| ~ The Music Box ~ A mechanical instrument in which tuned steel prongs are made to vibrate by contact with moving parts driven by a clockwork mechanism. In 1796, Antoine Favre produced the first known music from steel prongs sounded by pins set in a disc or drum. Originally adjuncts to watches, these evolved into brass cylinders with steel pins playing a line of tuned teeth, which gave rise to the one-piece tuned steel comb with the essential refinement of steel dampers. By 1825, the musical box was well established, with combs having as many as 250 teeth covering a range of about six octaves. Manufacture grew up mainly in Switzerland, and such makers as Henriot and Paillard became renowned. There were several varieties, and refinements such as tuned bells, drum and castanet were occasionally added. Besides sacred and popular music, arias and overtures from most favourite operas of 1830-90 were reproduced. The idea of a self playing music box was developed from the carillon bell towers used in Europe where a rotating barrel,pinned with cogs in certain positions, would move hammers to strike tuned bells at the proper time to produce music. The next invention to make a music box possible was the tuned steel music note or tooth, in the late 18th century. |
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