Royal Cuff-Playing Music Box

Royal Cuff-Playing Music Box

The American Treasure Tour is proud to have the Music Box Society International's (MBSI) collection of music boxes alongside our own amazing automatic music pieces in our Music Room since our inception in 2010.  For those of you unfamiliar with the MBSI, we have included the mission statement from their website below:

The Musical Box Society International (MBSI) is a group of worldwide enthusiasts for automated musical machines whose origin predates electrically amplified music. We are intrigued by musical instruments which play themselves using punched paper, punched discs, pinned cylinders, paper rolls, or Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) and are powered by hand crank, springs or electric motors. 

Disc-Playing Machine in the MBSI Collection

Disc-Playing Machine in the MBSI Collection

MBSI also stands for Maintaining and preserving automated musical devices; Member Benefits including learning about and marveling at the engineering of these innovative machines and experiencing the fun of mechanical music firsthand; Socializing with others of similar interests at local chapter meetings and the annual convention held in a different large city each year where you can see, experience and share examples of a broad range of mechanical musical machines; and Informing members and the public via museum displays, outdoor band organ rallies, science center workshops and home collection visits. Our members experience the opportunity to see, hear and understand mechanical music previously unknown. As a member of MBSI you will develop a deep sense of satisfaction from the music, the fellowship, and the great service our organization performs.

Chartered by the New York State Education Department, the Society is eligible to receive tax-deductible gifts. From its modest beginning in 1949, MBSI has approximately 1,400 members with representation from each of the 50 U.S. states and 19 other countries. Members receive the scholarly journal Mechanical Music, covering educational articles, relevant events, activities, news, information, and advertisements. Members also receive the biennial Mechanical Music Directory of Members, Museums, and Dealers. Regional chapters are located in the U.S. and Japan. These chapters enable members to visit musical box collections and swap ideas, information, and sometimes even instruments.

Multiple Cylinder-Playing Machine

Multiple Cylinder-Playing Machine

We strongly encourage anyone interested to further explore the MBSI's website and considering joining their organization at: http://mbsi.org