There are many vintage and antique music boxes and music collectibles that the music box and antique collector can seek. These include wooden jewelry boxes, inlaid music boxes, wooden keepsake boxes, and disc music boxes. The top three disc music boxes are the symphonion, polyphon, and Regina music box. Symphonion Symphonion music boxes were made in Germany beginning in 1886. Paul Lochmann, founder of Kuhro-Lochmann was the first manufacturer of disc music boxes. They symphonion was produced in many sizes, types, and styles. Some of the more popular items in the 1890's were disc-playing clocks, the three-disc Erocia the "Rocco" which was contained in an attractive wooden case, and the "Gambrinus" which was a coin-operated machine made in the shape of a barrel. Since many collectors consider the tone of symphonion music boxes superior to the polyphon music boxes, finding a music box such as this would be a real treat for the music box and antique collector. Polyphon Established by Gustave Brachhausen in 1897, the Polyphon Company created a line of strong interchangeable music boxes and musical objects such as coin operated clocks fitted with disc movements and the polyphon-concerto. The polyphon-concerto was as a disc orchestra, which played a piano, bass drum, snare drum, and glockenspiel. In later years, the company also made a very rare "folding-top" table box as well as the casket model, which included paper rolls. Discovering the rare "folding-top" table box would be a tremendous find for the music box and antique collector as well as a great asset for any collection. Regina Many music box and antique collectors view the Regina disc music box as having the best sound. The company was established in 1892 when Polyphon founder Gustave Brachhausen, went to the U.S. to found the Regina Music Box Company in New Jersey. Some interesting music boxes and musical items made by Regina before its demise in 1922 included a hand-operated vacuum cleaner, and the disc orchestrions that played piano, tublar bells, drums, and triangle. In addition, the company came out with the Reginaphone, which had a turntable, and horn that could be removed as well as a phonograph arm that could be turned to one it. This enabled it to be used as a normal music box. For the music box and antique collector interested in collecting antique and vintage music boxes, the symphonion, polyphon, and Regina music boxes would make great additions to any collection. Why not add them to your current collection of inlaid music boxes, musical jewelry boxes, wooden jewelry boxes, and wooden keepsake boxes today? Copyright 2006 Monique Hawkins |
