In an endeavour to brighten up, by however little, some gloomy times,
here is some positive news from the Musical Box Society of Great
Britain (MBSGB). The latest issue of its magazine, The Music Box,
is now out, defying the coronavirus limitations with an additional
four pages making it a bumper edition.

Contents include an item on an unusual Gothic style musical clock
containing two exceptionally rare Nicole movements, and what is
believed to be the first English-version publication of an article by
French Jura local historian, Marc Forestier, on the David Missilier
family of musical box makers.

Also two items about mechanical music and the Great War, and a couple
of technical articles. Copies of this 48 page, full colour magazine
are free to MBSGB members, or may be bought separately, subject to
availability. You can find out more by visiting
http://www.mbsgb.org.uk/ 

In addition, to further the MBSGB's aim of sharing valuable resource
information in a time of uncertain postal arrangements and physical
restrictions, there is a free, read-only version of the Musical Box
Tune Sheet book and all four of its extant supplements on the Society
website. Published by MBSGB in hard copy over a number of years, it
features 514 tune sheet examples compiled and annotated by the late
Anthony Bulleid and his successor, Tim Reed.

This on-line version has been corrected, cross-referenced and up-dated.
(For example, two pages of further commentary complement tune sheet
number 395.) Research is on-going to improve its current simple
presentation to include ultimately more sophisticated search tools.
(Note: those wishing a hard copy record may still obtain this from
the MBSGB in the UK, or Nancy Fratti in USA, see
http://www.nancyfrattimusicboxes.com/ 

Alison Biden - Musical Box Society of Great Britain