The auction of Protsman's Antique Automobile and Treasure Museum
in Stone Mountain (near Atlanta), Georgia, on March 21 & 22 caught
my interest because it is extremely rare to see such an extensive
offering of mechanical music items at one time.  And of course
I was curious how these economic times are affecting prices.

This was a fascinating sale of nearly 1,100 lots and included a wide
variety of antiques and collectibles, from automobiles to country
store items and everything in between.  It required nearly 20 hours
of non-stop, high-speed selling over two days.  All in all, I'd say
prices held up well, all things considered.

I was unable to attend in person, but I did spend the weekend watching
the live feed on-line.  I thought it might be interesting to share the
final bid prices on those items which are of most interest to readers
of this newsletter.  All of the machines listed below were playing well
and appeared to all be in very good to excellent condition.

Lot
#129: Empress Electric keyboard coin piano: $2,250

#196: Seeburg "B" keyboard coin piano: $6,000

#237: Wurlitzer (model unknown) keyboard coin piano,
  art glass: $4,500

#296: Seeburg "B" keyboard coin piano with mandolin rail,
  art glass: $5,000

#339: Western Electric (model unknown) keyboard coin piano
  with xylophone: $4,000

#371: Aeolian (build-up) keyboard coin piano
  with xylophone & castanets: $3,500

#416: Bursens "Arburo" dance organ: $17,000

#436: Autopiano (build-up) keyboard coin piano
  with triangle & block: $1,750

#486: Seeburg "E" keyboard coin piano
  with xylophone & mandolin rail, art glass: $4,250

#504: Mortier 69-key band organ: $12,500

#575: Western Electric (model unknown) cabinet style coin piano
  with mandolin rail, art glass: $6,500

#804: Leonard (build up, tall case) keyboard coin-op orchestrion
  with piano, bass & snare drums, cymbal, tambourine: $$5,500

#863: Baus Piano Co (build-up, tall case) keyboard coin-op orchestrion
  with piano, violin pipes, bass & snare drums, cymbal, triangle: $5,000

#903: Straube Piano Co (build-up, tall case) keyboard coin-op
  orchestrion with piano, tambourine, 2 snares, block & cymbal: $4,250

#925: Regina disc music box (15.5"): $1,900

#930: Polyphon Style 54 coin-op upright disc player: $14,000

#933: Swiss cylinder music box (4 tunes): $1,100

#934: Two art glass center panels for Seeburg "G" (landscape scene
  with house & windmill): $3,250

#935: Two art glass center panels for Seeburg "G" (torches): $3,000

#936: Nelson-Wiggen Style 6 orchestrion with piano, mandolin,
  xylophone, bass & snare drums, cymbal, triangle, tympani effect,
  castanets & wood block, clear glass: $15,000

#963: Kurtzman (build-up, tall case) keyboard coin-op orchestrion with
  piano, bass & snare drums, bells (glock?), cymbal & block: $4,500

#970: Wurlitzer Style 153 band organ: $27,500

#1015: Electrova (build-up) keyboard coin piano
  with tambourine & block: $3,500

#1021: Mortier 101-key dance organ: $40,000

#1059: Putnam player piano (foot pumper): $1,100

#1140: H.J. Charlton player piano (electrified) $225

It would be interesting to get more perspective from someone who had
the chance to be there in person.  For more information and photos of
the above (and all the other stuff), the auction catalogue is still
posted on line at http://www.richpennauctions.com/ 

Ron McUne (in Oregon)
cougarmcune@gmail.com.geentroep [delete ".geentroep" to reply]