Arno van der Heijden, 1951 - 2012.

Arno, an ex-avionics engineer with Fokker, the Dutch aircraft
company, first fell in love with mechanical music after a visit to
the Yew Tree pub in Staffordshire, UK, some thirty five years ago.
His new hobby soon took him on a short vacation to the USA where
he completed a training course with Nancy Fratti.  He then studied
music and learned to play the piano.

Eventually he left Fokker and his hobby became his business.  He went
on to become one of Holland's leading restorers, taking on commissions
from as far away as the USA, Australia and of course every corner of
Europe.

Mechanical music was his life.  His knowledge and experience of "music
machines" was vast and he contributed much to Kevin McElhone's recent
book, "The Disc Music Box".  Sadly, we lost forever that fountain of
knowledge on 29th December, 2012, after a most unexpected but
thankfully brief battle with cancer.

Kevin McElhone

 [ "Why is the Yew Tree Inn an attraction?  Because it's so weird."  At
 [ http://staffordshiredailyphoto.blogspot.com/2012/03/yew-tree-inn.html 
 [ "It's like an olde curiosity shop inside - with old pianolas,
 [ ancient & ill-assorted furniture, tiny snug rooms, Jacobean settles,
 [ an eccentric landlord (Alan East) and antiques on the walls (including
 [ Queen Victoria's knickers).  It regularly makes the Top Ten Oddest
 [ Pubs in England poll."  -- Robbie