Louisiana collection visits were wonderful

I just returned from the best mechanical music weekend in a long
time.  We visited five private collections, seeing wonderful machines
and hearing beautiful music.  We saw two different Weber Unikas,
two Capital Cuff music boxes in different sizes, three Mills Violano
Virtuosos, Seeburg KTs, Arburo dance organs, three disc playing
musical clocks, band organs, orchestrions, reproducing pianos,
whistlers, singing bird cages, large disc music boxes, large cylinder
music boxes and music boxes playing bells, organs and drums.  It was
so unbelievable to actually see all these instruments we read about
but seldom get the opportunity to experience.

The hosts were so gracious.  We got to see the outside and inside of
many of the instruments.  We tasted wonderful delicacies -- barbecue,
king cake, bread pudding and lots of the local seafood.  Even better,
I toured two rebuilders' workshops to see the tools and techniques for
rebuilding music boxes, attended a short workshop on case rebuilding,
and participated in the swap meet ("mart") to dispose of some unneeded
parts and find some parts that I needed for a small music box repair.

These MBSI weekend chapter meetings are a wonderful opportunity to see
private collections and instruments that otherwise we only get to read
about or see on YouTube.  For me, attending one or two of the chapter
meetings every year is worth the annual dues payment to MBSI.  Where
else can you hear "Phantom of the Opera" played on a Seeburg KT?

The next meeting of the MBSI Southeast chapter is scheduled for the
last weekend in May in the Orlando, Florida, area.  If you are not yet
a member of MBSI (Musical Box Society International) you may consider
joining right away so you can attend this meeting of the Southeast
Chapter and see some of the wonderful private collections in the
Orlando area.

Wayne Finger - MBSI Southeast Chapter
http://www.mbsise.org/