Symphonium Music Box
By Bruce Hannover
I have been concentrating on my ongoing player piano restoration, but stumbled across something today that might be of interest to someone more knowledgeable than myself.
An eccentric local antique dealer has a very tall (7-foot?) disc-playing music box called a "Symphonium". He says it has two combs inside and a set of bells. He also claims that it can switch from one of five discs to another. He says that he probably has about thirty discs. The discs look to be about 2-3 feet in diameter.
The dealer says that the machine was built in about 1895, and the Victorian galleries and fretwork would seem to bear this out. Other markings include "Colombian Exposition- Antwerp" and a "D.P.R." patent number. He hints that it might be possible WW2 booty brought over somewhat illegally. (?) He adds that the piece has all of its original glass. He will part with this treasure for one hundred thousand dollars.
I have two questions: What is this thing, and, is he nuts?
Curious in So. Florida,
Bruce Hannover
(demographically, 43, married, two kids, poor.) |
(Message sent Thu 27 Feb 1997, 04:38:11 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.) |
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