1955

MBSI purchases a Mimeograph machine for printing "The Bulletin".

1956

Six Bulletins printed since the last meeting.

1957

Annual business meeting with 64 attendees is held in a Rahway, NJ auditorium.

1958

Nearly 100 attend the Annual Meeting; A Board of Governors appointed by the president is established.

1959

Tenth Anniversary Special Bulletin, "Creation and Story of the Musical Box Society International" is given to members; the name "Board of Governors" is changed to "Advisory Board."

1960

First Advisory Board is elected.

1961

Bylaws amendments proposed to establish geographical rotation of Annual Meetings.

1962

32 Southern California members meet to establish the first chapter.

1963

Dues raised from $3 to $5 with a $3 initiation fee. Foreign memberships remains at $3

1964

First Annual Meeting held in a hotel, Long Beach, CA; first table favor given.

1965

East coast members meet to discuss formation of an East Coast Chapter; officers are authorized to incorporate MBSI as a nonprofit, educational organization.

1966

December Bulletin is professionally printed and assembled for the first time; Publications Committee formed; Mid-America Chapter formed; first membership incentive program initiated.

1967

Membership over 500; Society incorporates under a charter from the New York State Education Department.

1968

New membership brochure created; tax exempt status achieved.

1969

Smithsonian Institution named as recipient of MBSI property if the Society is dissolved.

1970

Golden Gate Chapter formed.

1971

Membership over 1000

1973

Membership over 1500; first table favor with a musical movement given at the Annual Meeting banquet.

1974

Silver anniversary Annual Meeting with 455 attendees; new "Technical Bulletin" is established; President's Badge is given by the Musical Box Society of Great Britain; Reuge, S.A. creates Silver Anniversary 144 note Sublime Harmony musical movement

1975

First Annual Meeting with an auction; first exhibit of music boxes at Lockwood Matthews Mansion Museum with instruments loaned from MBSI members; Northwest International Chapter receives charter; Trustees Award and Q. David Bowers Literary Award are established with initial funding from Q. David Bowers. MBSI trademark #1021775 is registered.

1976

First Mid-Am Band Organ Rally; National Capital Chapter is chartered;

1977

Opening of MBSI Sounds of Music exhibit at Western Reserve Historical Society

1978

Southeast Chapter receives charter; MBSI membership over 2000; Directory of Members and Museums has first computerized records.

1979

Membership over 2500

1980

Over 500 attend the Annual Meeting; 30 instruments donated to the MBSI, several of which are added to the Lockwood Matthews display; KT Special replica unveiled; Chapuis book translated and made available to members.

1981

Instruments owned by the East Coast Chapter are transferred to MBSI; first Band Organ festival at the Annual Meeting.

1982

Sunbelt and Snowbelt Chapters are chartered

1985

Over 600 attend the Annual Meeting with the first Mart open to the public; "Technical Bulletin" is renamed "Technical Journal" and size changed to 8-1/2 x 11.

1986

A Membership is defined as a Household Membership allowing votes of two members per household.

1987

The book, "Musical Boxes and Other Musical Marvels" is published by MBSI; Audio-visual Committee is established; first joint meeting (with AMICA) is held; "The Ampico Reproducing Piano" is published and offered for sale; President's award established.

1988

MBSI is given original Regina Music Box Co. factory shipping record books; "Technical Journal" is renamed "Mechanical Music".

1989

First New Member Reception at an Annual Meeting; MBSI is bequeathed a fine instrument collection for its museum program.

1990

Piedmont Chapter chartered; Music In Time exhibit opens at the National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors with an exhibit catalog printed; first professional video produced and distributed by the Audiovisual Committee

1991

Endowment Fund is established.

1992

Ellinberger collection bequeathed to MBSI; first outside administrator hired.

1993

First budget is established; second MBSI-AMICA joint meeting held

1995

Darlene Mirijanian Creativity Award is established; MBSI exhibit opens at the Charlotte Museum of History;

1996

Publications Fund is established; first web site is established; largest Annual Meeting with 769 registered; Weber "Maesto" and "Banj-Orchestra" reproductions are introduced

1997

The West Coast Chapter is renamed Southern California Chapter; 1000 copies of the book, "Cylinder Music Box Technology" are given to MBSI for sale with proceeds going to the Publications Fund

1998

Japanese International Chapter is chartered; new MBSI Traveling Display is unveiled

1999

Fiftieth Annual Meeting held in Philadelphia, PA; Endowment Fund now more than $100,000; the "Golden Anniversary" book is produced.

2001

Trustees approve production of a professionally made video about mechanical music; MBSI museum exhibit opens at the Rutgers-Camden Center for the Arts. First Roehl Ambassador Awards presented.

2003

MBSI sponsored museum display opens in Marietta, OH.

2004

55th Annual Meeting Orlando Florida

2005

Lake Michigan Chapter Chartered

2005

56th Annual Meeting a Joint Meeting with MBSGB - First Annual meeting outside US

2006

The Journal and News Bulletin are combined into one publication, Mechanical Music with the first issue Volume 52, No. 1, January-February 2006

2006

Morris Museum breaks ground for future exhibit space for the Murtogh Guinness Collection

2006

57th Annual Meeting - Seattle Washington

2007

58th Annual Meeting - St Paul Mn - Featured visit to the Crawford Collection - the only collection still intact that belonged to a founding member of the Society

2007

Gala Opening of the Murtogh Guinness Collection at the Morris Museum

2008

59th Annual Meeting - Las Vegas NV - with auction with consignments from across the U.S.