In the late 1970s or early 1980s, the late Fred Bachman of Newark,
Ohio, sent me pictures of a keyboardless mahogany-colored cabinet
with a Victrola-shaped top.  If I remember correctly, it contained
a reed organ, several small percussion instruments, a pump, motor and
four roll players.

Because it played G and H rolls, he called it a "Seeburg."  In studying
the photos, I saw no reason to think it was a Seeburg product.

Later in the 1980s, I saw the same instrument offered for sale at the
Chicagoland coin-op show.  Here's what I remember about it: The cabinet
is not a Phonogrand cabinet.  There is no piano.  The instrument is
self-contained, playing music on reeds.  There are no electrical
contacts for it to be connected to an organ.

In person, it was an interesting puzzle, but it still didn't impress
me as being a Seeburg product.  In my extensive research of old music
trade literature, I've never seen any mention of this device, although
Seeburg heavily promoted several limited-production instruments that
have never been seen in modern times nor mentioned in collector
publications.

Judging by the descriptions that have been coming through, the present
instrument is the same one.  I'd like to learn more about it and see
some good photos.  Does it have Seeburg rewind mechanisms?  Seeburg
valve chests?  A Seeburg pump?  Are the spool frames identical to
Seeburgs, or were they made by Monarch?

Art Reblitz