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There are two systems of Music Boxes, the Disc Music Boxes and the more common Cylinder Musical Boxes, that come in many variations.

Disc Music Boxes

This invention dates back to the end of the 19th century and heralded the advent of the phonograph.

The disc movements are very easy to use and facilitate the setting up of a library of tunes, so that it is easy to complete one's collection at all times. This is the advantage compared to the Cylinder boxes.

It was these aspects that led to the first real crisis amongst manufacturers of cylinder musical movements. Today quite number of American and Japanese collectors share a passion for this specific type of mechanical musical instrument.

In 1986, Reuge (Switzerland) took over production of this particular product from Thorens, a name well-known worldwide for its disc movements.

The most common size are discs with 30 notes, which are displayed on the page "disc players". There are also discs with 41 notes still produced.

Cylinder Music Boxes

In the following text as well as on our Web pages we use abbreviations for describing the movements. A movement with 1 song and 36 notes is abbreviated 1.36.

Basic movements:

The smallest movements with 1 song 17 notes (1.17) on a cylinder are used for key chains and Musical Clocks.

The next size is 1.18, which is used often in small Music Boxes and in Jewellery Boxes. Although it has only one note more than the movement designed for Clocks, it is considerably bigger but much cheaper, as the miniaturisation of the smallest movement is difficult to achieve.

There are other movement sizes like the 1.28, which is also mostly used in Jewellery Boxes.

1.36 movements are used in "better" Jewellery Boxes as well as in Music Boxes without Jewellery compartment.

1.50 movements are available mostly in Music Boxes.

Changing movements:

On the changing movement, a terrific technology, a mechanism moves the cylinder laterally, allowing others pins to be in front of the teeth comb in order to play the next tune. When every tunes played, the cylinder comes automatically back at the beginning.

The 2.36 and 3.50 movements are no more produced by Reuge, but may be still available from retailers.

3.50 movements are less common than the 3.72 movements, which are adored by Music Box lovers all over the world.

3.144 movements contain two specially tuned 3.72 combs assembled side by side.

Cartels:

Cartel Music Boxes are more complicated in their construction than the above mentioned movements. Medium and big sized antique musicboxes often have this Cartel mechanism to wind up the movement. Cartel Boxes do not have a key underneath to wind up the spring, but a ratchet wind lever. The mainspring is not housed in a static springmotor, but in a rotating, cylinder-shaped spring barrel housing. The "butterfly" air brake is more intricate than those used in other movements.

Interchangeable Cylinder Movements:

Those movements are constructed so that you can change between the five rolls that come with the box. It is not possible to buy later additional rolls. As with the other cylinder musicboxes, one has to decide before the purchase of the box what songs should come with the box (often 2 different sets are available).

Common sizes are 5.50 (5 cylinders with 1 song each) and 15.72 (5 cylinders with 3 songs each).

Very extraordinary boxes, for example with 20 tunes 144 notes, are also available, but will cost accordingly and are often produced in a Limited Edition. (See page "Exquisite" for Reuge musicboxes with interchangeable cylinders.)

About the Music

A melody has to be condensed to its most characteristic part, so that it can be played and identified in 17, 24, 36 or 50 seconds, depending on the dimensions of the movement. The arrangement is made by a professional musician who knows perfectly the technologies of the musical movement, because it is a very tough work, mixing together music and technology.

For the best Listening...

In order to get the best listening, keep the music box around 30 cm (12 inches) away from the ear and keep the glass lid closed (especially in wet or dusty conditions).

You can vary the volume and tone of the sound by opening/closing the lid and the drawer (only some models with interchangeable rolls). Another factor is the surface on which the box is standing. Generally speaking, wood surface is good, but you have to try for yourself in your home where it sounds best.