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MMD > Archives > November 2025 > 2025.11.30 > 01Prev  Next


Unknown Tune on 77-note Swiss Cylinder Music Box
By Bill Wineburgh

Hi All, I have a 77-note Swiss cylinder box playing six airs, five of
which I have identified. The sixth one has me stumped. Please let me
know if you can identify it. [Link to m4a audio recording is below.]

1) Minuet from Don Juan, Mozart, 1787
2) Kathleen Mavoureen Irish Ballad, Crouch, 1837
3) Emporer's Hymn, Haydn, 1797
4) Beautiful Dreamer, Foster, 1864
5) -- Unknown tune --
6) Home! Sweet Home!, Bishop, 1823

The music box details are as follows:

Maker: Unknown
Serial No.: 9611
Gamme: 1061 (on bass lead)
Type: 6-Air Lever Wind Cylinder Box
Cylinder Length: 8.25"
Cylinder Diameter: 2"
Comb: 77 teeth, "SB" Comb Blank
Case: Grain painted with inlaid musical themed design and triple
string banding on lid, glass dust cover, single string banding on
front, large bronze side handles.
Case Dimensions: 16.5" x 8" x 5" H
Tune Sheet: None; original tune sheet pin holes measure 7.25" x 3.5"

Based on the publication dates of the known tunes, this would have been
made after 1864 and likely well after that date, based upon the case
style with side handles.

The low serial number compared with the dating charts by H.A.V. Bulleid
doesn't help much as it could be any one of a number of makers whose
late 1800's serial number includes this one.

Many thanks,

Bill Wineburgh
Succasunna, New Jersey, USA
http://antiquemusicbox.us/ 
wwineburgh@aol.com.geentroep {delete ".geentroep" to reply]

[ https://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/25/11/30/251130_202925_R-13025_SN_9611_Tune_5.m4a 


(Message sent Sun 30 Nov 2025, 16:18:50 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  77-note, Box, Cylinder, Music, Swiss, Tune, Unknown

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