Auction Lot 689-710

American, Regina Music Box Co., Style No. 6 Orchestral 27" Folding Top Table Model music box also sometimes called the "Casket Model". Mahogany case with applied carving and shaped bracket feet. Interior with original Regina Company celluloid label, the serial number stamped into the cast iron bedplate = 31207, and an 11" double comb mechanism, with removable crank. Includes 23 discs
Estimate: $5,000.00 - $6,000.00

Condition Report: there are some exterior nicks and scrapes to the box commensurate with age, but generally very good condition, one foot with finish rubbed off. Finish is original. The combs have a total of 172 teeth, tuned in chromatic scale, embracing over 7 octaves. The outer leaves have been too low for some time and the discs have rubbed the edge of the box leaving circular scrape marks front and back, some adjustment required. There is also some damper noise [buzzing]. All teeth are intact.

Dimensions: 34in x 12in x 20in

Circa: 1898

Mermod Freres, St. Croix, Switzerland, cylinder music box, with 4 eleven inch cylinders [3 fit in drawer built into case], each cylinder with 6 tunes. This is an ideal "Piccolo" format box, with tune number indicator, and Jacot "Safety Check", external crank wound, in an inlaid case with 45 degree corners. No tune sheets. WITH a non-matching but sturdy stained pine table from the same period with heavy turned legs.
Estimate: $2,750.00 - $3,750.00

Condition Report: Mechanically the box is very clean and plays crisply and with excellent tone. Cosmetically, there are some nicks and scrapes to mahogany veneer case with ebonized accents, and there is a missing piece of veneer about an inch long from right front corner. Inside and outside of lid show well figured crotch mahogany, interior with a celluloid card indicating Ideal Piccolo [card is warped and with loss to black printing, and is barely legible]

Dimensions: 30in x 11in x 15in

Circa: 1875

Music Box- Switzerland, "STELLA", 17 1/4 inch disc playing console music box,3 feet high, the cabinet painted appliance green in 1950, and with 40 discs, cabinet door opens and provides storage area for many discs.
Estimate: $1,500.00 - $2,500.00

Condition Report: You will likely want to refinish the cabinet. We are unable to tell if it is oak or mahogany, as the grain was well filled before the green and antique oak finish was applied. The movement itself is in excellent original condition, and all notes play crisply and typical of all Mermod Freres production, with excellent tone. Collectors will realize that this box uses the projection less discs and spring loaded star wheels, as patented by Andre Junod. If the cosmetics appeal to you, you can enjoy a top quality disc box.

Dimensions: 22in x 37in x 30in

Circa: 1895

Germany, Polyphon Musikwerk, 39.8cm or 15 1/2 inch disc playing music box, style 43 variant [single comb with going barrel movement [not a coil spring], in a nicely figured mahogany case, plain, with raised molding to lid, and an insert inside lid showing available tunes. With 7 Polyphon discs, including the Star Spangled Banner (Das sternfunkelnde Banner) Note this box will play Regina 15 1/2 inch discs also, see separate lot of 125 Regina discs.
Estimate: $1,000.00 - $1,500.00

Condition Report: Minor nicks commensurate with the age of the item.

Dimensions: x x

Circa: 1895

B.H.A., St. Croix, Switzerland, "The Brittania" disc music box with 5 inch comb having 57 teeth, playing 12 inch diameter discs, in wood case with matched mahogany and burled walnut veneer and banded inlay, the underside of the lid featuring the manufacturer and model name along with polychrome images symbolizing Great Britain 11 (Eleven) discs included, most printed with the Britannia logo. Song titles include: "The Holy City", "Annie Laurie", "Rock of Ages", "Onward Christian Soldier", and others.
Estimate: $950.00 - $1,200.00

Condition Report: minor repairs to wood around hinges. Small dings on underside of lid and a crack by the right hinge. Escutcheon around winding hole loose. . Printing on some of the discs is indistinct, some are rusted. Plays well, [with lots of sound as is typical of Britannia models] but would benefit from service.

Dimensions: 24in x 8in x 14in

Circa: 1895

Mira, St. Croix, Switzerland, "Empress" music box playing 9.25 inch discs on a comb with 48 teeth in a mahogany case with an assortment of 32 discs.
Estimate: $300.00 - $400.00

Condition Report: wood case is in good condition as is inner label. Some oxidation on exposed metal parts. Unit wound, but did not play. Come with a few parts, which may be compatible. Sold "as is".

Dimensions: 12.5in x 8.5in x 11in

Circa:

Nicole Freres, Geneva, Switzerland, 8 tune music box with a 13 inch cylinder playing on a comb with approximately 96 teeth in an inlayed rosewood veneer case.
Estimate: $300.00 - $500.00

Condition Report: case is in good condition, though it has been refinished. Box played during a brief test.

Dimensions: 20in x 5in x 6.5in

Circa:

Switzerland, child's tin music box, green painted ground with lithograph transfer after Victor Adam, "Washington, Wagram, Waterloo", "the letter W" from his "Nouvel Abécédaire en Enigmes", movement with 2.5 inch, two tune cylinder and 69 tooth,14 segment comb, the plate stamped "FP", serial #21978
Estimate: $300.00 - $500.00

Condition Report: paint with minor losses, barrel with incomplete stopwork, working

Dimensions: 3.5in x 1.125in x 2.25in

Circa: 1840

A. G. Marston, Campello, Massachusetts, 5 octave lyre-leg melodeon in a rosewood case. Also included is a second reed organ keyboard of roughly the same size and manufacture with a set of walnut legs.
Estimate: $250.00 - $350.00

Condition Report: complete organ is in overall good cosmetic condition. The bellows are good enough to sound a note when pumped, but it was not tested extensively. Sold "as is".

Dimensions: x x

Circa:

Disc and Cylinder Music Boxes for Parts or restoration: Lot includes three cylinder music boxes, and one disc music box with dozens of discs of various diameters [total 4 boxes]
Estimate: $300.00 - $400.00

Condition Report: the largest cylinder box has 3 interchangeable cylinders, eleven inches wide, however the governor has been robbed of worm + bevel gear and fan, and the comb is very rusty and with some loose leads and damaged dampers; this box also lacks a lid. all items are incomplete. Sold "as is".

Dimensions: x x

Circa:

American mechanical organettes- 2 (Two): (1) "The Mechanical Cabinetto", plays large 14 inch wide paper rolls, in a walnut case with gold stenciling; (2) " The Musette", and made by the Mechanical Organette Co., of Newark, NJ, this unit playing small paper rolls that are 3 1/2 inches wide with narrow perforations.
Estimate: $300.00 - $600.00

Condition Report: sold "as is". Both of these are in need of attention for the bellows. They try to play but do not quite succeed. The smaller unit comes with 9 rolls, some with tears, but most complete, and the original instruction label is intact inside the lower hinged door. "The Cabinetto" has approximately 10 additional rolls and the exterior finish has crazing and some losses.

Dimensions: x x

Circa: 1890

Phonographs- 3 (Three) Thomas A. Edison, Orange, NJ, "Standard" model spring driven cylinder phonographs in oak veneer cases including approximately 100 cylinder records.
Estimate: $600.00 - $900.00

Condition Report: all three oak cases have old finishes and original domed lids with case decals. The finish on one lid is darker than the base. All have reproducers. Only one machine has a winding crank. Sold "as is".

Dimensions: 13in x 13in x 9in

Circa:

Music Boxes- 4 (Four) Swiss Music Boxes: (1) Switzerland, 6 tunes with a 12 inch cylinder playing on two combs of 40 and 74 teeth in an inlayed rosewood veneered case; (2) Switzerland, 8 tunes with a 6 inch cylinder playing on a 42 tooth comb in an inlayed rosewood and grain painted case; (3) B.A. Bremond, Geneva, Switzerland, 4 tunes with a 6 inch cylinder playing on a single comb of 74 teeth in an inlayed rosewood veneered case with mother of pearl; (4) E.S. Hiddens, New York with a 5 inch cylinder playing on a comb of 86 teeth in a mahogany case.
Estimate: $600.00 - $800.00

Condition Report: largest music box with segmented comb will play sluggishly when wound. Other three boxes will not play for various reasons and are sold for parts or repair. Dimensions provided are for largest music box. Sold "as is".

Dimensions: 20in x 5.5in x 6in

Circa:

Music Boxes- 4 (Four) Swiss Music Boxes: (1) 6 inch cylinder on a comb with approximately 84 teeth; (2) 8 inch cylinder played on a comb with approximately 118 teeth; (3) 11 inch cylinder on a comb with approximately 108 teeth; (4) 11 inch cylinder with approximately 60 tooth comb; (5) 13 inch cylinder on a comb with approximately 122 teeth with inlayed case. Lot also includes some small music box related parts.
Estimate: $500.00 - $700.00

Condition Report: mostly complete, but all in need of restoration. Rust on steel parts and some case parts missing. Three of the music boxes have broken comb teeth. Dimensions are for largest music box. Sold "as is".

Dimensions: 22in x 6.5in x 8.5in

Circa:

Music boxes- 4 (Four): Three with tin cases, two of those with transfer scenes decorating the covers, and one burl veneered box
Estimate: $300.00 - $500.00

Condition Report: with losses, for parts or restoration

Dimensions: x x

Circa:

Musical Instruments- 2 (Two) Reed Instruments: (1) Lachenal & Co., London, "Patent Concertina", 21 buttons with hexagonal rosewood ends; (2) Martin Freres, Paris, boxwood clarinet with five brass keys, 8 finger holes, stamped "A", mid 19th century.
Estimate: $300.00 - $500.00

Condition Report: (1) Bellows seem sound, though there is significant wear to leather reinforcements at the seams. Only one leather strap is present but detached and decayed; (2) Older Martin bumble bee logo is visible on four sections. In nice shape cosmetically, but in need of restoration to make it playable. 27 inches in length. Sold "as is".

Dimensions: x x

Circa:

Lot of 125 music discs, American, 15 1/2 inch Regina, also fit compatible 15.5 Polyphon music box.
Estimate: $700.00 - $900.00

Condition Report: Approximately 100 are full and complete with tines and perimeter drive intact, around 25 have small section cut out at end of tune to work on an early machine needing a "stop slot" to stop spring motor at end of play, and 3 are missing a large section of outer drive holes, but could still be used for duplication of the disc. We see these bringing 35 each on eBay, At ten each the lot should bring well over a thousand dollars.

Dimensions: 15.5in x x

Circa: 1900

A music box table or stand of stained pine, including 3 (Three) Mermod Freres cylinders from an interchangeable box, width = 11.2 inches
Estimate: $100.00 - $200.00

Condition Report: the stand is still quite sturdy suffers from some loss to finish and stain. Cylinders have turned brown, but are not rusty, and pins appear straight and intact. The cylinders are Mermod Freres style, but we are unsure exactly what they fit. Note, there is no rear stop on drawer to be sure not to push it through with cylinders inside.

Dimensions: 33in x x

Circa: 1875

Clown automaton. unknown origin, late 19th century, with some more recent clothing. A very interesting piece, the head nods, eyes and jaw move and right arm lifts and falls. Wound and actuated from the clown's back, not working properly.
Estimate: $400.00 - $600.00

Condition Report: pressed and molded heavy card stock and paper mache body show signs of heavy use, and some neglect. Socks hide joint from ankles to pillow support. Does free stand, but benefits from resting against another vertical support. Once a wonderful Victorian window display and attention getter. Some duct tape repairs, will respond to restoration.

Dimensions: x x

Circa: 1870