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

Nicole Frères Grand Format 4 aire Piano Forte Overture Cartel.
Serial No. 33453 circa 1857

Converted from key to lever wind at some stage.
Cylinder diameter 99.06mm, length, 428mm, circumference 310mm
Small comb 65 teeth, large comb 174 teeth. Total 239
Bed plate 565mm Long x 186mm wide
Diameter of spring barrel 102mm
Picture
Before cleaning
Picture
After cleaning

21st July - Dismantling

21st / 22nd July - Cleaning and inspection
​Both Geneva Stop components damaged. Everything else appears to be in very good order.
Fixing washers first polish
Pin guides seem to have been altered
Steel before cleaning
Steel after sonic bath
Steel after first polish
Brass before Horolene
Brass after Horolene
New male Geneva stop

23rd to 25th July - Brass polished and buffed. Cylinder brass polished and pins straightened.
Brass Polishing
Brass buffed
Cylinder polishing
Cylinder polishing
Cylinder first polish complete
Pin straightening started

26th July - More polishing and start of reassembly
Gently squeezing the cover plate into position
Winder end
Drive end
French chalk and meths
Governor reassembly
Awaiting end stone and its cover
Governor reassembled

Thursday 27th July - Reassembly
Drive pin & snail cam
Female Geneva stop
Winder arm
Spring motor bearing ratchet
Control rods
Seriel number
418 ?
Snail cam register peg
Yes, that's a large can of Coke!
Great wheel and arbor
Drive gear and spring
Cylinder bearing left
Cylinder bearing right
Positioned prior to fixing
Governor assembly and stop lever
Governor assembly
New male Geneva Stop fitted.
Spring motor bearing and ratchet fitted
Winder attached and motor in position
Spring motor fitted
Mechanism running
Note: The winder lever will be removed to convert back to key wind when a key is available.
Picture
A short video of the mechanism working for the first time since cleaning began.

All four tunes.
Tune 1 - Overture - Guillaume Tell by Rossini
Tune 2 - Overture - Der Freyschütz by Weber
Tune 3 - Overture - Fra Diavolo by Auber
Tune 4 - Overture - Dame Blanche by Boieldieu
Picture

Final reassembly and all working nicely 
​The combs still require professional damper repairs - but not many. However, there are a few squeaks.
Picture
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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