In the Wed, 22 Jul 1998 MMD, Steven Sisk wrote:

> It appears that I am in possession of a Mira 18-1/2 Disc.  I would
> love it if someone could aid my search for information on this lovely
> creation.  So far I've found very little, even after hours of surfing
> the net.  Can anyone send me to a sight or book perhaps, that can
> enlighten me?  Thank you in advance,

Steve:  Your 18-1/2" diameter Mira disc was manufactured by Mermod
Freres in Ste Croix, Switzerland.  It was made to play on a double-comb
musical box.

It has been written that most of the disc box movements made by Mermod
were sold without cases.  When they were received by the distributors
in the destination countries they were placed into cases that were
locally made and which likely were made to appeal to the local
population.

In the US, two major distributors of Mermod boxes were Jacot in New
York City and Lyon & Healy in Chicago.  Miras sold by the latter were
marketed as Empress musical boxes.

The 18-1/2" model Mira is one of the most delightful sounding disc
musical boxes ever made.  Notably, the arrangements of the tunes on
these discs are quite better than those of most other manufacturers

There is a wonderful example of a console cabinet Mira at the
Lockwood-Mathews Mansion in South Norwalk, CT.  There is information
about Miras in several books that have been written about musical
boxes.  Arthur Ord-Hume has one entitled 'The Musical Box' that is
currently in print and David Bowers' famous 'Encyclopedia of Automatic
Musical Instruments' has just been reprinted.  Both are available from
a few musical box dealers and even from some book stores.

Musically yours,

Bill Wineburgh
http://members.aol.com/mboxmuseum/museum.html