Customer Reviews

Encyclopedia of Automatic Musical Instruments

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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Just imagine having something around for years and not knowing what it is! My sister, Sadie, and I have had this "thing" in the back room of our late father's ice cream parlor for years. We knew that it was musical but not much else. With its pretty stained glass windows and mechanical bird on top, it was just too nice to junk! In 1952 we converted the ice cream parlor to living quarters. I guess we just kept everything for memory sake. As retired seniors with not much to do, we recently got "on-line" and Sadie thought it would be a good idea to see if we could find a book which would tell us what our music "thing" was. We bought the Encyclopedia of Automatic Musical Instruments. We now know we have a Style 12 Wurlitzer PianOrchestra! Thank you Amazon!

I spent many hours at Hathaway & Bowers, a fascinating automated musical instrument sales and restoration shop (long closed now) in the early 70's when this book was written. The encyclopedia is huge and has pictures and/or information about nearly every; if not every; pre-1970's automated musical instrument ever built. It's interesting enough to keep someone who is interested in these musical machines browsing through for weeks. It's the ultimate reference work for any owner or hobbyist of these beautiful antiquities.

The original encyclopedia I once had was highly contested but lost to me in a divorce. (It was no longer in print and this was before the internet.) I'm thrilled to see it available again and can hardly wait to receive the copy I just ordered. Too bad this one won't be autographed by Q. David Bowers like the first one was.

I bought the book a few years ago not knowing much about these instruments, and I must say it would be a pleasure just to read even if I should never find one, however, the above review from Helena,AR put me on a search for the instrument in the review and even though I never found the lady I can't believe the instrument I did find. Now all I need is a book that tells how to restore it. thank you helena

I had not dealt with this seller before, but I wanted to order a very nice condition used copy of the "bible" of music box collectors. The book condition was better than I expected and accurate in every way as described. The book was inscribed as promised, and the dust cover was in very good condition. Shipping was lightning fast too!

I would definitely recommend this seller.

This book is packed with information regarding mechanical music. I was able to find my Wurlitzer 145B Band Organ and found it to be one of four ever made. In addition, the book told me that it was one of two that were shipped in 1930.

I Highly recommend Encyclopedia of Automatic Muscial Instruments for collectors, restorers or anyone interested in these wonderful musical instruments. Excellent in-depth content with many many photo illustrations. One of the great works from Vestal Press, a publisher that had published many terrific works about mechanical music instruments. The Bowers Encyclopedia is one of their best.

il y a presque tout mais trop peu sur chacun des instruments décrits. pas de couleurs et on trouve plus souvent l'intéret financier que l'intéret technique.