Hello, This Polyphon Bell Box brought back some wonderful memories.
[ https://youtu.be/23InKDj4Xgk?t=21
 ]

Many years ago I got a call from my friend Marty Roenigk asking if I
could pick up a music box he bought from a fellow in Rochester, New York.
It was a 22-1/2" upright Polyphon box with 16 [metallophone] bells.

With mixed feelings I agreed to pick it up and also restore it for
him. (The mixed feelings were because a year earlier I had tried
unsuccessfully to buy this same box and could not come to terms with
the owner -- for the same amount as Marty had eventually paid for it.)

It was in a Rococo case that needed some carving replaced. The
mechanism needed cleaning and minor adjustment. Marty also had a new
base constructed to match and I finished them to match. It looked and
sounded great after a couple months of work. I finished it before
Christmas and Elise was going to pick it up after the New Year.

It so happened that several ladies from the local museums were visiting
at the time and I played that disk of "Silent Night" for them. It
plays for almost 2 minutes and not a word was spoken while it played.
When it was over, I turned around and two of the ladies were literally
in tears.

I was speechless. I've heard a lot of musical boxes over the years,
but that Polyphon playing "Silent Night" was one of the most beautiful
boxes I've ever heard.

Best regards for a safe, healthy and prosperous 2021.

Craig Smith
Western New York State, USA

By the way, they should really get that box restored. The bells don't
sound very good.

 [ I agree; the bar bells sound too loud, with inadequate or ill-tuned
 [ overtones. -- Robbie