This is a historic appraisal from our archive.
AI Appraisal
Description
Uses large metal discs for music approximately 30 contained in storage bin in base.
Very very rare only a few were made and fewer shipped to the US.
Category
General Antiques and Collectibles
Medium
Mahogany
Distinguishing marks
Stella Switzerland
Condition
Excellent
Size and dimensions of this item
24 deep 36 wide 84+ tall
Date Period
1890
Weight
300
History
Passed thru family. Was requested for Ford's Greenfield Village museum in Dearborn MI. Not sold.
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Collector Discussion
Do you recognize this item or have experience selling something similar? Your insight could help improve the appraisal.
Re: Stella Swiss Tall Music Box
<p>I do believe these draw five figures. $15,000 - $25,000 would not surprise me.</p><p>I have some info somewhere. I'll go digging. </p>
Re: Stella Swiss Tall Music Box
Thanks for the info so far, I have changed the manufacture date per your sugestion. I will be more specific after I refer to the actual mfg. plate on the box if I can find it.
In reply to Re: Stella Swiss Tall Music Box by wallyh
Re: Stella Swiss Tall Music Box
<p>http://www.collectorsworldinc.com/salesList.php</p><p>These folk would know </p><p> </p><p> </p>
Re: Stella Swiss Tall Music Box
Stella. Disc music boxes made by Mermod Frères, St. Croix, Switzerland, 1890s-early 1900s. Your 1850's manufacture date is a bit early according to this source http://www.mbsi.org/manufacturers.php#S
Re: Stella Swiss Tall Music Box
<p> The disc type music boxes first appeared in the 1880's. Instead using of a cumbersome metal cylinder to pluck the musical comb, a replaceable disc was used, allowing multiple tunes to be played on the same machine. These were produced in a wide variety of sizes from small table top machines with discs less than 10 inches in diameter to large free standing units with 33 inch discs. <br /> <br /> The disc players were made for a relatively short time, most companies that produced them closed soon after the invention of Edison's Phonograph. Polyphone was the world's largest manufacturer of disc music boxes, the period of greatest popularity was from 1895-1905. The big Stellas like this one sell at a premium, depending on the size of the discs, $10,000 and up. here's a link for you:</p><p>http://www.mechantiques.com/discmusicboxes.asp</p><p> </p><p>Lovej… </p>