The autumn 2002 "Journal of Mechanical Music" by MBSI had an
interesting article on page 23 about realigning a Regina music box
mechanism.  I want to thank the author, Knowles Little, for sharing
his educational experience.  It brings to mind two questions:

(1) What is the best method to realign a recently overhauled Regina
mechanism, and

(2) What method did Regina originally use to align a new mechanism?

The MBSI article suggests the following Regina reassembly and alignment
sequence:

Star wheel gantry alignment:

Mount star wheel gantry using original shims with light screw pressure.
Mount one comb in place, aligned by its comb alignment pins.  Move star
wheel gantry side to side until it aligns with comb teeth.  Move star
wheel gantry front to back until lowest bass note is deflected 0.0625"
and highest treble note is deflected 0.021".  If this is a dual comb
mechanism, also adjust front & back, and shims for deflection of second
comb.  Tighten star wheel gantry into its adjusted position.

Center disc support alignment:

Install center disc support post with light screw pressure.  Remove
combs.  Move the center disc support post side to side until the center
of a disc's projections align with the center of the star wheels.
Move the center disc support post front to back until the "finished
plucking" position is correct for both bass and treble notes.

(Barry Johnson's chord guide tool can be used as a guide.  Check with
listening to discs.)  Tighten center disc support post into its
adjusted position.

Damper alignment:

Install front damper rail using original shims with light screw
pressure.  Mount front comb in place.  Perform a gross adjustment by
locating the dampers front to back so they are between the star wheels
and are close to but not touching the star wheel gantry.  Perform more
gross adjustment by moving the dampers side to side so they exert
pressure on the star wheels and are straight up vertical.  Rotate each
star wheel to verify their points do not interfere with the damper fork
tip.  Adjust damper position or an individual dampers dimple depth so
a star wheel movement causes its damper to deflect 0.032", with the
comb removed.  Install the front comb with moderately tightened screws.

Using the damper alignment tool, rotate each star wheel one at a time
and check for damper action.  Correct action occurs when each note
played rings after being lifted and damps just before being lifted
again on the next "play".  Eliminate "squeaks" caused by insufficient
damper movement.  Make sure the damper does not move so far as to
dampen the adjacent tooth inadvertently.  Record the damper positions
which need adjustment to correct these problems.  Remove the comb,
perform only slight adjustment of individual dampers noted as needing
adjustment, replace the comb and retest.  Repeat until the dampers are
properly adjusted.  Tighten the damper rail.  Install the back damper
rail using original shims with light screw pressure.  Mount back comb
in place.  Adjust similar to the front damper rail.

Recheck center disc support post alignment.  Use Barry Johnson's chord
guide tool can be used as a guide.  Listen to multiple discs.  Repeat
center disc support post alignment process if required.

Is this a good summary of the realignment process?  Is anything
important left out?  What about if the combs were not originally with
the bedplate used, and you could not start with the combs located by
the comb alignment pins?

G. W. Finger
Port St. John, Florida