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.
Selected Products
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Music Boxes Movement
Music Box Diy
Music Box Mini
Music Box Love
Music Box Dancer
Disc Music Box
Music Box World
Music Box Baby Boy
Music Box You Are My Sunshine
Music Box 7
Music Box Fairy
Music Box Victorian
Music Box Snow Globe
Music Box Animated
Music Box Kingdom
Music Box Anniversary Waltz
Music Box Dancing
Disc Music Box
Music Box For Men
Music Box Crank
Music Box Rachmaninoff
Anri Music Box
Music Box Unfinished
Wizard Of Oz Music Box
Music Box Large
Music Box Kiss The Rain
Music Box Guitar
Music Box Original Crankshaft
Castle In The Sky Music Box
Music Box 30 Note
Roxy Music Box Set
Inlaid Music Box
Music Box I Want To Hold Your Hand
Music Box 3D
Music Box Unchained Melody
Diy Music Box