Mechanical Music Society of Australia Inc
Established 1977
Incorporated in Victoria - A0023525S
Objectives. The Mechanical Music Society of Australia is
a small group of enthusiasts who aim to collect, restore, and enjoy
all forms of self-playing musical instruments. Members' interests
include pianolas and player pianos, reproducing pianos, orchestrions,
disc and cylinder music boxes, musical clocks and paintings, singing
birds and musical automata, musical novelties, and mechanical organs
of all shapes and sizes.
Activities. The Society's main activities are the regular bi-monthly meetings, which are usually held on Sunday afternoons. A short business session is generally followed by an inspection, demonstration, or concert on selected instruments. There is plenty of time to get to know other members and to discuss topics of interest over afternoon tea. The Society arranges occasional visits to sites of interest, and organises periodic reciprocal visits or "mini-conventions" with similar societies and enthusiasts interstate. Technical advice and assistance is available to new members who may be contemplating instrument purchase, repair, or restoration. A brief bi-monthly newsletter is distributed to members by email.
Location. The Society is based in Melbourne, but includes members from country locations and from as far afield as Perth, Brisbane, and Hobart. The regular meetings are generally held in Melbourne, with occasional visits to nearby country areas.
General information about mechanical musical instruments can be obtained from the web sites of the major international collectors' organisations:
- The Player Piano Group (PPG) is based in the UK, and is primarily concerned with pianolas and reproducing pianos.
- The Automatic Musical Instrument Collectors Association (AMICA) is based in the USA, and is primarily concerned with reproducing pianos and larger piano-based instruments.
- The Musical Box Society International (MBSI) is also based in the USA, and is primarily concerned with music boxes and smaller instruments.
Working demonstrations of mechanical instruments are available from two excellent Australian collections which are open to the public for guided tours:
- Albert Fox's Darnum Musical Village, located in Gippsland (about an hour east of Melbourne), features a large collection of vintage keyboard and self-playing instruments, housed in vintage buildings in an attractive garden setting.
- Craig Robson's Fairground Follies, located in Sydney (between the CBD and the airport), specialises in larger fairground and dance-hall organs, and even has its own merry-go-round.
Information about joining the Mechanical Music Society of Australia can be obtained from the Secretary via the form below.
