Update on my Arion music box clock. Re: Digest 141114

 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Archives/Digests/201411/2014.11.14.01.html

Update on my clock with the 'Arion' music box movement, which I
submitted an inquiry in 141114 MMDigest.  Many thanks to Mr. Kevin
McElhone for his informative response to my inquiries in 141126 MMDigest.
After more investigation, I have identified the clock that my music box
is in, as a 'Junghans' shelf clock. The answer I was seeking was found
on page 103 of 'Encyclopedia of Automatic Musical Instruments', by
David Bowers, referring to this subject in the following paragraph:

   "Small disc mechanisms made by Symphonion, Thorens,and others were
   built into shelf type clocks.  Junghans, Germany's largest clockmaker,
   produced dozens of different clocks, many of which used Symphonion
   movements".

It went on to say:

    "Sometimes these (the clock movements) were connected to the disc
    movement and played the disc at regular intervals (Regina automatic
    changers with clocks are examples), but more often, the
    clock attachment was independent of the music".

On my clock, the disc movement is connected to the clock and the music
serves as an alarm, which is set by means of the brass lever that can
be seen going from the center of the clock to the edge of the dial.  If
one wants the disc to play at 6:00, the lever is positioned over the 6.
If one wants the disc to play at 6:30, the lever is set exactly between
the 6 and the 7, etc.  The clock movement does not have a pendulum.
Instead, the verge is operated by a hairspring such as can be found
on a pocket watch.    

After finding out the name of the main supplier of these clock cases
that most music box mechanisms were installed in, I searched online for
Junghans clock and after viewing hundreds of images of 'Junghans' shelf
clocks, I found that many of them have the distinct characteristics and
style of my clock which leads me to conclude that my clock is an example
of the type of clock Mr. Bowers referred to in his book.  One expert who
I wrote to said he has heard of this type of clock but in his 40 years
has never seen one, which leads me to believe that I have a very rare,
disc music box clock. Is it desirable to have a music box so rare that
the 4 15/16" Arion disc it plays are almost impossible to find or is it
more desirable to have a not so rare music box in which the disc
selections are plentiful?? I have re-posted the picture of my clock
here for your convenience.  If there is anyone who can shed more light
on this subject, I would appreciate it. 

Thank you.

Jim Patrick
Bartow, FL


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