Dear Mr. Reisfield,  Your inquiry [in 180726 MMDigest] was forwarded
to us by a colleague, Mr. Don Caine.  I do order from Nidec-Sankyo
regularly and may be able to help you.  Because of the language
differences, I think what I'm about to explain will help.
 
Yes, there is an arrangement fee, but if you substitute the words
"set-up fee" or "preparation for fabrication of mechanism", it will
cover the pinning and the tuning of the comb which is what they are
calling "the arrangement."

"The arrangement" is not the application of embellishments to the tune
on paper as a score as we know it; rather, it is the actual timing and
layout of the pins on the cylinder and the manufacture of the comb.

The comb and cylinder are tune-specific and are "married" to each
other.  What you can put on an 18-note mechanism on one revolution
of the cylinder is only about 17 seconds duration music.  Sometimes
the segment of the song that you have selected can play continuously,
or "loop", giving the impression of having played more of the song
(especially if the song has a repeat).

A [music] arrangement as we know the word is not necessary.  On an
18-note mechanism there is room for only the melody and perhaps one or
two complementary notes and an arpeggio here or there, and it has to be
within the limitations of the mechanical mechanism itself.  If certain
notes are repeated or are too close, it can cause drag.  Technical
knowledge of all these inherent limitations is essential.

We sell an 18-note gold Sankyo movement for list price $16.50.  We
wholesale them to the trade for $7.50 each; however, we do custom work
also and if you are interested in larger quantities the price would be
considerably less.

You were concerned about protection of your project.  Are these your
own compositions?  If the songs that you wish to produce have been
published, then there are copyright issues to handle.  It would work
in your favor because anyone purchasing your copied materials would
need their own copyright permission.  Sankyo stipulates that the buyer
is responsible for permission to produce.  Sometimes it is easy to
procure permission and other times it has been nearly impossible.

I can put you in touch with the three largest publishing houses and you
can contact them and the Library of Congress for information.  That is
usually the main stumbling block and why so many new great songs go
un-produced as music box mechanisms.  (Some, of course, just don't make
it musically.)

I'm writing all this without knowing anything about the songs you wish
to produce but if you care to pursue this further, I'll be happy to
help.  Incidentally, I have not been happy with Yunsheng and I do not
carry their product.

I hope I've covered your concerns.  Please don't hesitate to call me if
you have any questions.

Best Regards,

Kandi Wasser - TheMusicHouse.Com, Inc.
Dade City, Florida [est. 1965 in Port Washington, Long Island, New York]
http://themusichouse.com/ 
tel.: 1-352-588-2800
email: info@themusichouse.com.geentroep [delete ".geentroep" to reply]

 [ Read about The Music House family business at
 [ https://www.musichouseshop.com/store/aboutourcompany.html  and
 [ https://www.musichouseshop.com/blog-on-music-and-all-things-musical/about-us 
 [ -- Robbie