you want to sell the rest of the collection for me?"
My reaction was surprise -- I thought I had sold his collection!

This second and concluding batch consists of a very large selection
of Ampico and Aeolian catalogues, paperwork, a negative 30-mm film copy
of Pachmann playing a piano, photographs, etc; Aeolian factory crates
(with the Harrods lending library labels on each), lots of spare parts,
roll ends, roll headers, roll hooks, a _complete run_ of Duo-Art box
labels, and many other interesting bits and pieces.

In fact, such is the list, I am planning to post a comprehensive list
this week sometime of exactly what is in each lot.  In the meantime,
please take a look on the Bonhams web site and find the on-line
catalogue.  Type in www.bonhams.com, go to the calendar and find my
sale: Fine Mechanical Music, Technological and Scientific Instruments
(19th March 2008, sale No. 15778) and the lot numbers are 3, 4 and 5.

It made sense to place the main roll collection in one lot two years ago,
but here, I thought three lots would be sufficient to get these items to
good homes.  You will notice that the three lot 'flavours' are the
Librarian lot, the Conservor lot and the Workshop lot.  It will become
clear once you see it.  The estimates are realistic as well, making
sure everybody gets the chance to view and to bid comfortably.

An update on the main roll collection and Steinway:  As you know,
both headed for a museum abroad and the piano is currently undergoing
restoration to make sure it will survive time.  As I understand it,
the rolls will be copied one-by-one so that the rolls can live in
a glass-fronted humidor and the music can be played on the Steinway
via an MP3 linked to a Robot.  The roll library being fully
digitallised will enable people to 'download' music of their choice
(when applicable).  But hold on, this is a few years away from
completion!  All rolls are obviously being repaired, copied and
so-forth by hand, so please bear with them -- the curators are doing
their best!

I would be delighted to hear from anyone wishing to have a run down of
the items in each lot; I can have the boxes in front of me when you call,
so please feel free to do so.  My direct line is 0044 87 00 273 633.
If I am on the phone, please leave a message and I'll call you straight
back.  My e-mail is <laurence.fisher@bonhams.com>.

So here's to the Stonehill collection part two -- well worth coming
along to London to view (and there's a great pub next door!).

Laurence Fisher - Specialist, Mechanical Music and Technical Apparatus
Bonhams 1793, 2 Relay Road,
White City, London W12 7JS