In regard to Mike Cino's request for ideas in comparing Regina vs.
Mira.  First of all, my collecting days started about 60 years ago and
actively went on to about 1980, through about the lowest cost days in
collecting mechanical music items to the highest, from whence they
backed off.  So I'll not try to advise respective to prices.

In any case, I don't think selling prices had or have much bearing on
the desirability of various items, especially when comparing the
different sounds of different make musical boxes -- and there
definitely are differences, often hugely so!  There are too many
variables; you note that the Mira case is not the best, for instance.

In addition to cylinder units, I had a lot of Reginas all the way up
to 27", and a cross-section of disc boxes from Switzerland, of which
Mira is one along with Stella.  For disc boxes, I felt that my floor
model Mira outplayed all the other instruments in my collection of some
140 or so musical boxes.  The fact that the case was mint condition
helped, and I'm sure its construction contributed greatly to its joyful
output.

There is another factor which you might wish to consider.  You don't
indicate the disc size for either of the two boxes you are looking at
(and I fervently hope you are listening to).  But generally speaking,
especially if the Regina is 15.5", that's the all-time biggest selling
line, and has the largest catalog of discs, whether antique or 'modern'
make.

Mira discs, among the most finely manufactured and sturdy, are
definitely in shorter supply.  (They also take up more space than
Regina discs and certainly more than the rimless Stellas.)  Decisions
as to which instruments you prefer will probably come down to the same
sense of taste as you may use as to which other collectors or people in
general whom you choose to include in your circle of friends or those
you emphatically will not.

Whether the widespread availability of Regina 15.5" or the rarity of the
Miras will make either more or less costly to buy is moot except that
one might learn to consider supply and demand.  Another thing which may
or may not interest you is how you feel about Swiss manufacturers --
Mira and Stella were made by Mermod Freres, certainly not the only
musical box maker but arguably the largest maker of cylinder boxes.

In my opinion my two finest cylinder boxes were both quite large
Mermods, and both came from my mentor and dear friend Ruth Bornand, who
knew what she was doing.  The sound of one in particular could easily
fill a large auditorium without outside amplification -- and it did,
as my associates and I gave many demonstrations in schools, etc.  Yet
I have known and enjoyed the company for years of a certain collector
who thought little perhaps of Switzerland, but certainly of Mermods,
to which inevitably he sneeringly refers to as "Mere-mods".

So, my fortunate friend, because of the hobby you've chosen, may
I suggest you make your choice as you would decide what kind of
haircut to get, and from which barber.  There's a barbershop in my
home state of New Jersey which my family patronized for decades, whose
shop I wouldn't enter for a huge stipend, but having moved to two new
states within the past ten years, I've been to many barbers and frankly
I don't see a lot of difference.  It comes down to the personality
and ambiance of the place and its owners.  I couldn't tell you how
I decided on the one I now prefer -- it's just personal observation
and comfort.

One of the instruments from my collection which I miss the most was
a relatively early, un-named, plain case, very small, multi-tooth-comb
Swiss key-wind box.  For two reasons: for one, because it was the only
item which was stolen from us in our seven years of activity at
Yesteryear Museum.  And in addition, because one of its melodies was
the tune of a beautiful melody called "Cornell", which for decades has
been sung with great depth of feeling by Cornell University alumni the
world over -- a group which includes my father and his two brothers,
and I and my two brothers.

So, how does a collector decide such matters of taste?  Go figure.

Good luck in your collecting.  If you garner half as much pleasure with
the collection and with many other collectors over a period of decades
as I have, you will come to treasure both, heavily out-weighing the
inevitable negative happenstance in any human activity.

Best wishes to you and to my surviving friends in the field.  I say
surviving because Ruth Bornand invited me to join MBS when I was 13
in its founding year of 1949.  For years I was called "the kid" and
I recognize I am now among the most senior.

Lee Munsick