BERNARD NOVELL MUSIC BOXES
  • Welcome
    • About
    • History >
      • Glossary of Terms
      • Styles and Types
  • The Collection
    • Cartels >
      • 12/195 Lecoultre Freres Cartel
      • 12/129 NF Fat Cylinder
      • 8/130 Cuendet
      • 8/122 Ducommun-Girod
      • 8/97 Nicole Freres
      • 8/78 Langdorff & Fils
      • 8/77 Bremond Drum & Bells
      • 8/77 Paillard Vaucher HE
      • 6/107 Nicole Freres
      • 6/104 Nicol Freres
      • 6/103 Unknown
      • 4/78 Nicole Freres??
      • 4/57 Unknown
      • 4/50 George Baker
      • 3/99 Cartel
      • 2/82 Rzebitschek
    • Petites Musique's >
      • 6/51 Petites Musique
      • 6/50 Paillard PM
      • 6/42 Bremond
      • 4/82 Chevob Fortissimo
      • 4/77 Mandoline Zither
      • 4/75 PVF Mandoline PM
      • 4/72 Fortissimo PM
      • 4/52 American PM
      • 3/70 Burr Walnut PM
    • Tabatiéres >
      • 12/37 Ullmann
      • 4/61 Hamburg Tabatiere
      • 3/57 Burr Walnut
      • 3 Air Composition Tabatiere
      • 2/70 A Lecoultre
      • 2/70 Brass / Oak Tabatiére
      • 2/69 Sectional Tin Box
      • 2/69 Ebony
      • 2/69 Ducummun Girod
      • 2/59 Leather Cased Tabatiere
      • 2/55 Tortoiseshell
      • 2/52 US Ebony
    • Classic
    • Manivelles >
      • Multiphone Manivelle
    • Disc Players >
      • Symphonion Brevete
    • Ceramic
    • Jewellery Boxes
    • Paperweights
    • Novelties
    • Non Musical Boxes
    • Other Items >
      • Wooden Games
      • Geneva Wheel
  • The Workshop
    • In the Workshop >
      • Bird Barrel Organ
      • 12/129 NF Fat Cylinder RD
      • 10/69 Bremond
      • 6/72 Lecoultre Freres
      • 6/50 Petites Musique RD
      • 4/82 Chevob RD
      • 4/78 Nicole Freres RD
      • 4/75 Paillard Mandolin RD
      • 4/62 River Scene Tab RD
      • 4/60 Maple Diamond
      • 2/70 H Lecoultre Tab RD
      • 2/51 Photo Album Tabatiere RD
    • Coming Soon >
      • 8/97 Nicole Freres RD
      • 8/77 Bremond Drum & Bells RD
    • How to restore a Music Box >
      • Mechanism Restoration
      • Case Restoration
      • Small mechanism restoration
  • Private Projects
    • 12/195 Lecoultre Freres RD
    • 12/72 Unknown RD
    • 8/130 Cuendet RD
    • 8/122 Ducummun Girod RD
    • 8/88 Paillard, Vaucher et Fils
    • 8/79 L'Epee RD
    • 8/78 Langdorff et Fills RD
    • 6/107 Nicole Freres RD
    • 6/104 Nicol Freres RD
    • 6/103 Unknown RD
    • 6/57 Cartel RD
    • 6/41 PVF Bells RD
    • 6/41 Ami Rivenc Cartel RD
    • 4/57 Unknown RD
    • 4/50 George Baker RD
    • 3/99 Opera Cartel RD
    • 3/36 Silver Birch Tabatiére
    • 3/36 Small Oak Tabatiére
    • 3/36 Burl Walnut Tabatiére
    • 2/82 Rzebitschek RD
    • 2/70 Piano Nécessaire
    • 2/69 Ducummun Girod RD
    • 2/58 Carved Paillard
    • 2/50 Cuendet
    • 2/32 Painted Music Box
    • 2/18 Personalised Mahogany Box
    • 1/37 Personalised Mahogany Box
    • 1/37 Personalised Oak Box
    • 1/18 Carousel
    • Cigarette Box Conversions
    • Do-terra Box
    • Necklace Box
    • Japanese Box
  • Commissions
    • Commissions & Restorations
    • Completed Commissions >
      • 12/72 Nicole Freres
      • 12/62 PVF Cartel RD
      • 12/62 Paillard Vaucher
      • 8/77 Unattributed
      • 6/66 Perrelet RD
      • 6/57 Cartel
      • 4/113 Henriot
      • 4/50 Reuge Tunbridge White
      • 2/61 Palais Royale
      • 2/56 JGM RD
      • 2/22 Trinket Box
      • 2/56 Tabatiere SG
      • 1/29 Cigarette Box
      • 1/18 Chalet & Japanese Box
      • 1/18 Chalet
      • 1/18 Premilex
      • 1/18 Secol Carousel
      • 1/18 Tunbridge Ballerina Box
      • 1/18 White Christmas
      • 1/18 White Japanese
      • Pair of small 1/18 Boxes
      • Queen Victoria Album
      • Seasons Photo Album
      • Two small boxes
    • Repair Shop >
      • African Plant Pot Stand
      • Bagatelle
      • Chequered Table
      • High Chair
      • Jewellery Box
      • Large Writing Slope
      • Polyfon case
      • Sewing Boxes x 2
      • Travel Box
      • Victorian Necessaire
      • Victorian Sewing Box
      • Walnut Writing Slope
      • Victorian Writing Slope 2
  • Shop
    • For Sale >
      • 8/88 Pallard, Vaucher et Fils
      • 8/79 L'Epee Cartel
      • 8/38 Mermod Freres
      • 8/25 Unknown in Oak Box
      • 6/58 Ami Rivenc
    • Stock
    • Sold >
      • 12/72 Unknown
      • 6/41 PVF Bells in sight
      • 6/41 Ami Rivenc
      • 2/55 Photo Album
      • 2/22 Photo Album Movement
      • 1/18 Ex Mallorca box
      • 1/18 Balerina Jewellery Box
      • 1/18 Georgian Box
      • Japanese Butterfly Box
      • Barrel Organ Manivelle Kit
  • Links

For Sale

The boxes below are for sale and will be auctioned in the spring of 2026
​Click the red link for more photos and restoration diary if available.
Contact me if you want to discuss, need more information or would like to make an offer​.

8/88 Paillard, Vaucher et Fils Mandoline Zither - circa 1884

Fully restored 2023
Auctioneers description
A very fine Mandoline Zither musical box by Paillard Vaucher et Fils.
Serial no. 1824, Gamme No. 1837.
Playing eight airs with devastatingly good notation. Single spring motor, on reeded cast gilt bedplate, the single-section comb with mandolin teeth in groups of up to 5 across 2/3rds the length and makers inscribed full length zither attachment on lever-select, 
In ebonised interior under dustlid, lacking tune sheet, in noir grained and polished case with rosewood veneered lid having colour stained fruitwood inlays of bagpipes, score and hat among olive leaves, framed by triple boxwood stringing,
​22 1/2in (57cm) wide the cylinder 13in (33cm) long.
Mechanism superbly restored by James Preddy in 2024.
Offers in the region of £1,500

8/79 L'Epee - Scottish aires - circa 1872

Fully restored 2023
Auctioneers description
A very nice musical box by L'Epee, playing eight traditional Scottish airs.
Serial No. 38769, Gamme No. 445, with turned treen handled lever-wind single spring motor. Single section comb on typical nightly polished steel bedplate stamped AW (Adolphe Woog) in red stained interior under dustlid. Original period buff Acier tune sheet pasted inside lid in attractive noir-grained case with figured palm wood veneered lid framed by double boxwood stringing.
Extensively and superbly restored in 2023 by James Preddy.
Offers in the region of £1,200

6/58 Ami Rivenc - circa 1882

Unrestored 
Auctioneers description
A musical box by Ami Rivenc playing six airs
Serial No. 31718 with small spring-motor and single-section comb on front to back reeded cast gilt bedplate. Grained case with ebonised interior and lid with ebonised moulded edge. Lacking endstone, dustlid and tunesheet. but still playing in this unrestored condition.
14in (51cm) wide, the cylinder 11in (28cm)
Offers in the region of £150

8/25 Cartel - Most likely to be by Paillard Vaucher et Fils

Unrestored
Auctioneer' description
A small lever-wind musical box playing eight airs, most certainly by Paillard, Vaucher et Fils
Serial No. 6092, popular air programme playing with notable brightness,
Spring motor and single-section comb on reeded cast gilt bedplate, tune indicator, set within later superbly made oak case to the period specifications, pine soundboard, lacking tunesheet.
12in (30.5cm) wide, the cylinder 3.9 / 16in (9cm) 
Offers in the region of £150

8/38 Mermod Freres Cartel

Unrestored
Auctioneers description
An American Market crank-wind musical box by Mermod Frères.
Serial no. 81065 with narrow gauge single-spring motor, start/stop with pattern plaque up to 1888.
Universal M.F. cage/ repeat and tune selection indicator dial.
On cast, reeded gilt bedplate under dustlid, colour Putti orchestra tunesheet in noir rosewood case with right-hand side wind, triple strung inlaid lid.
16in (41cm) wide, the cylinder 5 5/8in (14cm)
​Offers in the region of £220

Large Voix Celeste musical box by Mermod Fréres

Unrestored
Auctioneer's description
​
​Serial No. 5495, playing eight traditional and folk airs, large single-spring motor, centrifuge twin-fin governor, the 12-note organ section flanked by twin combs of single and double-sections, on large reeded cast gilt bedplate, fretted ebonised soundboard under dustlid, lacking tunesheet, in imposing beech-veneered case with the slight-domed lid and front bearing petit brass and mother-of-pearl cartouche on plain ground, sides with triple boxwood stringing.
​22in. (56cm) wide, the cylinder 8 3/8in. (8.5cm)
​Offers in the region on £500

45 note Polyphon with 1 x 9 9/16" disc

Unrestored
Auctioneers description
Serial No. 19547, with single comb, on part-reeded titled gilt cast bedplate, grained soundboards, Methven, Simpson od Co., Dundee retailer's plaque below Putti-in-garden monochrome lithograph inside the lid, crank-wind and start/stop pull to front in beech case with stained ivorine inlay to lid, with one disc
​12in. (30.5) wide. ​
Offers accepted in the region of £150​ 
Contact me
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Site last updated 20th January 2026
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  • Welcome
    • About
    • History >
      • Glossary of Terms
      • Styles and Types
  • The Collection
    • Cartels >
      • 12/195 Lecoultre Freres Cartel
      • 12/129 NF Fat Cylinder
      • 8/130 Cuendet
      • 8/122 Ducommun-Girod
      • 8/97 Nicole Freres
      • 8/78 Langdorff & Fils
      • 8/77 Bremond Drum & Bells
      • 8/77 Paillard Vaucher HE
      • 6/107 Nicole Freres
      • 6/104 Nicol Freres
      • 6/103 Unknown
      • 4/78 Nicole Freres??
      • 4/57 Unknown
      • 4/50 George Baker
      • 3/99 Cartel
      • 2/82 Rzebitschek
    • Petites Musique's >
      • 6/51 Petites Musique
      • 6/50 Paillard PM
      • 6/42 Bremond
      • 4/82 Chevob Fortissimo
      • 4/77 Mandoline Zither
      • 4/75 PVF Mandoline PM
      • 4/72 Fortissimo PM
      • 4/52 American PM
      • 3/70 Burr Walnut PM
    • Tabatiéres >
      • 12/37 Ullmann
      • 4/61 Hamburg Tabatiere
      • 3/57 Burr Walnut
      • 3 Air Composition Tabatiere
      • 2/70 A Lecoultre
      • 2/70 Brass / Oak Tabatiére
      • 2/69 Sectional Tin Box
      • 2/69 Ebony
      • 2/69 Ducummun Girod
      • 2/59 Leather Cased Tabatiere
      • 2/55 Tortoiseshell
      • 2/52 US Ebony
    • Classic
    • Manivelles >
      • Multiphone Manivelle
    • Disc Players >
      • Symphonion Brevete
    • Ceramic
    • Jewellery Boxes
    • Paperweights
    • Novelties
    • Non Musical Boxes
    • Other Items >
      • Wooden Games
      • Geneva Wheel
  • The Workshop
    • In the Workshop >
      • Bird Barrel Organ
      • 12/129 NF Fat Cylinder RD
      • 10/69 Bremond
      • 6/72 Lecoultre Freres
      • 6/50 Petites Musique RD
      • 4/82 Chevob RD
      • 4/78 Nicole Freres RD
      • 4/75 Paillard Mandolin RD
      • 4/62 River Scene Tab RD
      • 4/60 Maple Diamond
      • 2/70 H Lecoultre Tab RD
      • 2/51 Photo Album Tabatiere RD
    • Coming Soon >
      • 8/97 Nicole Freres RD
      • 8/77 Bremond Drum & Bells RD
    • How to restore a Music Box >
      • Mechanism Restoration
      • Case Restoration
      • Small mechanism restoration
  • Private Projects
    • 12/195 Lecoultre Freres RD
    • 12/72 Unknown RD
    • 8/130 Cuendet RD
    • 8/122 Ducummun Girod RD
    • 8/88 Paillard, Vaucher et Fils
    • 8/79 L'Epee RD
    • 8/78 Langdorff et Fills RD
    • 6/107 Nicole Freres RD
    • 6/104 Nicol Freres RD
    • 6/103 Unknown RD
    • 6/57 Cartel RD
    • 6/41 PVF Bells RD
    • 6/41 Ami Rivenc Cartel RD
    • 4/57 Unknown RD
    • 4/50 George Baker RD
    • 3/99 Opera Cartel RD
    • 3/36 Silver Birch Tabatiére
    • 3/36 Small Oak Tabatiére
    • 3/36 Burl Walnut Tabatiére
    • 2/82 Rzebitschek RD
    • 2/70 Piano Nécessaire
    • 2/69 Ducummun Girod RD
    • 2/58 Carved Paillard
    • 2/50 Cuendet
    • 2/32 Painted Music Box
    • 2/18 Personalised Mahogany Box
    • 1/37 Personalised Mahogany Box
    • 1/37 Personalised Oak Box
    • 1/18 Carousel
    • Cigarette Box Conversions
    • Do-terra Box
    • Necklace Box
    • Japanese Box
  • Commissions
    • Commissions & Restorations
    • Completed Commissions >
      • 12/72 Nicole Freres
      • 12/62 PVF Cartel RD
      • 12/62 Paillard Vaucher
      • 8/77 Unattributed
      • 6/66 Perrelet RD
      • 6/57 Cartel
      • 4/113 Henriot
      • 4/50 Reuge Tunbridge White
      • 2/61 Palais Royale
      • 2/56 JGM RD
      • 2/22 Trinket Box
      • 2/56 Tabatiere SG
      • 1/29 Cigarette Box
      • 1/18 Chalet & Japanese Box
      • 1/18 Chalet
      • 1/18 Premilex
      • 1/18 Secol Carousel
      • 1/18 Tunbridge Ballerina Box
      • 1/18 White Christmas
      • 1/18 White Japanese
      • Pair of small 1/18 Boxes
      • Queen Victoria Album
      • Seasons Photo Album
      • Two small boxes
    • Repair Shop >
      • African Plant Pot Stand
      • Bagatelle
      • Chequered Table
      • High Chair
      • Jewellery Box
      • Large Writing Slope
      • Polyfon case
      • Sewing Boxes x 2
      • Travel Box
      • Victorian Necessaire
      • Victorian Sewing Box
      • Walnut Writing Slope
      • Victorian Writing Slope 2
  • Shop
    • For Sale >
      • 8/88 Pallard, Vaucher et Fils
      • 8/79 L'Epee Cartel
      • 8/38 Mermod Freres
      • 8/25 Unknown in Oak Box
      • 6/58 Ami Rivenc
    • Stock
    • Sold >
      • 12/72 Unknown
      • 6/41 PVF Bells in sight
      • 6/41 Ami Rivenc
      • 2/55 Photo Album
      • 2/22 Photo Album Movement
      • 1/18 Ex Mallorca box
      • 1/18 Balerina Jewellery Box
      • 1/18 Georgian Box
      • Japanese Butterfly Box
      • Barrel Organ Manivelle Kit
  • Links