Selection of Thorens Manivelles
Latest News
Ted Brown
Founder and President, Ted Brown died on 1st November 2025.
Ted's funeral was held on 2nd December at Holy Trinity Church, Rudgwick, West Sussex.
A copy of the service booklet and a reading by our new President, Laurence Fisher will be emailed to all members in January 2026
Ted's funeral was held on 2nd December at Holy Trinity Church, Rudgwick, West Sussex.
A copy of the service booklet and a reading by our new President, Laurence Fisher will be emailed to all members in January 2026
2025
Mechanical music Auction - 17th & 18th October 2025
Mechanical Music Auction and Social-Meet Event in Eastbourne has now taken place.
Several lots were unsold, but are available by negotiation.
Click the Unsold Lots button below for the list.
Laurence Fisher
07704 779 603
Website: www.lfisherconsultancy.co.uk
Updated 2nd November 2025
Several lots were unsold, but are available by negotiation.
Click the Unsold Lots button below for the list.
Laurence Fisher
07704 779 603
Website: www.lfisherconsultancy.co.uk
Updated 2nd November 2025
Thursday 18th September
There was a very successful visit to Paul Bellamy's Mechanical Music Collection in Rochester
An article about this visit will be published in the Winter Issue of Mechanical Music World
There was a very successful visit to Paul Bellamy's Mechanical Music Collection in Rochester
An article about this visit will be published in the Winter Issue of Mechanical Music World
AMBC Meetings
At the Committee Meeting held on 24th May the AMBC Committee agreed a new structure which you can find here.
We hope that this structure will enable us to run more meetings than of late, and to build bridges with MBSGB.
To that end there was a meeting at Coultershaw Heritage Site, Nr Petworth, in August 2025 with several members of The Musical Box Society of Great Britain (MGSGB) joining us for the day. A report on this meeting can be found in the Autumn Edition MMW41
Amended, October 2025
We hope that this structure will enable us to run more meetings than of late, and to build bridges with MBSGB.
To that end there was a meeting at Coultershaw Heritage Site, Nr Petworth, in August 2025 with several members of The Musical Box Society of Great Britain (MGSGB) joining us for the day. A report on this meeting can be found in the Autumn Edition MMW41
Amended, October 2025
Dates for your diary
Click the heading to see 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.
2024
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.
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 development 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 wish 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 wish 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 ...