3/36 Personalised Music Box
This box was made for my fourth grandchild, Libby.
Libby loves dancing, particularly Ballet, so something appropriate to dance to I thought ...
An orphaned 3 tune 36 note Reuge movement made post 1980 and playing some classic tunes should do nicely!
A ballet dancer inlay, with her initials LIB. Read on ...
Libby loves dancing, particularly Ballet, so something appropriate to dance to I thought ...
An orphaned 3 tune 36 note Reuge movement made post 1980 and playing some classic tunes should do nicely!
A ballet dancer inlay, with her initials LIB. Read on ...
The empty box, as received
Ideas for an inlay
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First proof for the inlay
Artwork sent to QJS Marquetry. A modern look rather than a simple silhouette. The legs of the dancer make the central initial 'I'. |
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Fitting out the box
Firstly, I mark and drill the fixing and winding holes for the mechanism.
I can then establish where the divider will go and then the start/stop mechanism is fitted with an oval hole drilled centrally and at the correct height. The sliding bar usually needs to be cut to fit and sometimes needs to be bent.
Allowing space for the clear cover supports, I add a thin piece of wood under the sliding bar and spring to ensure that it is always level. Some people use pins or small screws instead.
The slider is then removed and the divider and cover supports cut and glued in place.
The 2mm thick clear polycarbonate cover is cut to size and the edges smoothed using a sharp hand plane. I sometimes use tiny brass screws to hold it in place, but prefer a tight fit to avoid rattles. I cut a small notch so that it can be removed to service the mechanism.
I then dismantle everything and clean, abrade and polish the entire box before refitting the mechanism and finally lining the interior.
Firstly, I mark and drill the fixing and winding holes for the mechanism.
I can then establish where the divider will go and then the start/stop mechanism is fitted with an oval hole drilled centrally and at the correct height. The sliding bar usually needs to be cut to fit and sometimes needs to be bent.
Allowing space for the clear cover supports, I add a thin piece of wood under the sliding bar and spring to ensure that it is always level. Some people use pins or small screws instead.
The slider is then removed and the divider and cover supports cut and glued in place.
The 2mm thick clear polycarbonate cover is cut to size and the edges smoothed using a sharp hand plane. I sometimes use tiny brass screws to hold it in place, but prefer a tight fit to avoid rattles. I cut a small notch so that it can be removed to service the mechanism.
I then dismantle everything and clean, abrade and polish the entire box before refitting the mechanism and finally lining the interior.
Fitting the inlay
First the entire inlay is positioned on the lid to ensure that it's the right size.
The outer is then securely taped in position and using a scalpel, the outline for the cut is marked into the lid.
The 1mm deep hole is then cut using a hand held router. I wear two pairs of glasses so that I can see exactly where the edge is.
The inlay is then trial fitted and any small adjustments made until it is a perfect fit.
It is then glued in place using wood glue. A piece of greaseproof paper and block of wood are clamped over the top and left to dry.
First the entire inlay is positioned on the lid to ensure that it's the right size.
The outer is then securely taped in position and using a scalpel, the outline for the cut is marked into the lid.
The 1mm deep hole is then cut using a hand held router. I wear two pairs of glasses so that I can see exactly where the edge is.
The inlay is then trial fitted and any small adjustments made until it is a perfect fit.
It is then glued in place using wood glue. A piece of greaseproof paper and block of wood are clamped over the top and left to dry.
Polishing
When dry all of the surfaces are hand abraded using 400 grit silicon carbide paper until there are no ridges.
Surface dust is removed with a brush and around 15 coats of shellac are applied with a polishers rubber.
It's abraded again, and another ten coats of shellac applied until the desired shine is achieved.
After drying, a coat of clear wax is applied and buffed to a shine,
When dry all of the surfaces are hand abraded using 400 grit silicon carbide paper until there are no ridges.
Surface dust is removed with a brush and around 15 coats of shellac are applied with a polishers rubber.
It's abraded again, and another ten coats of shellac applied until the desired shine is achieved.
After drying, a coat of clear wax is applied and buffed to a shine,
Tunesheet
The mechanism didn't come with a tunesheet but I know all of the tunes.
I had another mechanism with the same era playing the same number of tunes.
Google Gemini was able to substitute the text and create an authentic sheet for me to print on card.
The mechanism didn't come with a tunesheet but I know all of the tunes.
I had another mechanism with the same era playing the same number of tunes.
Google Gemini was able to substitute the text and create an authentic sheet for me to print on card.
Tunes
Vienna, City of my Dreams by Rudolph Sieczynski [1914]
Austrian composer Sieczynski also wrote the lyrics from which the 1957 film takes its title.
The lyrics were translated into English by Edward Lockton and it enjoyed popularity in Britain & United States.
Richard Tauber performed the song in the 1935 British operetta film Heart's Desire
Siren of the Ball by Franz Lehar [1861]
Based on a story and 1861 play concerning a rich widow L'attaché d'ambassade Austro-Hungarian Lehar was asked to write the operetta The Merry Widow (Die Lustige Witwe) which was first performed in Vienna on 30th December 1905.
Morning Papers by Johann Strauss II [1863]
A Viennese waltz (Morgenblätter) written for the Vienna Authors' and Journalists' Association's Concordia Ball on 12th January 1864.
Video of all tunes below
Vienna, City of my Dreams by Rudolph Sieczynski [1914]
Austrian composer Sieczynski also wrote the lyrics from which the 1957 film takes its title.
The lyrics were translated into English by Edward Lockton and it enjoyed popularity in Britain & United States.
Richard Tauber performed the song in the 1935 British operetta film Heart's Desire
Siren of the Ball by Franz Lehar [1861]
Based on a story and 1861 play concerning a rich widow L'attaché d'ambassade Austro-Hungarian Lehar was asked to write the operetta The Merry Widow (Die Lustige Witwe) which was first performed in Vienna on 30th December 1905.
Morning Papers by Johann Strauss II [1863]
A Viennese waltz (Morgenblätter) written for the Vienna Authors' and Journalists' Association's Concordia Ball on 12th January 1864.
Video of all tunes below