Discover the secrets of the Celts


Discover the History of Mechanical Music, Part III

There is much more to music figurines, woodenonto a brass cylinder by means of pins, it
jewelry boxes, children's jewelry boxes, andwas being set on steel discs, which were
wooden keepsake boxes that meet the eye.interchangeable and expendable. The polyphon
Indeed, all mechanical music, including musichad arrived and immediately caught everyone?s
boxes, has a unique history. Let's continueimagination with its unlimited repertoire of
to discover what that is.After the creationmusic. It was mass produced and soon took
of carillons, chiming watches, and barrelover the market which had previously been the
organs, musical movements made from carillonssole right of the cylinder box
without bells or hammers began. Aftermanufacturer."Unfortunately, the success of
Antoine Favre's creation of using a steelthe disc music boxes weren?t to last. The two
toothcomb, which could be plucked to makemain German companies for disc music boxes
music (cylinder music box), initially no oneexisted for 25 years, and the American Regina
thought of making a music box just to enjoy.Company lasted a little longer, until 1919.
However some, such as Phillppe Meyland didThe phonograph, a unique musical production,
begin to make musical snuffboxes, and a groupeventually took the place of the cylinder and
of watchmakers in 1810 and began to work onRegina music boxes. Author David Tallis has
manufacturing small movements for watches andthis to say about the phonograph: " It
seals in Geneva. This resulted in the Genevaresulted from an invention which was made
industry beginning and was started by thebefore that of the disc music box. In 1877,
likes of Henri Capt, Les Freres, Long Champs,Thomas Edison made his phonograph. He put on
Morse Aubert, and Pierre Rochot. Sometimea record made of tin foil and recited into
later in 1812, L.G. Jaccard, Jereme ReCordonthe horn the first line of 'Mary Had A Little
started a similar product.Once the mechanicalLamb'."Of course, it took time for the
music industry was started and settled, tradephonograph to develop where it could compete
was brisk and further developments withwith the cylinder and disc musical boxes.
musical boxes continued to improve until theyHowever, by 1900, they were beginning to
reached their peak in 1870. It is interestingbecome more notable and very popular.The
to note that by this time, there washistory of mechanical music is truly
virtually no music, which could not be playedinteresting and like no other. So, the next
by a music box.In 1890, a different musicaltime you play your music box figurine, wooden
mechanism began to impact the success of thejewelry box, children's jewelry box, and
comb and cylinder musical box. David Talliswooden keepsake box, you can remember what
in "Music Boxes: A Guide for Collectors"makes them so special.
stated that: "Instead of putting the music



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