Symphonion Musikwerks

There is little documented information regarding the manufacturer of the Symphonion music boxes. It is known, however, that the Symphonion Musikwerks company was established in Leipzig, Germany in 1885, and is believed to have been the first manufacturer to begin producing music boxes that employ discs instead of cylinders. In the early 1890s, Symphonion Musikwerks split to produce the independent Symphonion and Polyphon companies. Along with similar machines produced by Polyphon and the Regina Music Box Company of New Jersey, USA, Symphonions were among the most widely used in both Europe and North America throughout primarily the late nineteenth century, but also into the early twentieth century. As with most other music box manufacturers who were still active in the early twentieth century, Symphonion ceased production in 1930, following the onset of the Great Depression, after having taken on several different company names. Along with Polyphon and the American Regina company, Symphonion was one of the major manufacturers of music boxes throughout the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.