The Simple Beauty of German Music Boxes
Traditionally, a German music box is given as a gift and gives the sentimental feeling of nostalgia, especially for those who associate the melodies with childhood. In this blog, we share with you the simple beauty of the German music box and everything there is to know about it.
What Is a German Music Box and When Was It First Made?
The German music box (also known as the Spieldosenkamm) dates back to the 18th century and was first designed in Erzgebirge as a toy that could be turned by hand. From a small snuff box to a large piece of furniture, these would range in various sizes, although most German music boxes were designed as tabletop specimens.
By the 1930s, German music boxes were developed with a working mechanical part, with three-dimensional scenes brought to life by moving angels, animals, Santa Claus or children, all dancing along to a melody. The songs would be of German tradition, from melodies of “Edelweiss” to Bavarian folk songs.
What Is the Mechanism inside a German Music Box?
The mechanics or the “movements” inside a German music box help create the beautiful sounds we associate with these unique objects.
The main key parts to a German music box are as follows:
Lever/Key
The lever or key is wound up by hand to activate the mechanics or movements inside the music box.
Spring Housing
The spring housing activates the mechanical power to rotate the cylinder.
Cylinder
The small cylinder features pins that are placed precisely so that once these are “plucked” under the metal comb, they create a sound.
Comb
The metal comb acts as a fork and helps to “pluck” the pins, creating the melody sound.
Why Are German Music Boxes Expensive?
There can be several factors as to why a German music box is more pricey than you might expect. However, one of the main reasons is the complexity of the mechanics inside a music box. Should a problem occur, it requires a specialist to take a look. The process can be labour-intensive, and getting the unique parts can be difficult.
So, the more advanced the mechanical movement is inside the box, the more expensive the music box will be.
Are Old German Music Boxes Worth Anything?
Although German music boxes are still in production today, it has been known that boxes that are between 50 and 100 years old still exist today and can be extremely rare and valuable.
In recent years, a rare German music box dating back to 1850 was sold for £26k at a UK auction, and although it had some damage to the movement, it was still in good enough condition to be sold in an auction.
If you own a German music box, it is important to take good care of it by ensuring that it is kept clean, handled carefully and is kept in a good location. This will ensure that it is kept in a good enough condition for many generations to come, and maintaining it well will also help increase its value over time.
How Long Does a German Music Box Last?
This will depend on the size of the cylinder — the bigger the cylinder, the longer a melody will play for. Once a music box has been fully wound (ensuring that this has not been wound up too tightly), the movement can last up to three minutes or slightly longer.
