Encyclopedia of Automatic Musical Instruments (Hardcover)

by Q.David Bowers (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This book is truly the bible on automatic music machines.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1008 pages
• Publisher: Vestal Press (January 25, 1972)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0911572082
• ISBN-13: 978-0911572087
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.8 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #453,644 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WE NOW KNOW WHAT IT IS!, October 30, 1999

By A Customer

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!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most comprehensive work on this subject, June 25, 2008

By	KAT Moser (Joshua Tree, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars thank you helena, October 26, 2000

By	ben (northwest arkansas) - See all my reviews

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