Re: Cylinder Music Box Repair
By Chuck Walker
To respond to Todd Augsburger's questions in MMD 96.11.18 the statements he makes are all too common for boxes found of uncertain parentage and upbringing. The phrases "non-melodic, few pins bent, teeth replaced, scuff marks around adjustments, non-melodic" make my blood chill a few degrees. They sound like the work of a well intentioned but ill prepared fixer-upper.
Specifically:
Pins can sometimes be straightened, sometimes not. It depends on the brittleness of the particular pins used on this box and also how badly they are bent over. If too many are lost or badly bent, the cylinder will need repinning (many dollars!). Non-harmonious play may be due to poor registration of the cylinder with the comb tips. Usually easy to correct but may not be the whole problem. The tune change cam or "snail" may be messed up; tough problem to fix! The fact that teeth have been replaced may mean that the replacements may be misaligned or were not tuned correctly. Generally correctable but time consuming. Some of these problems can be corrected by one who has had some training but some will probably require an expert. The cost for something like this cannot be done without inspection but it could (even probably) be considerable.
Generally, you should rely on your ears. If what you hear is not pleasing in any way, stay away. If the price is right and/or the box has some other special merits it might be worth taking a chance on but for one not experienced, it may be best to remain cautious. This box sounds like it might need a lot of work.
Hope this helps some. It's really a value judgment and involves some risk. Sometimes you win, sometimes not. Good luck.
Chuck Walker
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Chuck Walker (cewalker@prodigy.com)
Hopewell Junction, NY |
(Message sent Thu 21 Nov 1996, 04:25:25 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.) |
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