Like-minded enthusiasts, who enjoy sharing their passion and love of mechanical musical instruments.
We are an international organisation with members in Europe, North America, Asia & Australasia who all share an interest in mechanical musical instruments.
The Society’s activities include arranging regional and national meetings, publishing books and articles, participating in public events, and promoting further research on various aspects of mechanical music, including the history and maintenance of instruments.
Members in the UK meet regularly to socialise with old friends, make new friends and enjoy seeing and listening to each others instruments. Local groups meet in the Midlands, Worcestershire, London and the Home Counties, and the South of England.
National Meetings are held at various venues around the UK. These include visits to collections of mechanical music and other places of interest as well as talks and demonstrations with plenty of opportunities to socialise.
Join MBSGB and you will meet and make friends with like-minded enthusiasts, who enjoy sharing their passion and love of mechanical musical instruments.
You will be able to get advice on collecting and disposing of items, valuations and restoration, and receive editions of the Society’s journal, The Music Box.
Mechanical music is produced by self-playing, or automatic, musical instruments; these may be versions of pianos or organs, or unique instruments such as musical boxes or organettes.
In all cases, rather than being selected by the fingers of a human hand, musical notes are determined mechanically by a programme either pinned on wooden barrels or metal cylinders, or punched on discs or strips of metal, card or paper.
