The responses in this thread have been interesting, but by my reading,
the things with combs and stuff were originally called "musical boxes" to
distinguish them from "music boxes" -- that is, boxes musicians used to
hold sheet music.  The term was a bit clumsy and quickly wore down to
"music box" though purists -- like Danilo Konvalinka in Wiscasset, for
example -- tend to still use "musical box" in preference to "music box."
I believe he mentions this in his tour as well.

regards,
Larry Smith