A M I C A

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The International Association of Player-Piano, Roll-Playing and Automatic Instrument Enthusiasts

AMICA, (pronounced "Am-ih-cah") the Automatic Musical Instrument Collectors' Association is an educational non-profit organization with worldwide appreciation of historic automatic musical instruments.
AMICA provides a lively forum for the sharing of the many aspects of our hobby

What's an Automatic Musical Instrument … a player-piano?
Yes, that's a start - but there's much more ...


Our members' interests vary widely, from collecting instruments and rolls and related items, from fascination with the mechanisms, to interest in the history and the technicians and the artists, to just plain listening to the music of these amazing instruments.
A collection isn't necessary to belong! 

AMICA was founded in San Francisco in 1963. Its goal has always been to introduce people from all walks of life to the beauty and value of automatic musical instruments. AMICA has prevented the destruction of many fine rare instruments that have been restored to their former glory. Not only that, but AMICA has placed many instruments in places where the general public can see, hear and enjoy these glorious instruments from the past.

Here are some of the things "AMICAns" do:

WE SHARE INFORMATION: The AMICA Bulletin is published regularly and offers articles, technical and historic information, biographical sketches, international and chapter news, as well as advertisements of interest to all collectors of automatic musical instruments.

WE MEET COLLECTORS: The Membership Directory lists fellow members and their collecting interests (available to members only). Local Chapters form a network around the world. These chapters meet regularly to socialize and share common interests in automated mechanical musical instruments.

WE HOST CONVENTIONS: Annual Conventions are sponsored by local chapters to highlight their local regions and instrument collections. This meeting gives members the chance to enjoy collections, meet and see interesting people, places and things, and they allow AMICAns to make friends with collectors from the world over.  Conventions are  run by enthusiastic chapter members who share an interest in all aspects of automatic musical instrument collecting. Informative workshops are presented as well as marts where members can buy and sell rolls and other items related to automatic musical instruments.


JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
Join the Official Branded AMICA Facebook Group, and share your collection and interest!!!
VISIT THE AMICA YOUTUBE CHANNEL: View our collection of clips on the Official Branded AMICA YouTube Channel!!!
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK: Follow us on the Official Branded AMICA Facebook Page

 

 

 

2026 AMICA/MBSI/COAA Convention
August 18-23, Princeton, New Jersey

Highlights
Host Hotel: The Historic Nassau Inn located in the heart of downtown Princeton, surrounded by charming shops and boutiques, and adjacent to Princeton University

Tours: Arnold Chase Collection, Glenn Thomas Collection, Morris Museum, Rahway Theater dinner and silent movie, American Treasure Tour

Other: Band Organ Rally throughout the streets of downtown Princeton, Pumper Contest, convention workshops, The Mart, Ice Cream Social, and more!

Click to view 2026 Convention preliminary information

 

 

 

Join AMICA

  Membership Benefits: 
     AMICA members receive the AMICA Bulletin, our journal of mechanical music, and a printed Membership Directory. Members also have the opportunity to meet others who share their interests through
Annual Conventions, and membership in Local Chapters
where they can attend meetings and meet mechanical music enthusiasts in their own region. For those joining the last quarter of any year, the membership carries over to the next year.

_______________________________________

$35 Membership Offer New First Time Members Only
(United States, periodical and/or email rate)

New first time members can join AMICA for a year for half of the regular rate and receive:
* Access to the music archives in the AMICA members only area
* Invitation to attend the international convention and local chapter meetings allowing you to hear and see amazing instruments in private collections
* Meet others interested in automatically playing musical instruments
* Receive a .pdf of the beautiful full color bulletin, the official publication of AMICA
* Know about Mechanical Music events you may be interested in
* Numerous other benefits

Join On-Line Using Paypal
Having a PayPal account is not necessary! When you're re-directed to PayPal, press the "Pay with Debit or Credit Card" link to pay directly and safely by Debit/Credit-Card.

 

Preview our Current Bulletin
on our
Publications page

AMICA PUBLICATIONS FOR SALE


Encyclopedia of American Coin-Operated Pianos
and Orchestrions and Related Instruments.
By Arthur A. Reblitz & Q. David Bowers
An AMICA-International Publication

Encyclopedia of America Organettes
1870s-1910s
A History, Catalog Raisonné,
and Appreciation.
By Q. David Bowers
An AMICA-International Publication

Focus on AMICA Chapters
As published in the AMICA Bulletin Sep-Oct-2025

Besides AMICA membership generally, there are local chapters throughout the United States that you can also join. Chapters meet a few times or more per year. Meetings take place in member's homes, local venues of interest, and virtually. There's a small additional  chapter membership fee per household to help fund meetings. If  you have a passion for automated musical instruments, whether  you own any or not, and are interested in joining a local  chapter, you're encouraged to contact the Chapter Officers in your  area to find out when/where their next meeting will be: you can  usually attend as a guest first too, to see what it's like! You will  meet other friendly people who share a common interest in  automatic musical instruments! Before joining a local Chapter, you  must first be a member of AMICA International. Visit our  Membership page for more information on joining!

 


  Contact Us 

AMICA International
Automatic Musical Instrument Collectors' Association,
a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.

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