6/50 Tabatiére - c1879
6/50 Tabatiére, in it original marquetry box with all original parts.
The box, sold by an antique dealer who knew nothing about Musical Boxes, was described as damaged with a section of the bottom missing and the mechanism as not working and no key. It arrived with the box full of broken glass as the movement was loose and had not been protected. The movement was jammed, probably because it had been dropped while in motion, so it was lucky not to have broken any of the comb.
Research material supplied by Paul Bellamy of the Association of Music Box Collectors (AMBC) suggests that the box was probably made in Saint Croix, Switzerland, around 1879.
The Movement is likely to have been made by Paillard. The serial number suggests a close fit with Bulleid's Paillard chart.
HMS Pinnafore was first performed in 1878. Popular tunes usually appears a year later, which dates it to 1879/80.
The box, sold by an antique dealer who knew nothing about Musical Boxes, was described as damaged with a section of the bottom missing and the mechanism as not working and no key. It arrived with the box full of broken glass as the movement was loose and had not been protected. The movement was jammed, probably because it had been dropped while in motion, so it was lucky not to have broken any of the comb.
Research material supplied by Paul Bellamy of the Association of Music Box Collectors (AMBC) suggests that the box was probably made in Saint Croix, Switzerland, around 1879.
The Movement is likely to have been made by Paillard. The serial number suggests a close fit with Bulleid's Paillard chart.
HMS Pinnafore was first performed in 1878. Popular tunes usually appears a year later, which dates it to 1879/80.
The images below are those used by the seller.
The images below show the state as received and the components ready for the workshop
These images show the current state. It now has a replacement glass panel to protect it.
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Work involved:
Strip down, clean, reassemble, lubricate & adjust movement. Add new stop lever return spring. Source winding key. Repair bottom of box. Clean exterior and apply a layer of French polish. Buy a new glass cover There is a small piece of corner veneer missing which will be repaired in the summer. |
Click to hear My Little Buttercup from HMS Pinafore
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