Selection of Thorens Manivelles
Latest News
Mechanical music items for free - Added 12 January 2025
Ben Hensel says:
I have been selling a collection for 3 years, the house is now sold and the last 3 instruments will be chopped up on the dates below unless someone takes them away.
We have a garage clearance guy booked in for 27th & 28th Jan (there are lots of piano rolls in there).
House clearance is provisionally pencilled in for 11th & 12th Feb.
We would also extend this “free of charge” offer to the barrel organ and pianola, if anyone is interested. Indeed, we would like to contribute £100 towards travel to anyone who wanted to come and take one or both away. At the moment, it looks like they will have to be scrapped, which seems a terrible shame!
Best wishes
Ben Hensel
E: [email protected]
M: 07870 152193
They items are located near Fordingbridge, Hampshire.
I have been selling a collection for 3 years, the house is now sold and the last 3 instruments will be chopped up on the dates below unless someone takes them away.
- Player Piano [was working when owner died 4 yrs ago] + hundreds of rolls.
- New-ish Church Barrel Pipe Organ made by Ian Alderman JH33. Chamber barrel organ built by Ian Alderman in 1984 with 30 keys. One pinned barrel with Mozart tunes. [another pinned inside case] plus 3 spare barrels to pin. Poor volume due to weak pallet springs. looks like it is constructed of Mahogany.
- Barrel Piano in poor condition for parts. JH44. English Barrel Piano. Possibly 44 keys counted. Needs restoration and repair. Cover above barrel may not be correct or original. Spare barrel. Possibly made by Rossi & Spinelli Size 142 x 94 x 61. You may take parts only if you prefer ?
We have a garage clearance guy booked in for 27th & 28th Jan (there are lots of piano rolls in there).
House clearance is provisionally pencilled in for 11th & 12th Feb.
We would also extend this “free of charge” offer to the barrel organ and pianola, if anyone is interested. Indeed, we would like to contribute £100 towards travel to anyone who wanted to come and take one or both away. At the moment, it looks like they will have to be scrapped, which seems a terrible shame!
Best wishes
Ben Hensel
E: [email protected]
M: 07870 152193
They items are located near Fordingbridge, Hampshire.
Barrel Piano
Player Piano
Dates for your diary
Click the heading for the dates of Mechanical Music Events that we know about.
Send us an email if you know of any that are not on the list.
Send us an email if you know of any that are not on the list.
SPECIAL MECHANICAL MUSIC AUCTION and SOCIAL MEET-UP - UPDATE
The auction took place on 19th October 2024 at The Langham Hotel's West Dene Suite
43-49 Royal Parade, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN22 7AH
There were 161 lots and 3 for sale by Private Treaty
Click here to view and download the full 82 page catalogue
Click here for an updated list of the auction results as at 6th November
If anyone wishes to purchase a lot shown as Pass please contact Laurence to discuss
43-49 Royal Parade, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN22 7AH
There were 161 lots and 3 for sale by Private Treaty
Click here to view and download the full 82 page catalogue
Click here for an updated list of the auction results as at 6th November
If anyone wishes to purchase a lot shown as Pass please contact Laurence to discuss
For all questions and information, please contact Laurence Fisher on 07704 779 603 (+447704 779 603 if non-UK)
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.lfisherconsultancy.co.uk
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.lfisherconsultancy.co.uk
Below are some images taken at the 2024 viewing on Saturday morning
AMBC at RHI Open Day
Five members took various mechanical musical instruments to the Royal Horological Institute's Open Day in Caterham, Surrey, on 5th October2024.
From MOOS News (Mechanical Organ Owners Society)
A selection of events that are being planned by MOOS during 2024;
Best to check the MOOS website for up to date information.
Best to check the MOOS website for up to date information.
Musical Box Fun Facts
Canadian restorer Darren J Wallace writes ...
Fun, maybe useless, facts!
Musical box terminology wasn’t quite what we perceive today.
Many manufacturers referred to comb teeth as “tongues”.
Music box discs were referred to as “tune sheets”.
Even Capital “cuffs” were originally referred to as “tune cylinders” in their original advertisements.
Governors in both cylinder and disc box nomenclature were often referred to as “flywheels”.
Coin-op boxes were called “….with coin slot attachment”, and lastly, some manufacturers referred to their combs as “keyboards”.
All of this found in original printed matter from original makers and manufacturers.
Perhaps you have seen terminology used in original nomenclature that I have not mentioned (?)
Do let us know if you have any similar facts to share. Ed
Fun, maybe useless, facts!
Musical box terminology wasn’t quite what we perceive today.
Many manufacturers referred to comb teeth as “tongues”.
Music box discs were referred to as “tune sheets”.
Even Capital “cuffs” were originally referred to as “tune cylinders” in their original advertisements.
Governors in both cylinder and disc box nomenclature were often referred to as “flywheels”.
Coin-op boxes were called “….with coin slot attachment”, and lastly, some manufacturers referred to their combs as “keyboards”.
All of this found in original printed matter from original makers and manufacturers.
Perhaps you have seen terminology used in original nomenclature that I have not mentioned (?)
Do let us know if you have any similar facts to share. Ed
Our website rebuild is ongoing as we endeavour to bring you more information.
We have added a Tune Library for Cylinder Boxes, but need more tunes. Do you have any good recordings to share?
The latest addition are two supplements to Paul Bellamy's Cylinder Musical Box Tune Sheet book that some of you may have purchased. We will be adding further supplements as time goes on.
If you notice anything wrong, or you can't find what you're looking for or with to contribute, please get in touch
We have added a Tune Library for Cylinder Boxes, but need more tunes. Do you have any good recordings to share?
The latest addition are two supplements to Paul Bellamy's Cylinder Musical Box Tune Sheet book that some of you may have purchased. We will be adding further supplements as time goes on.
If you notice anything wrong, or you can't find what you're looking for or with to contribute, please get in touch
Memories of a Founder Member
Founder member Chris Fynes passed away early in 2023 and is sadly missed by many.
We have added a page dedicated to Chris which contains a brief outline of his life, written by his son Justin, plus a short article about his work with the BBC and his passion for Musical Boxes. Read more ...
We have added a page dedicated to Chris which contains a brief outline of his life, written by his son Justin, plus a short article about his work with the BBC and his passion for Musical Boxes. Read more ...