The story on my early version Stoner is that it came out of one of the grand theaters in downtown Detroit. While the sellers did not know which one as there were many back in the day, I like to think it was the Fox Theater that opened in 1928--the grandest of all of the original Fox Theaters and the first theater with built in speakers for those new-fangled sound films. Curtis' restored early model would look right at home at the Fox! If you ever get to Detroit, take the tour of this theater. I could walk around looking at all of the architectural features of the lobby and theater for hours. They just don't build things like this anymore and I am very grateful that Mike and Marian Ilitch (founder's of Little Ceasars and owner of the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings) saved this jewel of Detroit's glory years!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_Theatre_(Detroit)
The sister of the guy I bought it from purchased it at an estate sale in Indian Village, an upscale neighborhood in downtown Detroit with many beautiful mansions that once housed the barrons of the Motor City.
http://www.historicindianvillage.org/homeandgardentour.htmlShe kept in for many years with the intention of restoring it but that never happened. It ended up in her brother's pole barn after she passed away and stayed there until I purchased it in October 2009. Really a unique machine. The picture below is of a note that was inside the machine--Of course this was intended for me!
Tim
