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MMD > Archives > June 1999 > 1999.06.22 > 01Prev  Next


Symphonion Hall Clock with Lenzkirch Clock Movement
By Richard Oliver

We received the gracious note below from Wm. Teagarden, providing us
with further information about this wonderful clock/music box that can
be seen at   http://www.clockguy.com/Preview2.html

Please let us know if you or someone you know might be interested.
Thanks.

Richard Oliver

 - - -

The clock is a Symphonion Hall clock number 25ST.  Symphonion Musikwerk
bought the clock movements from Lenzkirch and marketed the clock.  The
cases were actually built by another supplier that also provided Sym-
phonion and Polyphon (both music box manufacturers) with music box
cases.

These clocks were built as both coin operated and manually operated
(home) versions.  In both versions the music was optionally triggered
by the clock on the hour, some on the half hour as well.  Most of the
clocks have had the musical strike (music box playing on the hour)
disconnected over the years.  (I notice that yours was probably at one
time disconnected -- the actuating lever is not original).  The reasons
for this are several:

First, it can be pretty tiring to have the music box playing so
frequently; most owners preferred to play it when they wanted.

Second, the music box spring, although quite powerful, will only play
the music disk 15 to 18 cycles, or about 8 hours.  It then must be
rewound with the crank to continue (or restart) the automatic music
feature.  This is a nuisance: it seems like every time you want to play
the music box, it is run down and must be rewound before playing.

The disks played are known as a type 25 Symphonion disk, 11-3/4"
diameter, and are used on many Symphonion disk music boxes.  These
disks are fairly common and are available from collectors and dealers.

The clock is described on page 220 of Bowers' "Encyclopedia of
Automatic Musical Instruments."


(Message sent Tue 22 Jun 1999, 15:49:02 GMT, from time zone GMT-0700.)

Key Words in Subject:  Clock, Hall, Lenzkirch, Movement, Symphonion

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