Disk Music Boxes
Mechanical Marvels dating from 1885
Polyphon “Mikado”
Polyphon’s largest and grandest disk music box. With a very rare original disk bin, holding the 24” disks, of which over 30 are included. We also have a set of 12 brand-new disks being made in England that should be available soon.
Every aspect of this music box, from it’s overall size and grandeur, to the inner workings, was meant to exhibit Polyphon’s preeminent status in the industry. Even the double combs (with no broken or replaced teeth) were made to extra-heavy standards, to provide louder and more resonant sound.
You can see and hear it play here: video
Regina 27” “Folding Top” Music Box
A magnificent example of Regina’s largest table-top music box. This Style 6 was officially known as a “Folding Top”, but others refer to it as a “casket” model, for obvious reasons. Made around 1898, it plays 27” disks. We have recently had it professionally polished, serviced and tuned, and ready for display in your home or castle.
#347
Large Curved-Front Regina Auto-Changer
A very rare 20.75" disk automatic changer, known as a Style 37. This was an enlarged version of the 15.5" Regina Style 35 or 36, and dates to about 1901.
The larger disks, utilizing 130 comb teeth, enable it to play over a broader range of seven octaves, with resultant loud, resonant sound.
Being a home model (not coin-op), there is very little wear on the combs, and everything works and plays great. It was recently professionally restored and serviced by the Meekins Music Box Company.
The disk rack holds 12 disks and will play through the set smoothly and seamlessly. The lower table has a drawer for additional disk storage. The hand-carved crest is original.
Click here to see and hear it play: video
This is one of the rarest and most desirable Regina auto-changers and is ready for another 120 years of faithful service. A true musical treasure!
#322
Comparative Sizes
A 15.5” disk Style 36 (on the left) compared to the larger 20.75” disk Style 37……….
Regina Style 40
A very nice 15.5” disk Regina floor-standing console model. Fitted with the superior short bed plate mechanism with double combs. The lower compartment has a slide-out rack that can hold up to 140 disks.
#331
“New Century” Music Box
A product of Symphonion’s factory in New Jersey, this is a rare and wonderful Style 260, playing 15” diameter disks. The duplex combs have a total of 120 teeth, producing loud and resonant music. Only six (6) examples of this music box are known to exist.
#339
Coin-Op Polyphon Disk Music Box with Clock
A nice c.1890 upright music box, with original disk bin and clock pediment. This very rare Style 104u plays 19.625” diameter disks, with a selector lever allowing the disk to play either once or twice. These coin-op machines were primarily found in taverns and restaurants. We have over 20 original disks to offer with this music box.
We are currently having the casework professionally polished and will be ready for sale soon.
#352
Regina Style 20
This music box is housed in a carved, oak case, and plays 11” disks. We are offering it with a weak spring that will only play one disk between rewinds. If you’re handy, or know somebody that is, this is your opportunity to acquire a beautiful piece at a bargain price.
#340
In order to compete with the onslaught of "talking machines", Regina very wisely decided to embrace the concept by combining them with music boxes, giving the purchaser the best of both worlds, so to speak.
Some Reginaphones were adaptations of earlier music boxes; others (such as the "Lion's Head" model) were ground-up designs, intended to incorporate the finest acoustics and aesthetics of the day.
As with all Reginas, they were of sturdy and lasting construction. The phonograph components were made by Columbia and sometimes even marketed under the "Columbia Grafonola" nameplate.
Reginaphones are prized by collectors around the world.
“Lion’s Head” Reginaphone
One of the most desirable of all Reginas is this Style 240, with hand-carved lions at the front, curved sliding sound doors, and an overall elegant, unique appearance. Besides playing size 15.5” disks, it will also easily change over to play 78-rpm records. This breathtaking, mahogany, example was fully restored recently and plays and looks like it came from the factory 110+ years ago. #343
Reginaphone Style 139 & Base Cabinet
An absolutely fantastic Reginaphone Style 139, in a mahogany serpentine-shaped case with "ventilated" cupola style lid, allowing full volume and resonance of the music box to be heard even when closed.
Plays 20.75" disks, which can be conveniently stored in the matching, original base cabinet.
With mahogany horn, this is the very best example of this style that we have ever seen, appearing and playing just how it would have 110+ years ago when it left the factory. Every aspect of this instrument is virtually flawless... none finer!
#312
