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I am inquiring if you have any information about a musical box
manufactured by "E. Gaillard" ca. 1870s, or information about Gaillard.
I have searched in vain for references to this maker and have found
only one reference via MMD that a Gaillard 3-tune with 72 mm cylinder
was offered at auction at the Galerie de Chartres on 20 May 2001.

The name Gaillard is, of course, similar to the very well-known maker
Paillard of Ste Croix, Switzerland, but the music box I have clearly
says "E. Gaillard" with a "G", evidently as does the Chartres piece.
Here is a description:

3-tune, 72 mm cylinder (just like the Chartres piece) with inscription
"E. Gaillard" on the comb.  On the brass bedplate the no. 41487 is
(rather crookedly) stamped.  The exterior dimensions are 5-7/8" (149 mm)
wide, 1-3/4" (44 mm) high, and 3-1/8" (79 mm) deep.  Wooden box with
two external sliding levers to change the tune and stop or start play.
Winds with a key from the bottom.  One tune is "Dixie."  The others
I do not recognize.

It was a baby gift to my grandfather, who was born Minnesota in
1879, from a relative who was a jeweler in Chicago who was born in
Switzerland circa 1835.  My grandfather labeled it "Swiss music box."

I have searched the MMD and other sites as well as standard music box
references at the Library of Congress but find no reference to Gaillard
until the Chartres piece.  Is it possible that Paillard could have made
such a mistake as to misspell their own name?  Or, might this be a cheap
imitation with a sound-alike name?  I hope MMD readers can help clear up
this mystery.

Thanks for your assistance.

Robert Worden
Annapolis MD