[ Sam George wrote in 200805 MMDigest --

> The mechanism specifically runs 2 wheels and the propeller.
> One wheel is the winder. 

Hi Sam,  If your friend has what I think he has, it is a Steinbach
musical smoker (incense burner): an airplane with "Fokker Dr1" on
the tail fin.

The pilot lifts up from a spring clip to allow a conical piece of
incense to be placed inside of him.  When lit, and the pilot is
returned to the cockpit, the smoke of the incense wafts out of his
mouth.  Ergo, "A Smoker"!

I believe the tune may be "Das Gibt's Nur Einmal (It Only Happens
Once)", also translated as "That's Unique".  That mechanism was
specially made by Reuge for Steinbach.  It is a Reuge 18-note movement
with a larger than usual mainspring in order to drive the wheels and
to support bracket with a cross over cam to drive the propeller off of
the cylinder drive gear.  On a clean flat surface (runway), the
airplane should propel itself.

The left front wheel is the spring winder.  That wheel winder should
come off (unthread) simply by turning it counterclockwise, and it
winds the mechanism when turned clockwise.

The right wheel attaches to the top of the winding spindle with a
reverse thread, and it may also have a 1 mm hex head (or flat head)
set screw holding it in place.  Note that the mainspring may be wound
using the right wheel too, but it must be turned in a counterclockwise
direction.

I think I can help, but I'll need confirmation of my speculation, and
then have you send me the mechanism to make the mainspring exchange,
unless you can give me the specs on that spring as to its width and
length.

As an aside, unless you have already opened the spring housing, and
you know that the mainspring is actually broken, you may find that
it is simply detached from the central winding arbor because someone
turned the right wheel in a clockwise direction.

Additionally, if the mainspring is broken, and depending on where that
break is, one might be able to reuse the existing spring in a slightly
shorter version; call me for more details.

Please let me know how I may be of further assistance to you and your
friend.

Most sincerely,

Don Caine - Proprietor, The Music Box Repair Center Unlimited
Lomita, California
http://www.musicboxrepaircenter.com/