Andrew J. Young wrote in 011204 MMDigest:

> I have a music box with an 18-note Sankyo movement that plays
> the 18th Variation.  I hear the noise of the movement between
> notes and I was told to apply fine oil to the movement.

I don't know if this will help a great deal, though it might.  My guess
is that you're hearing the "fly", a little paddle that acts like a fan
to slow the movement down such that your 18th variation doesn't turn
into the "0.18th" [and possibly the last!] variation.  The fly might be
rattling around in its bearings, which means that the bearings must be
rebushed or closed, or you might be hearing something in the gearing,
especially if this has an old, non-nylon fly worm.

("Fly worm?"  It's not term of entomology; it's the worm gear that
runs the fly.)

> My question is, how can I lubricate this without taking it apart?

You can't.

> I am not no mechanic so I prefer not to take it apart.  I just want
> that slight hissing sound to go away.

Well, if we could do that, I suppose it would be great, but it
generally doesn't work that way.  You might be hearing a normal amount
of noise from the movement.  Find someone who _is_ a 'mechanic' and who
understands clock movements or music box movements and let them have
a look.

Mark Kinsler
Lancaster, Ohio USA
http://www.frognet.net/~kinsler