This post is in response to the comments of Nico Wiegman, a
knowledgeable and thoughtful musical box restorer and expert.  My
initial comment was framed so as to indicate that mechanical music
origins date to antiquity with inventions by Hero of Alexandria and
others.  My reference to the first musical box refers to the first
use of a metal tooth and revolving cylinder.

The seal to which I refer, currently owned by the Kyoto Arashiyama
Orgel Museum (and depicted on their web site) matches the description
in the Swiss archives of the invention of Antoine Favre.  The item
described by Mr. Wiegman, while also referenced in the archives,
has not been located and there is evidence that the item was submitted
as a design and recorded in the archives but not actually produced.
The gold seal matches the description in the Swiss archives.

As to the first production of a cased musical movement with steel
teeth and a revolving cylinder, very early examples dating from
1802-1803 exist in both museum and private collections and have been
dated by inscribed dates on the spring of the movements.  I would
acknowledge that a definitive answer on this subject justifies
continuing research and effort.

Kevin Kline