Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info

End-of-Year Fundraising Drive In Progress. Please visit our home page to see this and other announcements: https://www.mmdigest.com     Thank you. --Jody

MMD > Archives > December 2013 > 2013.12.27 > 01Prev  Next


Model Number of 15-1/2" Stella Disc Musical Box
By Nancy Fratti

[ James Huling wrote in 131226 MMDigest:

> I would like to know, if possible, how to tell if it's a single
> or double comb model, and how I can determine the model number.

Regarding the question of a single vs. a double comb Stella, because
of the way it's mounted, the second comb on any Stella is hard to see.
The comb is mounted _vertically_ beneath the star wheel assembly.
The only way to see it is to (1) remove the star wheel assembly or
(2) look from the left side of the bedplate towards the center post.
If there is a comb lead showing just beyond the center post (in the
cutout in the bedplate for the comb leads) then you have a double comb.

There are a number of models of Stellas listed in the book,
"Encyclopedia of Automatic Musical Instruments", by Bowers.  If you
don't have a copy, I have some used ones for sale or you could send
me a picture of yours.  There are not as many different case styles in
Stellas as there are in Reginas.  Most of the Stellas you find in the
U.S. have cases that were made in the U.S.  The movements were brought
to this country 'naked' and the cases were made here to match our
Victorian furniture styles.  Most were done in mahogany, though
occasionally you see some cases in oak.

The discs for the 15.5" Stella are much harder to find than the more
popular 17-1/4" models.

A word of caution: _never_ play a disc that has any roughness on the
underside.  The star wheels will catch on the roughness and cause undue
pressure on the teeth, sometimes causing the teeth to break.

Enjoy!

Nancy Fratti - Nancy Fratti Music Boxes
Canastota, New York, USA
http://www.nancyfrattimusicboxes.com/ 


(Message sent Sat 28 Dec 2013, 02:36:57 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  15-1/2, Box, Disc, Model, Musical, Number, Stella

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page