The Morris Museum's Guinness Collection Curator, Kelly McCartney,
is searching for photos and recordings of any existing examples of
cylinder-type musical boxes (late 19th-early 20th century), which
play "Ragtime" music.

The museum is planning for a special "Ragtime" exhibit towards the
Fall of 2013, highlighting a variety of special instruments from
the Murtogh D. Guinness Collection of Automatic Musical Instruments
& Automata.  We would love to include the earliest possible musical
performances or examples of syncopated/ragged rhythm music, which
would have naturally been pinned on late cylinder musical boxes.

The even later-date disc box selections are well known, as was the
huge variety available for player pianos, reproducing pianos and
nickelodeons, so there is not the same need in those categories.

We will be including both listening and dance arrangements, so the
titles may also be designated as a March & Two-Step, Cake Walk, Drag,
etc.  Those of you with musical slots and/or musical arcade devices
featuring cylinder movements, check out the music!  There might not
be a tune/program card, but the music is distinctive, somewhat eerie
and easily identifiable, so listen and let us know if and when you
hear that syncopation!  Please contact:

  Kelly McCartney, Morris Museum,
  6 Normandy Heights Rd.,
  Morristown, NJ 07960 USA
  tel.: 1-973-971-3723
  kmccartney@morrismuseum.org.geentroep [delete ".geentroep to reply]

Jeremie Ryder - Conservator of the Guinness Collection
Morris Museum, Morristown, New Jersey