A musical box is an instant musical instrument in a box that produces notes by using a set of pins to pluck the tuned teeth of a steel comb. The device is most often known today as a “music box” that evolved from musical snuff boxes of the 18th century, which were originally known as carillons à musique (French for “chimes of music”).
The “Curious History of Music Boxes,” written by Roy Mosoriak in 1943, is an excellent read for those who really want to get into it. To him, a music box was “any apparatus or artifice utilised by man to generate music by means of vibrating tongues or teeth mechanically, without the use of his own body force during the instant performance of the song.”
It All Began with Tiny Hammers and Tiny Bells
Prior to the invention of cellphones, telephones, and even clocks with dials, people were informed of the time and awoken by huge bells. And it was these bells that inspired two German inventors to incorporate tiny bells and hammers into a watch to create the world’s first mechanical musical clock. This design led to the creation of the first audio device that individuals could listen to at home, and to this day you can find musical boxes for sale in a wide range of styles and designs, which makes them one of the most unique and mysterious gifts that will never fail to delight the receiver.
From Bells to Teeth to Hairstyles
It is thought that the first music box was created in Switzerland in the 1770s by inserting miniature musical motions inside watch casings. These were cylinder-style music boxes with a small tuned-steel comb that played cylinder-mounted pins. By the turn of the 19th century, the size of music boxes had dropped significantly, and numerous innovations began to improve the aesthetics of the container and add more teeth to make a louder sound.
Then Competition Became Intense
In 1885, German-born Paul Lochmann invented the Symphonion, the very first circular disc music box. The spinning disc was whacked with goose feathers to create enchanting noises. Modern production techniques subsequently cut prices and streamlined the manufacturing process, allowing the boxes to be sold at affordable prices and making them more accessible. Then, one day, everything collapsed due to the efforts of the acclaimed inventor Thomas Edison.
Soon Came the First Record Player in the World
Thomas Edison invented the phonograph in 1877, the initial record player that quickly eclipsed the popularity of the music box. Major companies in the music box market did everything possible to remain competitive, including the development of an automatic disc-changing mechanism. Despite it all, Edison proceeded to refine his invention, eventually lowering interest in music boxes and paving the door for wax records.
And then the Muro Box (an abbreviation of “Music Robot in a Box”) appeared on the market in 2019, created by Taiwan’s Tevofy Technology Ltd. and it was the first app-controlled mechanical music box. In case you didn’t know, paper-strip music boxes are an alternative to conventional musical instruments since they do not require the punching of holes to play music, and because they may be easily customised to play any tune of the customer’s choosing with no minimum order requirement.
The Meaning of a Musical Box in Today’s World
The phonograph and the piano player are just two of numerous inventions that are slowly but surely becoming obsolete in today’s society. However, it is remarkable to consider that the music box has survived and is still widely available in a wide variety of sizes and forms all over the world due to its innovative and distinctive designs, physical beauty, appeal, and welcoming allure.
You can find musical boxes for sale as useful gadgets that may store sentimental items or jewels of value or as a soothing technique for a sleepy baby. The musical component can be a song or tune that is meaningful to both the giver and receiver or a classic lullaby. When you present such a gift, the recipient will hear the melody and think of the person who gave it to them, as well as the significance of the song. They’re not as prevalent as they once were, but that only makes them more of a special and appreciated present.
In the golden age of the music box, models as tall as a grandfather clock were common, and all of them employed big, interchangeable discs to play a variety of songs. Both of these had a ringing bell quality to them and were powered by springs. Common origins for these machines included the United Kingdom, Italy, and the United States; Switzerland, Austria, and Prussia contributed discs to the mix.
The earliest “jukebox” versions were available to the public for a certain fee. In Long Beach, Washington (US), you can visit Marsh’s free Museum and curio shop to see multiple examples that are still in functioning condition. There are many musical boxes preserved in museums about music and art around the world, and are available to the public.
