> Does anyone know which individual(s) could possibly be credited
> for starting the mechanical music hobby?

The MBSI was started in 1949 but, obviously, the people who started
it had the interest long before that.  The book, "Musical Box Society
Golden Anniversary 1949-1999," is still available from MBSI or myself
for just $17.50 ppd.  (It's a limited time offer, so get in your
orders now.)

The book lists the 19 founding members and their 'history.'  Mr. &
Mrs. Byron Merrick, Lloyd Kelley and Mr. A. V. Bornand spearheaded
the start of the society.

(Unabashed commercial break:  About the above book, it's not a
'booklet' but a 230-page coffee table size '50-year book' filled with
about 1000 pictures from _way_ back and up to 1999, with pictures and
stories of how each MBSI chapter was formed, highlights of the national
meetings, major trustee decisions, foreign members, museum exhibits,
prominent museums and collections.  There is an 8-page color section
also.  It's a great book and a good way to show your support of MBSI
-- and a _cheap_ way too!)

Art Sanders was mentioned in the original question.  I'd suggest
writing to Art -- as of 2009 he was still around and coherent.
I _know_ he would be glad to hear from fellow collectors.  His address
is:  Mr. Art Sanders, PO Box 294, Deansboro, NY 13328.

I'm finding more and more collectors' estates are coming up for auction
too.  I picked up a collection a few years ago in which the father
collected phonos and large musical boxes, but never belonged to MBSI.
Most of his music boxes were purchased from Ruth Bornand pre-1950.  So
he was collecting before MBSI started.

A wonderfully sad story about the above collection: The father collected;
the wife and daughters were told to _never_ touch the boxes, that Dad
would play them if they wanted to hear them, which they did, and often.

Dad died.  Twenty five years later Mom died.  A year later one of the
daughters called me to come get the boxes and sell them.  As I stood in
front of an 18-inch Mira (one of my favorite disc boxes) the daughter,
now in her 70s, timidly asked me if I would play it for her.

I told her I'd show her how to operate it and a mild look of fear came
into her eyes -- she told me adamantly that she was never allowed to
touch it!  (Even after so long, she still could hear her Dad admonishing
her!)

So, of course, I picked out a great tune and played it for her.  She
cried.  It was beautiful; hearing the box again brought back so many
memories of her childhood!  So I played all the other boxes before we
took them to find new homes.  You could see her mind going back to so
many good times.

Moral of the story -- teach your family how to operate some of your
machines so they can enjoy your collection even after you're gone.
They'll have even happier memories of you.

Sadly, most of today's children won't know those joys.

Nancy Fratti - Nancy Fratti Music Boxes
Canastota, New York
http://www.nancyfrattimusicboxes.com/