Recently I acquired an orchestral cylinder musical box, most likely by
Greiner and/or Bremond.  It may be fairly early for the type.  It has
60 musical comb teeth in two sections, a 17-note organ in the center,
plus eight drum teeth, six bells, and six castenet teeth.  The bells
are horizontal in three vertically nested pairs.

There is no tune sheet (8 airs) or maker's name anywhere, but serial
number 7656 is stamped or scribed in several places, and the organ
section is penciled "g116" (gamme/scale 116) and "15p" (15 pouces,
about 16 inches, matching the cylinder).  A "5" is stamped on top of
the winding plate, and each cylinder arbor is stamped "6" on its
bottom, "10" on inner side, and hand scribed "65."

Greiner-Bremond features include: true octagonal case; double
articulated inner lid with fretted wooden rear panel to optionally hide
the "en vue" percussion instruments; vertical winding post with bevel
gearing to the left- side spring motor, with detachable handle (not
flip-down).

A smaller fretted panel in front of the movement lets the organ tone
out.  The carved gaps in both panels are covered from beneath with very
thin wood veneer, not cloth.

"Early" features include: red-stained inner case; internal organ
pallets with external reeds; cast brass bedplate; and sheet brass drum
head (no snares).  Also each music comb has a conical positioning screw
from the underside of the bedplate.

But "late" features include: organ in center of comb; voix celeste
organ reeds; the usual "visible" complex linkages to bells and
percussion; bedplate grooved, not polished flat (although the grooves
do take a bright polish); and the small comb tooth count (60), just
enough to accompany the organ and bells.

So this box appears to be "transitional" or perhaps a testimony to
Bremond's tendency to hold on to outdated "quality" features after his
competitors had moved on.  I'd appreciate any help in dating the box.
In another article I mentioned the scrap gamme sheet pasted inside the
organ, which lists "Trovatore," thus dating my box after that opera.

The eight tunes appear to be popular songs, including waltzes.  Some
modulate in and out of C major and C minor, giving an Italian flavor.
My favorite starts out like "Golden Slippers" or "My Bonnie Lies Over
the Ocean" but throws a minor 6/8 Siciliano in the middle!

The organ is almost fully chromatic, supplying the accidentals that
the short combs lack.  When the melody goes into a C minor or F minor
chord, the combs play open fifths and the organ melody supplies the
thirds.  This box is definitely organ solo with comb accompaniment!
The six bells, diatonic G--e, sometimes echo melodic phrases when
in a major key.  The drum and castenet are used tastefully and fairly
sparingly to tap out rhythms that actually advance the tune, and
usually do not enter until at least a third of the way through the piece.

The cylinder has a large snail cam follower, which can be adjusted only
after removing the great wheel!  Oops!  It's just a half-pin out of
register, so I have work to do.  Also, the tune change occurs both at
the end of a tune and the start of the next, so if you leave the lever
on "change" it advances by two airs.  I doubt this is normal -- Help!

The bell linkages have worn to the point where some bell notes are
a bit sluggish and weak.  Anyone have experience renewing these?

The first wheel of the governor carries a disc tapped with holes at
different radii, to allow attaching the organ bellows pump rod for
varying amounts of stroke.  Is this common in organ boxes?

The organ pallets are in two rows, pivoted at the outside edges.
Many were too long and kept catching on their opposing partner's face,
causing sever ciphering.  I filed down their noses and trimmed their
leather with an X-acto knife.

The organ chest is marked as having been worked on in January 1958
by S. Donahoo of Van Buren, AR and in October 1979 by K.R. Powers.
It seems every 20 years it comes due!  Also marked in a different and
older style hand "Rebouche'" (re-mouthed.  Re-voiced?  New reeds?).
Perhaps the voix celeste reeds are not original, but there are no other
screw holes or wood discoloration to indicate other reeds.

Thanks for reading this far!  I'd appreciate any advice or comments
on this musical box.

Mike Knudsen