Joy Fleischer asks whether there's a set way to adjust a musical box
comb and if there is a source of new combs.

The short answer to both questions is "No."

If the box is antique, the work should be done by a qualified pro-
fessional, as it requires similar skills to those needed to repair a
fine watch.  There should be books available from your local library,
if you are interested in getting into this subject in detail.

But if your box is a novelty item of fairly recent manufacture, i.e.
not an antique, playing one tune, and the comb is held onto the bed-
plate by only a couple of mounting screws, with no positioning pins to
locate it on the bedplate, my approach would be this.

Line the comb up with the cylinder pins as best you can, with the teeth
of the comb centered to the pins, but set so as to just _not_ engage
them as the cylinder rotates.  Snug the comb-mounting screws just tight
enough to hold the comb in place, but loose enough that you can still
shift its position smoothly.  As the cylinder rotates, very gradually
engage the comb with the cylinder pins, alternating bass and treble
ends, starting with the bass end first.

You may have to alternately loosen and tighten the mounting screws a
little (keeping at least one snugger than the other) to do this adjust-
ment in tiny steps, sneaking up on one end at a time until the engage-
ment is even and the cylinder pins are centered on the teeth as they
are plucked.  Be very careful not to engage the comb and pins too far
as this can damage both.  The tone will improve markedly when you
tighten the mounting screws firmly after your final adjustment.

Always remember too that the movement will sound much better when it is
mounted in its box than when out of it.  Be prepared to be thoroughly
tired of the tune by the time you are done.  You may find that there
are a lot of squeaks, clicks, and buzzes in the music but there is no
quick fix for these.

I hope this is the information you need.

Best regards,
Jim Heyworth,
Sechelt, B.C., Canada