Music Box
Object NameMusic Box
Mediumwood and metal
Dimensions11 × 12 1/2 × 13 in. (27.9 × 31.8 × 33 cm)
ClassificationsMusical Instruments
Credit LineGift of Donald E. Larew to the Farm House Museum. In the Farm House Museum Collection, Farm House Museum, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.
Object numberUM2011.428
Status
Not on viewLabel TextThe “Home Music Box” as it states in large painted letters, is closer to a player organ than to a traditional cylinder type music box. It is stamped Oct. 18, 1899 on its underside below the printed directions for use and maintenance.
This box operates in much the way a traditional cylinder type music box would, the exception being that instead of striking metal teeth, the pins on this box cause a lever operated key to be played much like a clarinet. Due to the size of this box as well as the space needed to play each key this box plays only one song per cylinder.
The cylinders for this box are made of a soft wood with metal pins. The pins are arranged in strips to play longer and shorter notes rather than striking once like the metal comb music boxes. The mechanics of the box are the same though. This box needs constant cranking to operate the double bellows and to push enough air through to create tones.
This box is of a light wood, both in color and weight. It is painted black with gold embellishments. The mechanics and keys are of machined steel. The keys and bellows are of a felt and leather design with a wooden structure giving the bellows a strong backing.
Object Name: Childs Swiss Hand Crank Music Toy
Object number: UM2011.430
Object Name: Music box and disks
Symphonion Musikwerks
1895-1905
Object number: UM2011.431
Object Name: Concert Roller Organ, Music Box
Object number: UM2011.438
