Small Tunbridge Ware Box for conversion into a 4/50 Music Box
This is a commission for a friend who wanted me to create a special gift for a close family member
This small box was in superb condition for its age.
The plan was to refurbish the interior and fit a nice musical movement
The only part that was missing was the escutcheon, which was probably originally wooden or brass.
It was not possible to simply recreate one to fill the hole as there is nothing to fix it to. A new hexagonal escutcheon the same size as the hexagon on the lid, which is larger than the hole, was made and fitted. The lock required a new key, filed from a second hand.
Four round feet were added, and stained to match the box. This is to raise the box to allow for the winder key.
A 50 year old 4/50 Reuge musical movement has been fitted in the base of the box with a clear cover to keep dust out.
The interior has been lined with new maple to support the clear cover
The tray and lid interior have been recovered using bookbinder paper.
An inscribed plaque has been added inside the lid.
A tune sheet and restoration information added to the underside.
The brass hinges were cleaned and polished before being refitted using screws instead of nails.
The exterior was cleaned and given several coats of shellac polish.
The plan was to refurbish the interior and fit a nice musical movement
The only part that was missing was the escutcheon, which was probably originally wooden or brass.
It was not possible to simply recreate one to fill the hole as there is nothing to fix it to. A new hexagonal escutcheon the same size as the hexagon on the lid, which is larger than the hole, was made and fitted. The lock required a new key, filed from a second hand.
Four round feet were added, and stained to match the box. This is to raise the box to allow for the winder key.
A 50 year old 4/50 Reuge musical movement has been fitted in the base of the box with a clear cover to keep dust out.
The interior has been lined with new maple to support the clear cover
The tray and lid interior have been recovered using bookbinder paper.
An inscribed plaque has been added inside the lid.
A tune sheet and restoration information added to the underside.
The brass hinges were cleaned and polished before being refitted using screws instead of nails.
The exterior was cleaned and given several coats of shellac polish.
The Box
It has to get worse before it can get better they say.
The hinge screws were found to be nails made to look like screws, so they took a bit of extracting.
The paper lining was soaked and gently removed using a sharp blade.
Interior, tray and underside rubbed down with sandpaper.
Tray corners re-glued
New hexagonal mother of pearl escutcheon made and fitted.
Key selected from stock and cleaned up.
I decided to line the interior with new maple to support the clear cover and hide a large knot. I was also able to use the liner to form a guide for the control slider.
The movement is a tight fit, requiring a cut out to one end liner.
It has to get worse before it can get better they say.
The hinge screws were found to be nails made to look like screws, so they took a bit of extracting.
The paper lining was soaked and gently removed using a sharp blade.
Interior, tray and underside rubbed down with sandpaper.
Tray corners re-glued
New hexagonal mother of pearl escutcheon made and fitted.
Key selected from stock and cleaned up.
I decided to line the interior with new maple to support the clear cover and hide a large knot. I was also able to use the liner to form a guide for the control slider.
The movement is a tight fit, requiring a cut out to one end liner.
The final touches. Adding the book binder paper lining and fixing the lid to the box.
Below shows the box partly dismantled and sanded ready for the final shellac polish.The movement was removed completely for this final process.
Below is the finished box with mother of pearl escutcheon glued in place and a brass plaque inside the lid
The Movement
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The 4/50 movement was made in 1970 but never fitted to a music box so essentially it is brand new.
It plays four tunes: Lara's Theme (Dr Zivargo) by M Jarre Strangers In The Night by B Koemfert Love Is Blue by A Popp A Time For Us (Romeo & Juliet) by N Rota Apart from fitting a control mechanism, there was no work to do on the mechanics. Click the image on the right to hear all the tunes. |
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