The key to the music boxes' portability was a tuned steel comb, invented in 1796 by Antoine Favre in Switzerland’s clock-making region, La Vallée de Joux. The first steel combs were made from varying lengths of metal arranged in a curving fan-shape. As the pins on a rotating cylinder struck the teeth of the comb, notes were produced. Much like early musical clocks, these machines were spring-wound. In 1810, David LeCoultre, of the famous LeCoultre watch-making family, designed a brass cylinder to play notes on a straight length of tuned steel teeth. Longer cylinders could be pinned for multiple tunes and adjusted laterally to switch between songs. A few years later, Francois Nicole, of the famous Nicole Frères firm, created a steel hairspring damper to soften the ring of each note, and the modern music box was born. However, it wasn’t until 1875 that the first music box factory was opened by the Paillard company in St. Croix, Switzerland. Previously, all music boxes were produced through smaller cottage-industry operations using the skills of different craftspeople to assemble a complete product. These early musical contraptions were an expensive luxury item favored by the aristocracy, primarily playing hymns and operatic songs.

Animated Snowy Holiday Village Centerpiece with LED Lights & Music ~NEW IN BOX MR. CHRISTMAS Rock-O-Rama JUKEBOX 18 Songs Wireless Musical Light Show with Box Fisher-Price Precious Planet 2-in-1 Projection Musical Mobile * New, Open Box Gemmy Orchestra of Lights - Lightshow Music Box with Speaker- 1290087 Hallmark Christmas Ornaments Juke Box with Light and Music and + 2 Magic Cords + Acrylic Lighted Snowmen With Candle By JC Penney ENESCO Gold Box 1984 Christmas Parade Ornament with Music, Motion & Light Vintage Telco Motionette 18" Elf With Candle 1994 Lights Music Motion Lovely Music Box Rotating Musical Box with Projection Light for Home Decoration Christmas Tree Music Box Acrylic Crystal Texture Music Box with Light for Hallmark Keepsake Ornament 2009 MAGIC EXPRESS Train Light Sound Motion With Box DIY Handcraft Buildings Mini House Kit with LED Lights Christmas Gifts Home Merry Christmas Music Box Gift - Christmas Snow Globes with Lights Musical Rotat Christmas Tree Music Box Acrylic Crystal Texture Music Box with Light for DIY Handcraft Buildings Mini House Kit with LED Lights Christmas Gifts Home Vintage House of Lloyd Classical Carousel Light Up Musical Ornament with Box HALLMARK - DISNEY - LION KING LIGHTED ORNAMENT - WITH BOX & INSTRUCTIONS. LED Lighting Light Kit with Music and USB Power Cable for Santa’s Visit #10293 LED Lighting Light Kit with Music for Santa’s Visit #10293 Brand New & Sealed Music Version LED Lighting Light Kit with Battery Case for 10293 Santa’s Visit LED Lighting Light Kit with Music for 10275 Winter Village Building Kit Music Version LED Lighting Light Kit with USB Power Cable for 10275 LED Lighting Light Kit with Music Version for Winter Village #10275 LED Lighting Light Kit with Music for IDEAS Home Alone Building Kit #21330 Music LED Lighting Light Kit with USB Power Cable for IDEAS Home Alone #21330 Music LED Lighting Light Kit with Battery Case for 21330 IDEAS Home Alone LED Lighting Light Kit with Music and USB Power Cable for Christmas Wreath#40426 Music LED Lighting Light Kit with Battery Case for Christmas Wreath #40426 Music Version LED Lighting Kit with USB Power Cable for Christmas Tree #40573 LED Lighting Kit with Music Version and Battery Box for 40573 Christmas Tree Music Version LED Lighting Kit with Battery Box for 40573 Christmas Tree LED Lighting Kit with Music for LEGO Christmas Tree Set 40573 Holiday Age 12+ LED Lighting Kit with Music for LEGO 40426 Christmas Wreath 2-in-1 510 Pieces Light LED Lighting Kit with Music for LEGO 21330 IDEAS Home Alone (3955 pcs) LED Lighting Kit with Music for LEGO Icons Santa’s Visit 10293 Building Set LED Lighting Kit with Music for Lego Elf Club House Winter Village 10275 DIY Handcraft Buildings Mini House Kit with LED Lights Christmas Gifts Home Christmas Tree Music Box Acrylic Crystal Texture Music Box with Light for Lighting rose bouquet building suit, with music box Christmas Tree Music Box Acrylic Crystal Texture Music Box with Light for DIY Handcraft Buildings Mini House Kit with LED Lights Christmas Gifts Home DIY Handcraft Buildings Mini House Kit with LED Lights Christmas Gifts Home