Reference Darren J. Wallace's enquiry for early replica tune sheets
[150514 MMDigest].  This is a 'tough call', not just for Bordier but
also for any similar snuffbox/tabatière maker of this early period.
I am seriously interested in any contribution to MMD that involves
early tune sheet examples for they are quite rare.

I worked with H.A.V. (Anthony) Bulleid for over seventeen years, along
with my colleague, Ted Brown.  Ted brought Anthony's tune sheet research
to print in the form of the book, "Musical Box Tune Sheets," and its
three supplements, and donated the copyright separately for the book
and each of the subsequent three supplements to another society, MBSGB.

It was Anthony's dying wish that Ted and I continue with this work.
We have done so in conjunction with an MBSI member who 'took the lead'
and published the series from 401 onwards in the MBSI journal.  Some of
that original work is in my new book, "The Music Makers of Switzerland,"
to be published later this year.

None of the Bulleid tune sheets represent snuffbox tune sheets!
However, there are three snuffbox examples that appear in my book as
well as others (mostly for Nicole Frères).  All the tune sheet examples
contributed to MBSI remain my copyright until, as is my intention,
I donate copyright in due course to another society.  However, I am
willing to send the three privately to Darren for his personal use.

Little is known about Bordier and there are no Bordier examples in
the tune sheet book.  He is thought to be a Geneva agent in the name
of Bordier Frères.  Ord-Hume classed him as a maker of small musical
movements for the period 1815-1830 and that he may have had an
association with Roman Bordier & Cie, also watchmakers of Geneva.
Webb lists an A. Bordier, circa 1787, of Geneva as a maker of small
movements with sectional combs but with no references.

A 22-segment comb with three teeth per segment Bordier snuffbox, circa
1830, has his name inscribed by graver on the brass comb base to the
right and in front of the comb.  It dates about 1830 and 1833.

Sometimes snuffbox tune titles are hand inscribed on the inside or on
the base.  They may appear as scratch marks so it is worth examination
by eyeglass.  My book will illustrate a Bordier movement with the name
stamped close to the front edge of the bedplate near the governor.
It has a serial number, partly covered by the comb.  Since he was an
agent, not a maker, it is worth looking at the serial numbers of other
makers to see if the estimated age of the movement correlates with any
of the Bulleid dating charts.

Bulleid said that early tune sheets were often standard printers'
labels, printed from engraved stone as lithographs, usually in black or
blue on buff-coloured paper.  They were capable of about 100 prints and
the soft stone had then to be re-engraved.  The border patterns were
usually in simple floriate or geometric form.  Thus there will be no
'Bordier' examples as such.  If there had been a tune sheet, it would
have been of this type.

Ted and I wish Darren all the best in his venture.

Paul Bellamy

 [ Bibliography
 [
 [ H.A.V. Bulleid: Musical Box Tune Sheets: Including Makers,
 [   Agents and Dating Charts
 [ Publisher: Musical Box Society of Great Britain (October 2000)
 [ ISBN: 0950565776, 978-0950565774
 [ plus supplements issued 2001, 2005, 2008
 [
 [ Graham Webb: Cylinder Music Box Handbook
 [ Publisher: Faber & Faber; 1st Edition (December 1968)
 [ ISBN: 0571082335, 978-0571082339
 [
 [ Graham Webb: Disc Musical Box Handbook
 [ Publisher: Faber & Faber; 1st Edition (July 1971)
 [ ISBN: 0571093787, 978-0571093786
 [
 [ Webb, Graham: The Musical Box Handbook, 2nd Edition, Volume 1,
 [   Cylinder Boxes.
 [ Publisher: Vestal Press, Vestal, New York, May 1984.
 [ ISBN: 0911572368, 978-0911572360
 [
 [ Webb, Graham: The Musical Box Handbook, 2nd Edition, Volume 2,
 [   Disc Boxes.
 [ Publisher: Vestal Press, Vestal, New York, January 1984.
 [ ISBN: 0911572511, 978-0911572513
 [
 [ -- Robbie