Classic 20th Century Boxes

A selection of classic wooden boxes with quality movements mainly by Reuge, Thorens, Cuendet & one Sankyo Orpheus.
​I don't know all of the tunes played so if you recognise any, please let me know.
The largest and most complex movements are at the top going down to the smallest and simplest.
Unfortunately the manufacturers don't generally date their work so it is very difficult to pinpoint even a decade.
Most of these will be from between 1955 & 1990's.

---

I'm reducing my collection of Classic boxes
Several are for sale by auction in Eastbourne on 18th October 2025 - click here for more details or visit the Shop 

10/50 five cylinder Reuge 'Grand Opera' box by Franklin Mint circa 1988

Absolutely stunning box in mint condition with marquetry to the top and all four sides.
Five interchangeable cylinders on a 50 note comb.
Plays two tunes per turn.
1. Aida - Triumphal March & Rigoletto - La Donna e Mobile
2. Il Trovatore - Anvil Chorus & La Traviata - Sempre Libera
3. The Barber of Seville - Una Voce poco fa & William Tell - Tylolean Air
4. Madame Butterfly - Un Bel Di & La Boheme - Waltz Quando me'n vo'
5. Nabucco - The Hebrew Slaves & Rigoletto - Quartet

---

4/52 Thorens in Burr Walnut box

Plays:
Estudiantina Valse (Emile Waldteufel) - Estudiantina Waltz
Polka de la Chauve-Souris (J Strauss) - The Bat Polka
Je baise votre main, Madame (Ralph Erwin) - I kiss your hand, Madame 
Les Lilas blancs (Tino Rossi) - The White Lilacs

4/50 Thorens - Classic Collection

Plays Mozart's Drawing Room, Blue Danube Waltz, Schubert's Serenade & Tales from Vienna Woods

3/72 Reuge in Fancy Sorrento Marquetry Walnut Box circa 1988

Superb shaped Sorrento marquetry inlaid case and superb Reuge movement.
​Plays three Chopin tunes, Polonaise, Tristesse & Impromptu 

Polonaise

Tristesse

Impromptu

Click the image for the tune. Please note that you may need to let it buffer first.
Also note that these were done with the lid open and so the tone is a little 'crisp'

3/72 Reuge - Plays Swiss Yodel, The Old Chalet & Swiss Love Song

The Swiss tunes on this movement are complex and melodious. 

3/50 Sankyo Orpheus playing Canon in D by J Pachelbel

I bought this because I wanted to compare the quality with the best from Switzerland and I'm not disappointed!.
It plays three parts of Pachelbel's Canon in D.
It has a clever mechanism that plays all three parts in the correct order and without stopping and the sound quality is superb.
Box and mechanism are both in mint condition, however I can't see any way of opening the cover should the mechanism ever need a service.

3/50 Thorens plays Artists Life, Schuberts Serenade & Blue Bells of Scotland

Some classic tunes on a very nice movement. Now in the workshop as the main spring has broken.

3/43 Cuendet - Classic Waltzes

Superb condition box and movement.
​Plays Roses from the South, The Merry Widow & A Waltz Dream

Hear all three tunes

3/36 Thorens Tabatiére​​

Lovely birds eye case - re polished.
Movement cleaned and working but some issues with worn cogs to be resolved.

3/36 Thorens Tabatiére

Modern Swiss movement in superbly grained solid Silver Birch case which is not its original box. The Swiss movement has had a good clean & runs nicely. One tune sounds like Oh Tannenbaum (Oh Christmas Tree) and another is Christ The Saviour Is Born, so Christmas tunes. I guess they may have other names.

2/37 Cuendet

Plays two waltzes. Die Dorfschwalben Walzer & Wienburger Walzer

2/36 Cuendet - Classic Waltzes

Stunning marquetry box with quality 36 note movement.
​Plays 'The Blue Danube' Waltz by Strause & 'Ballsirenen' (Merry Widow) Waltz by Frans Lehar

1/36 Reuge - Tristesse by Chopin

Mint condition in its original packaging. Not a mark on it. Fabulous!

1/36 Reuge - The Harmonious Blacksmith

Reuge Birdseye maple box in absolutely mint condition with original box and slip case.

Decorated lids and (occasionally) bases

1/18 Reuge - Hey Jude

Superb mint condition Hummel box with 1/18 note Reuge movement playing the Beetles 'Hey Jude'

2/29 Thorens? with Lady in a Fur Coat

An unusual movement, possibly by Thorens, with spring housed inside the cylinder. Runs beautifully. Shame that there is a tooth missing from the comb, but it doesn't seem to affect the tune much.