Polyphon
Category
Musical instruments, devices and recordings
Date
circa 1830 - circa 1900
Materials
Metal and wood
Measurements
Box – 218 mm (length); 152 mm (width); 92 mm (height), Key – 78 mm (length), Each Disc -116 mm (diameter)
Order this imageCollection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 663932
Summary
Edelweiss disc musical box consisting of a playing mechanism fixed into a wooden box with hinged lid. The machine is driven by clockwork. When wound up the metal disc revolves and prongs on the discs run across the holes creating the sound. There are six discs containing the following pieces of music - 1) I don't care what becomes of me, No 304. 2) I want to be in Dixie, No 314. 3) Mister Cupid, No 319. 4) Excelsior Mazurka, No 445. 5) Boccacio Waltz, No 413. 6) On the Silver Sands, No 307. There is a key for winding up the mechanism. The lid of the box bears an illustration depicting a lady in period dress sitting on the grass and a young man picking roses. Total number of items is 8.