Dear Gerry, Symphonion was a company that made music boxes in Leipzig,
Germany from about 1885 until 1920's approx. They made an incredible
number of different models and different sized discs. I like the
Symphonion sound particularly, as compared with Regina (made in the USA,
or Stella, (made in Switzerland.) $4900 may not be out of line, depending
on the condition and the number of discs with the machine.
You are in the middle of many collectors and dealers of mechanical music.
Probably the most knowledgeable dealer around is MMD member, Marty
Roenigk, who is currently still located in Connecticut. I have found that
you usually get better prices and more accurate information from
mechanical music dealers as opposed to general antique dealers, but in
the case of mechanical music, you buy it when you find it!
Keep us informed. It sounds as if you are just beginning to collect.
There are many on the Digest who can provide information and expertise -
avail yourself of as much information as you can gather. And since I
don't see your name on the Musical Box Society Intl. list, by all means,
join!! An application is located on the MBSI Web page at:
http://www.mbsi.org
Happy listening!
Beatrice Robertson
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