GUEST: It was my great-grandfather's, who lived in Virginia, and he was in the Civil War. And after the war, he was married, had six children. The next person in the family to own it was his daughter Laura, which is my great-aunt. And there came a time in her life when she needed money just for food and for rent, and my sister loved that music box- this was the '30s- she bought it from her and made weekly payments until it was paid for. And then I inherited it from my sister in 1993. APPRAISER: It's a Regina music box.
Regina was the premier maker of American music boxes. The Regina music box company was the most successful music box maker in the country, and they produced over 100,000 music boxes between roughly 1892 to 1920. This particular cabinet they advertised as a Rookwood style cabinet. GUEST: Now, what is Rookwood? APPRAISER: Well, they say it's to mimic the Rookwood pottery. I don't see a lot of similarities to it, but that was the promotion that they used. GUEST: I see.
APPRAISER: And this is sort of at the tail end of the company, so this becomes popular around 1904 to 1906. And we can see this Rookwood style with this floral decorated top, these hand-painted vignettes, floral, and then I love this vertical courting scene, and then of course we have landscape panels on the side. GUEST: I think it's a beautiful box. APPRAISER: Mahogany is your primary wood. GUEST: Okay, I didn't know that.
APPRAISER: And then when we open it up, we can see that it's got this wonderful pullout shelf to house all of your discs. It plays a 15 1/2 inch disc.
And that is where they made a lot of their money too, by selling the discs afterwards. And we take it off, we can look at the mechanism here and you can see that it contains the name plate that's always issued by Regina, which contains a serial number. They still have records so you can determine when it was made and where it was shipped in most cases. The first two digits give us the model number, so this is a model number 67.
Then of course it gives us the patent dates, and in this case we've got a double comb player. GUEST: And then it has a harp attachment also.
APPRAISER: Got a lot of bells and whistles. It's a complicated movement, it's an elaborate case, but what makes it extra special is its pristine. Pristine condition. GUEST: It is, isn't that amazing? It's been moved I don't know how many times and it still looks great. APPRAISER: So while there's a lot of music boxes, knowing that they made 100,000 of them, there's very few of this style.
Do you have any idea of its value? GUEST: I would say not more than $10,000. APPRAISER: Pretty close. If I were to estimate it, I'd estimate it at $10,000 to $15,000 for auction.
GUEST: Uh-huh. APPRAISER: And I think it might do a little bit more than that.
GUEST: Yeah, I thought $10,000 to $12,000 is kind of what I thought. APPRAISER: Shall we hear it? GUEST: Yes, I'd love to. (music playing). Executive producer shares her tips for getting the most out of ANTIQUES ROADSHOW.
Value can change: The value of an item is dependent upon many things, including the condition of the object itself, trends in the market for that kind of object, and the location where the item will be sold. These are just some of the reasons why the answer to the question 'What's it worth?' Is so often 'It depends.'
Note the date: Take note of the date the appraisal was recorded. This information appears in the upper left corner of the page, with the label 'Appraised On.' Values change over time according to market forces, so the current value of the item could be higher, lower, or the same as when our expert first appraised it. Context is key: Listen carefully.
Most of our experts will give appraisal values in context. For example, you'll often hear them say what an item is worth 'at auction,' or 'retail,' or 'for insurance purposes' (replacement value). Retail prices are different from wholesale prices. Often an auctioneer will talk about what she knows best: the auction market. A shop owner will usually talk about what he knows best: the retail price he'd place on the object in his shop.
And though there are no hard and fast rules, an object's auction price can often be half its retail value; yet for other objects, an auction price could be higher than retail. As a rule, however, retail and insurance/replacement values are about the same. Verbal approximations: The values given by the experts on ANTIQUES ROADSHOW are considered 'verbal approximations of value.' Technically, an 'appraisal' is a legal document, generally for insurance purposes, written by a qualified expert and paid for by the owner of the item. An appraisal usually involves an extensive amount of research to establish authenticity, provenance, composition, method of construction, and other important attributes of a particular object. Opinion of value: As with all appraisals, the verbal approximations of value given at ROADSHOW events are our experts' opinions formed from their knowledge of antiques and collectibles, market trends, and other factors. Although our valuations are based on research and experience, opinions can, and sometimes do, vary among experts.
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Appraiser affiliations: Finally, the affiliation of the appraiser may have changed since the appraisal was recorded. To see current contact information for an appraiser in the ROADSHOW Archive, click on the link below the appraiser's picture. Our also contains a complete list of active ROADSHOW appraisers and their contact details and biographies.
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Music Box Repair ' Old World Quality and Craftsmanship©' BSR GROUP, INC. (Click to Enlarge) (Click to Enlarge) The Magical Music Box - A History Nothing is as irresistible as a music box. Filled, as it is with the captivating charm of yesteryear, young and old alike know of its subtle, if not magical, powers and its ability to soothe, stir the senses, and evoke memories and emotions. The first simple musical movements are found in watches made in Switzerland in the 16th century, and the invention of the first true music box in 1796 is credited to Anton Favre, a Swiss watchmaker, who invented the “music comb”.
The music comb is a comb shaped device that is made from steel then hardened and tempered to produce a number of 'springy' teeth varying in length from short to long. Pins set into a revolving cylinder pluck the teeth. Download game devil may cry. As each tooth is plucked it produces a musical note, producing a sound much like many individual tuning forks, and music results. The note produced by each tooth is determined by, amongst other things, the length of that tooth. The pins in the cylinder are arranged in such a way that a melody arises from the comb as the cylinder turns. In this way, it was possible to 'record' music and produce it at any time and as often as desired. This was the forerunner to the gramophone.
Music boxes were produced in both disc and cylinder models. The value of a cylinder music box depends on the length and diameter of the cylinder, the date of its manufacture, the number of tunes it plays, and its manufacturer. Nicole Freres, Henri Capt. LeCoultre, and Bremond are among the most highly regarded, and the larger boxes made by Mermod Freres are also popular. Examples with multiple cylinders, extra instruments (such as bells or an organ section) were also produced; pins on the cylinder also operated them. Musical boxes were built into birdcages, jewelry boxes, boxes with dancing dolls and many other objects. Moreover, those in particularly ornate cabinets or with matching tables bring significantly higher prices.
While smaller cylinder boxes are still being made, the larger ones (over 10-inch cylinders) typically date from before 1900. Disc music boxes were introduced in the mid1880s, but were replaced by the phonograph only 25 years later. However, during that time hundreds of thousands were made. A special technique was developed to punch projections onto a steel disc and these were used, instead of the pins on a cylinder, to pluck the comb. It was now possible to buy a selection of discs and listen to a lot of music instead of the limited repertoire of the cylinder box. Their great advantage was in playing inexpensive interchangeable discs, a factor that remains an attraction for today's collector as well.
Among the many names involved in the production of the disc music box, perhaps the best knowns are Symphonion, Polyphon and Regina. Symphonion and Polyphon were German companies, while Regina was based in the United States. Relative values are determined by the size of the discs they play, whether they have single or double combs, if they are upright or table models, and how ornate their cases are. Especially valuable are those that play multiple discs at the same time or are incorporated into tall-case clocks.
The Liepzig Company Kuhno-Lochmann, which was founded by Paul Lochmann, was the first commercial maker of a disc machine. Lochmann had manufactured various kinds of machinery before turning to disc music boxes with the opening of the Symphonion factory. The first Symphonion was produced in 1886 and was an immediate success. In 1896, Symphonion established a subsidiary in the United States-The Imperial Symphonion Manufacturing Company, at Bradley Beach, New Jersey. The first music boxes were imported from Germany, but U.S. Versions of the disc music box known as the Imperial Symphonion were being made by 1898.
Gustave Brachhausen established the Polyphon Musikwerke around 1889. Symphonion had employed Brachhausen, and he and a friend set up their own factory not far from their former employer. Polyphon produced many clocks fitted with disc movements, and these were often coin operated. Examples of Polyphon music boxes have been found housed in original bookcases, china cabinets and bureaus. Many collectors agree that the Regina disc music box has the best sound of all.
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In addition, the cabinets housing them are beautifully crafted and styled. The company was established in 1892, when Polyphon's founder, Gustave Brachhausen, journeyed to Jersey City to open an American branch. Polyphon supplied the parts and discs that were first assembled in America and marketed by Regina, but eventually an increasing number of parts and mechanisms were made at the Jersey City factory. However, by 1902, the competition from the first disc phonographs was beginning to have its effect, and in 1922, the company went bankrupt. Unlike many manufacturers of disc music boxes, Regina kept detailed records of styles, serial numbers and dates of manufacture, enabling collectors to accurately identify the provenance of the company's machines.
During the 19th century, musical mechanisms were placed in footstools, trivets, kitchen utensils, Christmas tree stands, lamps, humidors, cigarette cases and opera glasses. Musical photograph albums that played when the cover was opened were popular from around 1880 to the end of the century, the mechanism being wound with a key or a pull string. Many candy or serving dishes have had musical movements in the lid or base; mechanisms have been put into teapots operated either by winding and letting the music play through or by having an on/off trigger that allows the music to play only when the pot is lifted. Many of the makers of disc music boxes incorporated their mechanisms into hall clocks, and cylinder music boxes have been placed in pocket watches and watch cases. Swiss chalet jewelry boxes seem to have been popular subjects for musical movements, and many are still being made. Other more recent examples of items containing musical movements are note-pad holders, beer cans, dustpans, watering cans, Christmas ornaments, greeting cards, and even bathroom fixtures. The finest musical automatons were made in and around Paris in the latter half of the 19th century, where manufacturers such as Theroude, Decamps, Lambert and Vichy relied on the skills of hundreds of cottage workers.
The musical movements, however, were often Swiss made. These movements were concealed in a landscape base, or sometimes, in the body of the automaton. Among the figures that were made were dolls, monkeys, jesters, and children. These pieces are rare and expensive. Thousands of music boxes were made before World War I, and there is a large range to choose from, covering a wide range of prices.
If you are buying an antique music box, be on the lookout for good movements and cases. The better movements have 28-144 notes, compared with cheaper models with 12-18. Reuge Company, based in Switzerland, currently offers a wide range of music boxes; these are easy to acquire and will likely become the collector's items of tomorrow. Before World War II, the Japanese, not to be outdone, had developed exquisite clocks enriched with intricate musicals of their own design. In 1947, Rokuichi Yamada founded Sankyo Manufacturing Company and, imitating the Swiss, became the most prominent supplier in the east of musicals that rival the sound and quality of the best in Switzerland. Porter Music Box Company has been producing disc music boxes since 1974. Porters are the largest disc-style music boxes in manufacture today, each component handcrafted and assembled in Randolph, Vermont.
To control precision and quality, Porter’ s artisans finely machine the musical combs and other works in Porter's own shop, using advanced computerized numerically controlled lathes and premium-quality tools. Porter music boxes are cradled in beautiful cabinets imported exclusively from Italy; each work of art features intricate inlays of the finest woods. Further reading: Musical Boxes, A Guide for Collectors, by David Tallis (Stein & Day, New York, 1971); The Disc Musical Box Handbook, by Graham Webb (Faber & Faber, 1971). Collectors club: The Musical Box Society International, P.O. Box 205, Rte. 3, Morgantown, IN 46160. Museums: Bellms Car and Music of Yesteryear, Sarasota, Florida; Lockwood Matthews Mansion, Norwalk, Connecticut.
Large numbers of these treasures were produced, but sadly, most have been scrapped. There are however, quite a number still in existence held in museums and private collections. They are often in poor condition. There are many more that have been relocated to the loft or the garden shed having been used as children's playthings or suffered from attempted, unskilled repairs. Musical boxes are extremely sensitive and delicate devices but in the right hands, even these badly damaged, sad old machines may be brought back to life! How to Care For Your Music Box You have just inherited a music box with a cylinder or a disc movement from your family, or maybe you were just given one, or you bought one for pleasure.
So, if you have only one or two music boxes, and don't want to read a lot about music boxes, but you wish to keep them in good condition, here is what you should do and shouldn't do to a music box. The most sensitive parts of a music box, which we should look after with great respect, are: the pins of the cylinder (if it has a cylinder movement), the teeth of the comb, the dampers under the tips of the teeth, the speed regulator and the spring (which can do a lot of damage if it unwinds with no control).
Always keep it horizontal. Carry and store a music box horizontally; not vertically, not upside down. Never wind the spring while it is playing. The cylinder of a smaller movement might go backward a little bit and ruin teeth, dampers or pins. Let the music box play until the end of the tune. Never move a music box while it is playing. The cylinder might shift aside, and break dampers or pins.
For the same reason, always let the music box play until the end of the tune, and never let it stop before. If necessary, wind it a little so that it goes to the end of the tune. A good practice is to leave the Change/Repeat lever (if there is one) on 'Repeat' when the box is not playing. Should a shock or an accident happen, only the pins of one tune would be ruined.
Beware of temperature shock, which is not, appreciated by the steel which music boxes are made of. If is has just been moved from the cold into a warm room, wait a little while before playing it so that the temperatures of the components can equalize. Block the speed regulator for moving or shipping. After unwinding and expanding the spring as much as possible and stopping the box at the end of a tune, you should block the speed regulator with a little piece of folded paper, if you will be transporting it over long distances. In that case the movement can't start playing accidentally.
Be careful when you take this piece of folded paper away: do so gently, never force it away. Don't take it apart if you don't know exactly how a music box works; and especially if the spring is not totally unwound, or you could ruin your box. Never remove rust from the comb, either with sandpaper or a file or a metallic brush, because the tuning will be affected: your music box will play very modern or ethnic music! If you really want to take the dust away, just wipe it very gently with a very smooth, non-metallic brush (and even so some dampers might suffer). For disc music boxes, similar care should be taken. When you put a disc on the comb, notice carefully the place of the beginning of the tune.
If the pressure bar doesn't go gently into place, never force it; find the cause of the problem (usually it's that the disc is not placed correctly). Don't remove the disc before the end of the tune. Always remove the disc before transporting. Always carry the discs horizontal or vertical, never slantwise. To carry discs with projections, put protection material, such as newspapers or bubble-pack (but not fluffy material) between each disc.
Store in a dry place. The biggest enemy of music boxes (besides restoration by a non-specialist), is rust, usually provoked by water or dampness.
So do not keep a music box in a damp atmosphere. In case of flooding (e.g., after a fire), you may use an electric hair-dryer, but anyway call an expert within a few hours to know what to do.
Abcd 2 sun sathiya mahiya mp3 song download. If you cannot do so within a few hours, it is actually better to immerse completely the wet mechanism in drinking water, and take it like that quickly to the repairer! And now, enjoy for many years your music box! When you need restoration work for your antique mechanical music device, you want a company that has the knowledge and experience to not only repair and refinish the piece, but to restore the device to like new condition. A properly restored antique music device will appreciate in value much faster and will look and sound magnificent. Restoration work requires many skills. We have the capability to repair, and, to manufacture missing wood and metal parts.
We have the ability to repair old gears or to cut new gears. We replace broken comb teeth and tips; re-damper and tune, re-pin cylinders, governor work, spring barrel work, casework and metal polishing.
Regina Music Box Photos & History & View Old Regina Music Box Co. Photos Please click Here The Regina Music Box Company Photos and History I was very fortunate years ago to acquire The Regina Music Box Company's photo negatives, these are a few of the photos developed from them. Please Enjoy, Al Meekins T he Regina Music Box Company story begins in Gohis, Germany in 1885 at the Symphonion music box Co.
When the disc playing music box was introduced. Sensing that their boss was on to a good thing-and figuring they could make a better music box - two Symphonion employees, Gustave Brachhausen and Paul Reissner, left the company in 1889 to set up there own firm, Polyphon, in nearby Leipzig. It wasn't long before they were outselling their former employer.
A very steep increase in tariffs on goods imported to the United States, enacted in 1890, made it more cost-effective for Polyphon to set up shop here rather than export its music boxes from Germany. Regina Music Box Co.
President Gustave Adolf Brachhausen Born Saxony Germany 1860 This Photo 1892 In 1894, Brachhausen officially inaugurated The Regina music box Company which would soon become an entity independent of Polyphone. By the time The Regina music box Co. Was founded, the music box industry had already made great strides-evolving from music boxes that contained a single cylinder dotted with metal pins to those with Interchangeable cylinders and, eventually, to those that played interchangeable discs, making it possible to tailor the music to suit any occasion. The Regina music box Company basically followed the industry standard, tweaked it and executed it better than its competitors. Among the Regina music boxes more significant improvements were the introduction of stronger spring-wound motors that could play for a longer time before they required rewinding and the placement of the machine's sounding board on the top to increase volume called a short bedplate. Gustave Brachhausen is in the left front row with the hat on More than 100 years ago the Regina Music Box Company was regarded as Americas finest music box maker.
In later generations, Regina became better known for manufacturing vacuum cleaners but the company's original goal was to fill daily life with music - and for a time it was very successful in doing so. At the turn of the last century, The Regina music box company's sales grossed about $2 million a year at a time when a loaf of bread was 1 cent and a bank teller made about 7 dollars a week. A costly purchase, in 1900 the least expensive 8 inch disc size Regina music box was $12 - about $300. In present-day figures. Nevertheless plenty of households owned a Regina music box. A Wagon Full of Crated Regina Music Boxes Headed For the Rahway NJ Train Station, Then on by Freight Train To Lyon & Healy Music Showrooms In Chicago.
The Regina music box Company produced more than 100,000 music boxes between 1892 and 1920. Only a relatively small number of Regina music boxes have survived 2 world wars scrap metal drives and other forms of elimination. The Regina Music Box Factory 1895 The Regina Factory aerial view 1947.
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