Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > September 1999 > 1999.09.21 > 02Prev  Next


Unknown Music Box
By Christian Greinacher

Recently I bought  a small music box from a German flea market. Never
before I have seen something looking and sounding similarly. The case is
made from very heavy pot metal, looking like an old English castle:

 [  http://mmd.foxtail.com/Pictures/Greinacher/musicbox1.jpg

But the graphical design and a figure, similar to an eagle:

 [  http://mmd.foxtail.com/Pictures/Greinacher/musicbox2.jpg

are looking as if the box wood come from the far east. On
top of the roof there is a flag or a pennant which serves as the key to
wind the movement:

 [  http://mmd.foxtail.com/Pictures/Greinacher/musicbox3.jpg

The movement drives a red plastic cylinder, pinned with steel pins,
which are playing a 24 note comb:

 [  http://mmd.foxtail.com/Pictures/Greinacher/musicbox4.jpg

Two brass bells are ringed periodically by a separate simple eccentric
mechanism. All the pins and the comb are in good shape but the movement
does not really play a melody, it just produces some sound, from time
to time the two bells are ringing and all together it reminds me to a
Chinese temple music.

On the front side of the box as well as on the back one can open a flap.
When opening either one of these flaps the movement starts to play.
Inside is a plastic construction and it looks as if it is made to hold
cigarettes (picture 5). So the whole machine could be a cigarette
dispenser.

The attached pictures are showing the box and some details.  Does anyone
know anything about this instrument?

Christian

 [ The attached pictures are on the MMD Website with the URLs
 [ shown above.  I did not receive the 5th attachment successfully.
 [ -- Jody


(Message sent Sun 19 Sep 1999, 12:37:08 GMT, from time zone GMT+0200.)

Key Words in Subject:  Box, Music, Unknown

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page