[ Jochen Schäfer wrote in 160927 MMDigest --

> I do know some Polyphon 24-1/2" music boxes and how they are tuned.
> I know that there were machines which were tuned to G major and also
> to A major.  So there were indeed different tuning scales of the same
> Polyphon size.  Usually, the 19-5/8" and 22" Polyphon music boxes
> were tuned to B-flat major.

I noticed the recent posting concerning the tuning scales of the
24-1/2-inch Polyphon.  To the best of my knowledge, all tuning scales
for these and other makers were standard.  Thus, this size of Polyphon
seems to be an exception by having the combs tuned to start either at
B or D-sharp according to the books by the late Graham Webb.

I discussed the subject with Ted Brown, Chair of the Association of
Musical Box Collectors (AMBC).  He reminded me that the Disc Musical Box
Book by Kevin McElhone, which Ted sponsored as the former chair of MBSGB
Publications Committee, contained a reference to the scale C but that
this size was known to have the same basic tuning scales transposed into
other unspecified keys.  No doubt the Webb scales are at least two of
those transpositions.

Altogether, there seems to be at least three scales upon which any disc
will play, apparently, equally well.  The reason for this is a mystery
but there must have been a reason that we fail to understand.  More
sense could be made if it was known when the scale changes took place.
This may be a clue as to why.

For example, let us assume that once a scale change had been made,
a previous scale would have been abandoned in manufacture yet all
previous discs would have been playable.  The 24-1/2" model would
have been expensive and available to a fairly limited customer market.
A change in scale could be seen as a way of making the sound brighter
if it was done in the order B, C, D-sharp.  Could it be that Polyphon
were responding to a change in musical taste?  It is possible that the
cost of producing combs tuned to a higher pitch might also be cheaper.
The bass lead weights, for example, would be less massive.

Although this is all speculation any thoughts from our readers are
welcome, particularly dating information.  Graham Webb's heirs have
granted written permission to AMBC who now have full and sole
permission to revisit his works for update and future publication.

Paul Bellamy

 [ Perhaps the "transposition" is the result of different tuning
 [ standards.  Jochen Schäfer, who is blind, probably compares the
 [ Polyphon music against the modern standard tuning of A=440 Hz.
 [ But what was the standard pitch when the music comb was tuned?
 [ -- Robbie