25th Jan, 2024 9:30
A late 19th-century Swiss cylinder music box playing eight airs, retailed by Joseph Riley of Birmingham on a single cylinder with two combs,in a tulipwood banded, burr walnut and ebonised case, the cover with applied Air Sheet, 68 cm wide x 30 cm deep x 32 cm high
A private estate
Sold for £360
Condition Report
The movement winds and plays but would benefit from a clean and service no teeth are missing.
The spring barrel has a bulge where the internal spring is riveted in position,
The air starts well but then degenerates to a strange distorted version.
the ratchet is increasingly resistant if one ratchets the lever more than say a couple of times, at that point I gave up not wanting to break the spring given the obvious tension on the barrel that is causing a bulge.
The movement and drum are gummed with old oil residue and this would, if cleaned help the tone of the box.
The case is in good original order but could benefit from some cosmetic repairs
A late 19th-century Swiss cylinder music box playing eight airs, retailed by Joseph Riley of Birmingham on a single cylinder with two combs,in a tulipwood banded, burr walnut and ebonised case, the cover with applied Air Sheet, 68 cm wide x 30 cm deep x 32 cm high
ProvenanceA private estate
