Automatic musical instruments date back to antiquity. Only the royalty enjoyed them or could afford them until the 1800Õs.

Automatic musical instruments date back to antiquity. Only the royalty enjoyed them or could afford them until the 1800Õs. The Swiss were producing music boxes that played on a steel music comb, in the early 1800Õs. The music was arranged on a brass cylinder by means of tiny protruding pins. The industry continued until 1900 when the disc-type music box, A German innovation, captured the market. Mermod Freres, a Swiss company, made the most poplar music boxes sold in the United States during the late 1800Õs. Many of their boxes, such as this one, were made of oak, a wood very popular in American. A few were coin operated, such as this one with a 10 cent slot. The coins activate the music then fall into a drawer on the lower right side. This box came from a business place noted for entertainment by those practicing the worldÕs oldestprofession. Dating from the 1880Õs, this interchangeable cylinder Swiss music box by Mermod bears the title "Subline Harmonie Piccolo" on the tune sheet. The tunesheet is in good condition, and is numbered No. 120268. The 9" cylinder playssix tunes; "King Cotton", "NelsonÕs Reel", "La Grande Duchesse", "Hey Queen", and others. The two piece table with box is 43" high, 44" wide, and 21.5"deep. Queen Anne style legs on the table, heavily carved in front, carvedmoldings all around. Table and box in very good condition. Reference:" Encyclopediaof Automatic Musical Instruments", by David Bowers, pages 15-96.