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Value of Nicole Frères Musical Box Movement
By Jim Heyworth

Hello Robert,  Thank you for posting a few photos of the musical box
movement you are working on at the moment.  From the style of the bells
I would guess that the box was likely built sometime after 1880 and
possibly quite a bit later.

From the condition of the cylinder I am amazed that the comb is missing
only one tooth!  Are you sure all tips are in place?

The cylinder appears to have suffered a run or has had at least some
areas of the pins that have been flattened and it will almost assuredly
need to be re-pinned.  You will have some difficulty in locating a bell
to replace the one that seems to be missing.

I don't know what experience you have in restoring cylinder musical
boxes but you have a significant challenge ahead of you and I suggest
that the work required is beyond the capabilities of the average
collector.  If you have it professionally repaired (and can find
someone willing to do so) the work could easily cost you a some
thousands of dollars.

Getting back to the subject of your query, the value of the movement
in its present state is practically nil unless some very special
redeeming feature is present.

Sorry for the downer, but that's the way I see it.

Best regards,
Jim Heyworth
Sechelt, British Columbia, Canada


(Message sent Fri 7 Dec 2012, 19:32:36 GMT, from time zone GMT-0800.)

Key Words in Subject:  Box, Frères, Movement, Musical, Nicole, Value

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