subject: The Traditional Jukebox - An In Depth Look [print this page] Music boxes are beautiful little trinkets that have been around for centuries. The vintage music box became popular during the 19th century, but their presence can still be seen today. As the modern style music box can be found in a large assortment of shapes and sizes, some may think that there is little to no demand for vintage music boxes. Actually, this is far from true. Collectors understand the value of vintage music boxes, and no collection would be complete without at least one. A lot of people are searching for a tabletop jukebox these days.
Vintage music boxes can be separated into two distinctive groups: those with disks and those with cylinders. Cylinders were used in the first style music boxes, and the later models replaced the cylinder with disks, as these were far cheaper to produce.
Both models produced musical notes through a metal comb, which would be plucked by tiny prongs on either the disk or cylinder, and the vibrations produced along the teeth of the comb created the tone. As such, if you are looking to add a vintage music box to your collection, or just want to understand more about music boxes, the majority of your attention should be placed on the comb.
In order to produce quality tones, you must ensure the quality of the metal comb. First, do all the metal teeth appear whole and intact? Are any bent or misshapen? Do any have markings or pits that would otherwise indicate possible repairs done in the past? Are any of the teeth rusty in appearance? These questions are necessary in order to ensure the music box's quality.
Additionally, you should look for music boxes that use a large comb. This is because smaller combs produce a more limited range of notes. Above all else, do not purchase a vintage music box based on appearance alone without having first listened to its sound. Quality music boxes should produce lovely music.
The vintage music box is a treasure that is enjoyed by many and can be found through antique stores and online collectors. However, take some time and research prior to buying a vintage music box as these little novelties can cost well into the thousands!
Vintage music boxes can be far more than simply a pretty heirloom, but rather, can be used as investments in both monetary and entertainment value.
