[ Frank Rhodarmer wrote in 140904 MMDigest --
> I'm looking for a supplier of antique manivelle parts,
> specifically, a crank and comb.

Hi Frank,  In response to your posting in 140904 MMD,  I may be of
some assistance as a parts supplier, but I'd need a lot more specific
information as to the type, size (and if possible) the age and
manufacturer of the mechanism you are trying to repair/restore.  As it
stands, the inquiry is a wee bit too general for a specific response
or referral.

The situation is analogous to asking an auto parts supplier for
a fan belt and set of pistons for an "old car" without identifying the
year, maker, model, and engine size -- there are just too many unknown
variables to be helpful or proactive.

I also wonder if you are using the correct terminology when you say,
"I'm looking for a supplier of antique manivelle parts, specifically,
a crank and comb".

"Antique" generally refers to an item that is at least 100 years old.
The term "manivelle" can apply to any mechanical musical device that
is "manually" driven, in other words, hand-cranked.  Initially,
"manivelles" were made as toys, notably by L'épée and Paillard and
later by many others including Thorens, Cuendet, Jaccard, Lador,
Reuge, et al.

The earliest "manivelles" were made with small, single-tune 18-note
cylinders.  However, they quickly became quite popular and soon
graduated to being produced with much larger diameter cylinders with
50 notes (or more) on the combs and were capable of playing multiple
melodies.

"Manivelle" can also refer to a "hand-cranked" disc player from 4-1/2"
to 8" (or more) in diameter.  I'm aware of them having been made by
Monopol, Symphonion, Polyphon, Imperator, Edelweiss & Thorens, et al.

In general, replacement parts for "antique music boxes", of any
ilk, will have to be newly manufactured (custom made) because the
manufacturers are no longer in business.  If one is extremely lucky,
one might be able to cannibalize the needed part(s) from an identical,
or similar, antique mechanism (if one can be found).  Occasionally
one can modify similar parts from another antique, or vintage,
mechanism from the same or different makers.

There were many different musical mechanism manufacturers, more than
100 in Switzerland alone.  Many of them produced "manivelle" type
musical mechanisms.  To complicate matters, each "maker" made different
sizes and used different designs and specifications for their parts,
and those parts and specifications often changed over time even for the
same manufacturer.

That being said, coming up with a replacement crank handle should be
child's play compared to finding a replacement comb for an antique
cylinder music box.  That is almost impossible, because the teeth
on the comb, and their specific tuning, are a matched set with the
cylinder and the melodies that were arranged and pinned on that
cylinder.  Therefore, one would have to find an identical comb from
the same manufacturer, playing the exact same tune(s).  (This is,
by far, more difficult than finding the proverbial "needle in the
haystack"!)

It may be possible to replace, and re-tune, missing teeth on the
existing comb, or either a cylinder or disc box, but it is an expensive
and time consuming process.  For a more detailed explanation please
see the following article which should shed more light on the
situation:  http://www.intertique.com/PurchasingMusicBoxPart4.html 

If you wish, please feel free to send me some photos of your mechanism
with as much detailed description as you may have as to who made it,
when it was made, what melody(s) it plays (or it is supposed to).
There may not be a makers mark, but any details as to the design of
the box, its art work, tune label, et cetera, will be helpful in the
identification.

Most sincerely,

Don Caine - Proprietor, The Music Box Repair Center Unlimited
Lomita, California
mbrcu@aol.com.geentroep [delete ".geentroep" to reply]