[ Marcus Pregler wrote in 121027 MMDigest:

> Does anybody know where I can find information about Baker & Troll?
> I am looking for founding and closing date, company location(s),
> and more.

Hi,  I hope the following will be of interest.

George Baker (also known as Geo. Baker) and Samuel Troll were
independent makers prior to 1874.  However, a catalogue, with the
back-to-back letters B with central stem forming T, has the heading:
G. BAKER-TROLL & Co. established 1868.  This seems to throw doubt on
some previous dating evidence.

The partnership started in 1874 as Baker-Troll.  The company reverted
to Geo. Baker & Co. in about 1891 but soon after Baker began to give
up parts of the business.  Subsequently it was advertised as 'late
Baker-Troll' to about 1900.  Chevob & Co. took over the business soon
after 1900.  A rare tune sheet for Chevob (too poor to illustrate in
the Bulleid series) is for a petites musiques (i.e. snuffbox-type)
movement.

An example of George Baker acting as an agent is a cartel musical box
serial 8006, c1880, with their typical transfer inside the case and
monogrammed glass lid lifter.  It has an unusual tune sheet, TSB116.
Bulleid believes the movement was supplied by Paillard and that the
tune sheet was also Paillard's.

A Sublime Harmonie Quatuor tune sheet, TSB340, is to be found on an
un-attributed Longue-Marche musical box.  It was sold as a Paillard
at auction but Bulleid astutely notes it was possibly a Baker Troll
movement because of their typical type of safety stop, the tune sheet
not being typically Paillard and Baker-Troll's occasional trick of
leaving out serial numbers.

Bulleid investigated serial 15473, c1891.  Under the case was
a Nicole Frères transfer for Ely Place, obviously with Nicole acting
as an agent or repairer.  A Mira disc box has the label: Chevob & Co
late Baker-Troll & Co.  Mira was a trade name for Mermod Frères disc
boxes made in Ste.-Croix from 1902 onwards.

Records for Baker musical boxes are sparse after 1890.  After he
gained his independence in 1891 it is rare to find his name on a tune
sheet as: Geo. Baker & Co., Manufacturers, GENEVA.  Similarly, Samuel
Troll may have retained or taken over parts of their previously joint
business.  A rare embossed metal label for Samuel Troll, found on a
Mermod Stella disc box clearly states: 'late Geo. Baker & Co.'.  At
this time he was most probably acting as an agent and not a maker.

There is no dating evidence for Baker-Troll cylinder boxes after 1895
so it seems they ceased to produce them; there is some evidence they
may have acted as agents in the later years.  For example, early
Baker-Troll movements were pinned in line with the Geneva practice of
'last tune on the tracks'.  Later ones have tune 1 on the tracks thus
possibly for Saint Croix.

One example has all the Baker-Troll characteristics but was probably
just about the time of the company's reversion to Geo. Baker & Co.  It
has the transfer for Geo. Baker, the typical leather lid-lifter with
embossed BTB monogram and his safety speed-check device.  Despite these
details, the fact of the Ste.-Croix style of tune pinning indicates he
was acting as an agent.  Its most unusual feature is: 'Warranted
Geneva-Manufacture' stamped on the tune-change lever.  Most Geo. Baker
movements also have the last two numbers of the serial number stamped
onto the governor vanes and great wheel and sometimes on other parts
such as bearing brackets.

Baker is known to have made Sublime Harmonie movements during the same
period as Mermod.  Sometimes the name Troll & Baker is used, as found
stamped on the governor cock of serial 8473, c1880.  Bulleid notes that
a late example, serial 15473, has a transfer label stating: Geo. Baker
& Co. (Late G. Baker-Troll & Co.).  Another, serial 15644, has a plaque
inscribed: S. Troll (Late George Baker & Co.).  No tune sheet has been
reported for Geo. Baker working on his own.

A Baker-Troll sales catalogue of about 1892 shows the firm certainly
did acted as agents - one musical box illustrated had a Paillard tune
sheet (Similar to TSB24 in the Tune Sheet Book).

The Geneva 1896 National Exhibition included a movement with tuyaphon
(tubular bells).  Bulleid cautions that he added his glass lid-lifter,
embossed with the large BTB monogram, to boxes by other makers, quoting
one example more likely to have been made by PVF and another by L'Epée
(serial 49470).  Another typical L'Epée, serial 4349, has the plain
Baker-Troll tune sheet.  A typical rectangular plaque on a PVF box has:
GEO. BAKER & CO. MUSICAL BOX MANUFACTURERS, GENEVA.

Baker-Troll offered massive interchangeable movements with elaborate
furniture that sometimes show no trace of a serial number.  Those of
his with tune-change indicators often had Roman numerals engraved to
add a touch of class.  One, called a Quintete, was exhibited at the
Geneva National Exhibition of 1896.

The movements are more frequently seen with nickel-plated components.
Many had Sublime Harmony arrangements (he was English and spelt the
term this way), some being 12-air interchangeable with 16-inch cylinders
and two 38-tooth combs.  He avoided the Paillard-attributed description
concerning Sublime Harmonie, as did Langdorff, the term being taboo in
Geneva until about 1890 possibly due threat of legal action.  This date
equates with serial numbers in the early 15,000s.  Sometimes BTB is
stamped on the governor cock.

Another feature of some Baker-troll movements is the safety check one
type is in the form of an escapement lever that is pivoted centrally
between pegs on the face of the great wheel.  At normal speed, one end
of the peg drops clear of each peg as the wheel rotates to allow the
other end to clear its peg.  A sudden speed increase does not give time
for gravity to act and this other end jams against its peg to prevent
damage to cylinder and pins.

Harpe Harmonique Piccolo musical boxes were popular in Geneva and
made by most makers with the possible exception of Nicole, Lecoultre
and Ducommun.  One by Baker-Troll, serial 13890, is identified as such
only by the name TROLL AND BAKER stamped in very small letters on the
governor, between the endless and the hole for the securing screw.
It also had bells in sight.

Baker-Troll also made a movement called Quatuor, one example being
serial 6773.  This type became popular in about 1885 by several makers
and serial 6773 is a Mandoline-type (or Tremolo) Sublime Harmonie with
a Piccolo comb added.  However, the term seems to apply not so much to
the number of combs as to the fact that it is a French musical term
for quartet.

Bulleid wrote extensively concerning a Baker-Troll catalogue.
The catalogue is dated about 1890-92 and comprises a huge range of
mechanical musical instruments.  Included is a Polytype movement.
He confirms the view that Baker-Troll added their tune sheets to other
maker's instruments.

A very fine 8-day timepiece fitted with a musical movement was
advertised by Baker-Troll catalogue, stating: 'full-sized Sublime
Harmonie'.  It was made in various sizes and models.  Before striking
the hour, the music plays, two figures appear in the doorway and a
procession of 12 figures pass slowly across the gallery above the
porch.

Dating: Bulleid's latest dating chart is in Tune Sheet Book supplement
3.  It is interesting to note that the dateline expires some time in
the period 1895-1900 as indicated by a dotted line.

Paul Bellamy