Village Squire, 1975-07, Page 5Murray demonstrates an American Organ-
ette, which operates with a perforated paper
roll. A different tune is stamped on every roll.
Each hole represents one note. The length of
the perforation dictates the length of time the
note is held. The original rolls were
inexpensive. In Murray's Gem Roller
Organette, the mechanism functions with a
stocky cylinder called a "cob" instead of a
paper roll.
From 1820 to 1885, the main source of
mechanical music consisted of cylinder boxes
and organettes. A few Swiss, Austrian and
Japanese companies continued to specialize
in the cylinder box after its peak period of
popularity. To contrast his antique collection,
Murray exhibits a tiny modern music box,
about one-quarter the size of the original 1828
invention. It plays the familiar "Theme from
Dr. Zhivago."
Around 1885, Germany introduced an
innovation called the "Disc Music Box". Like
the cylinder box, the disc box was powered by
a spring motor. However, metal discs
replaced the brass cylinder. These discs were
easy to replace and cheap to buy, costing
approximately 60 cents each. Because the
disc box allowed a person to accumulate an
unlimited number of tunes, the cylinder box
was soon regarded as impractical and
old-fashioned.
Murray displays an 1890 German disc box,
which plays 15 1/2 inch metal discs. The
largest American Disc Box manufacturer was
the Regina Company. At one time, this
corporation employed 800 workers.
Murray's 1902 Regina disc box is a
combination of a 20% inch disc music box and
a 78 rpm phonograph. To convert the disc box
to a gramophone, Murray attaches a large
silver horn. A wooden needle then plays on a
plastic or wax disc. This machine originally
sold for $995.
The success of the disc box was short-lived,
spanning only 15 ygars. Edison's phonograph
spelled its doom. In 1904, in a final desparate
attempt to salvage the disc box, the Regina
Company introduced an automatic changer,
The oldest music box in Murray's collection is this 1828 model,
which still works perfectly. The brass cylinder contains thousands
of pins. As the cylinder rotates, the pins strike the teeth of a steel
comb sounding the tone of each note.
By 1875, bells were included in some -cylinder boxes, giving an
added dimension to the sound from the teeth keyboard. A century
ago each music box was paintstakingly handmade with each of
the thousands of pins inserted individually. This impressive oak
case features ivory trim.
which controlled twelve discs.
"Jukeboxes" were installed in public
places - theatre lobbies, railroad stations and
restaurants. A person inserted a nickel in a
slot in the side of the cabinet; he then
adjusted a lever to the number of the song he
wanted to hear. For 5c, he heard two tunes -
the one he selected and then the disc next to
it.
Even this amazing innovation couldn't save
the disc box from the invasion of the
gramophone. Edison invented the phono-
graph around 1878, and by 1900, phonograph
companies were in full swing. Two United
Beautiful Patio Furniture at
UNHEARD OF LOW PRICES
12 PC.
GROUPING
• 71'2 Ft. 8 Rib Crank
Umbrella with
Tilt Action
• 4 Chairs 189 ■9
9
• 4 Chair Pads $ 1 V9! 9!
• 1-42" Table
• 1-42" Cover.
• 1 Terrace Shell
Visit our Swim Centre
Speedo ana
Sea Queen Bathing suits
ELECTRONIC FLOWTRON BUGKILLERS
& TRADER CANOES
and all
accessories
for fun
around
the pool
WM. RINTOUL'S LUXURY PRODUCTS
[1/2 Mile North of Wingham on Highway # 4]
Swimming Pools, Pool accessories and Chemical,
"We specialize in sales, installation and service'r
VILLAGE SQUIRE/JULY 1975, 3