Arno van der Heijden Arno has been involved in the restoration of antique mechanical devices for almost 30 years. As a young man he started as an electronic engineer with passion for old clocks. His hobby soon developed into mechanical music and the total rebuild and restoration of a pianola. His interests focused on musical boxes with the acquisition of his first musical box in 1975. This became his all consuming hobby from then onwards.

Arno van der Heijden became qualified with self teaching. He followed technical piano studies in Holland as an important part of his comb tuning skills. He followed antique musical box restoration studies in the USA in addition to years of practical experience of his own.

Inevitably, Arno eventually decided to turn his hobby to business and he established himself as an antique musical box restorer and dealer. He rapidly gained a reputation for high quality restoration work and has developed a customer base of museums and private individuals from many parts of Europe.

Arno can undertake restoration of the whole or part of the musical box, include spring replacement, cylinder repinning, comb repair, comb releading, comb tuning, damper work, gear train repairs, governor repair/replacement and cabinet restoring. He can also supply new and original discs for many types of machines (subject to availability).

Arno van der Heijden is a member of the following professional organisations: Musical Box Society International, Musical Box Society of Great Brittain and Gesellschaft für Selbstspielende Musiekinstrumente e.V.

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