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MMD > Archives > February 2010 > 2010.02.25 > 05Prev  Next


Musical Box Sound Volume is Weak
By Craig Smith

Hi Al,  The cracked sound board on your Stella would certainly have an
effect on the sound volume and the tone.

A more important problem might be the sound post.  This is a wooden
post that touches between the bottom of the bed plate near the combs
and the sound board.  Sometimes the sound post is a simple piece of wood
and sometimes it is an adjustable jack post.  That is, it's a threaded
dowel and a wooden post that is threaded internally so that they can be
put in place and then "unscrewed" so that they fit tightly between the
bedplate and the soundboard.  I haven't looked inside a Stella in
several years but I know the Mira's have a threaded post.  Stellas and
Miras were made by the same company.

Third is the excessive oil.  The only things on a disk box that should
be oiled are the pivots on the shafts of the spring motor and a tiny
bit on the starwheels.  (The spring and the worm need appropriate
grease.) Oil on the combs is a no-no.  Oil or grease between the teeth
and/or the weights will dampen the vibration and reduce the sound.  If
you don't have experience restoring a music box, you might want to call
someone who has for advice - it is rather easy to damage the box or
yourself in the process.

Regards
Craig Smith - finally snow in western New York

P.S.: By the way, a very thin film of oil on the back of the disks is
also a good idea to prevent jamming a starwheel down into the lower
comb.  And do not play a disk if it is rusty.


(Message sent Thu 25 Feb 2010, 14:53:21 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  Box, is, Musical, Sound, Volume, Weak

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