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