Mermond Freres Music Box
Saturday, September 2nd, 2006
This is a Cylinder player by Mermod Freres.Values for Cylinder players depend a great deal on the size of the case, rarity of the model, size of the cylinder and the level of decorative design on the case.
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. This invention led to a new industry, the music box industry, which was started in Switzerland, and grew to employ over 100,000 workers in Europe and America. Early makers included F. Nicole, Reymond Nicole, Nicole Freres, LeCoultre, Henry Capt and others.
During the mid 19th century as demand for music boxes ( often called musical box or boxes) grew, additional makers named B.A. Bremond, Mermod Freres, Charles Paillard, Paillard Vaucher Fils – P.V.F., Langdorff, L’Epee, Heller, George Baker, Samuel Troll, Baker-Troll, and many others, from snuff boxes, necessaries, and bird boxes to mandoline, sublime harmonie, interchangeable cylinder and orchestra cylinder music boxes. The cylinder music box industry flourished until the late 1880s when a new invention was developed for the market, the interchangeable disc music box.
Mike Wilcox
Wilcox & Hall Appraisers