Featured Music Box

This music box has been in the family for over a hundred years. I was hoping someone could tell us where and when it was made and any other history about the maker and the model. Much thanks.

 

more photos

 

any marks on the cylinder .......

 

I'm sure I've seen somewhere that the broken tooth can be repaired, but I don't know who would do it.

 

From the inlay and a random sampling of the song dates, I'd say this was made ca. 1870. The newest song that I sampled was "La Grande Duchesse," from 1867. I would guess that this was made in Switzerland. It will be difficult to say who made it without a name or trademark of some kind. Such beautiful penmanship!

 

So interesting to see what type of music a well-heeled mid-Victorian home would listen to.

Debora

 

Found a fascinating 4 part resource for Music boxes, including repairs. https://www.intertique.com/PurchasingMusicBoxPart1.html

 

That's so much for the feedback. Those dates and Switzerland jibe well with the few remembered bits of family lore we have. Any more details, like a manufacturer are appreciated. There is nothing on the cylinder, but there is on the handle to tension the spring mechanism. I will try to attach a photo.

 

I’ve been working on repairing an old unknown manufacturer box and came across this page in my sleuthing. Useless to me, but maybe gold for you. According to what I have read, you can get lucky sometimes and identify a manufacturer by the design of the tune sheet, which you have (so lucky!). This page has a link to a copy of a huge book of those tune sheets. If you have time, you may find yours. The website as a whole is pretty interesting too! https://www.mbsgb.org.uk/tune-sheets/?doing_wp_cron=1652169768.3872270584106445312500

 

Welcome, Newguy! Beautiful piece, I can see why it stayed in the family. What does the bottom look like? There might be some clue there.