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.
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
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.
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:
Re: Stella Swiss Tall Music Box
I do believe these draw five figures. $15,000 - $25,000 would not surprise me.
I have some info somewhere. I'll go digging.Â
Re: Stella Swiss Tall Music Box
Re: Stella Swiss Tall Music Box
http://www.collectorsworldinc.com/salesList.php
These folk would knowÂ
Re: Stella Swiss Tall Music Box
Re: Stella Swiss Tall Music Box
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.
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:
http://www.mechantiques.com/discmusicboxes.asp
LovejoyÂ