The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Sorry if this is a bit off topic, but I am guessing there may
be some of you who are familiar with music boxes, such as Reginas, etc.
This is likely some kind of reproduction, but if anyone can help
identify it I would really appreciate it. If it is vintage, it would
be quite a steal at $20. Thanks for any info.


http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/clt/1858218696.html

Modern, the movement is probably battery powered.

Definitely modern, although it has a Regina look to it based on what little I can see in the crappy pictures. Even tried Photoshop; didn't help. It may have been built using vintage Regina or contemporary Porter parts. You would need a lot more info and quality pics to tell. If you live in the area, go see what it is, you never know.

Jim

I have a similar-looking thing that my sister gave me for Xmas a few years ago that she bought at Cracker Barrel. It uses an AC to DC adapter and actually plays tunes rather nicely upon a set of saucer bells. Not sure if the one in the listing has bells, but the general look and quality level appear to be about the same.

It appears to be the same as this box: http://www.ecvv.com/product/1150462.html and similar to these: http://www.oaktreevintage.com/Reproduct ... -Boxes.htm

It's a modern made in China piece- probably pleasant sounding but if it breaks I doubt you'd find anyone to fix it. For $20.00 it seems a good deal.

I have a real passion for original disc music boxes. For twenty dollars I can't see how anyone could go wrong with this little repro one. Heck, I frequently pay sixty dollars or better for a single music box disc if it interests me. Please let us know if you end up buying it.

estott wrote:It appears to be the same as this box: http://www.ecvv.com/product/1150462.html and similar to these: http://www.oaktreevintage.com/Reproduct ... -Boxes.htm

It's a modern made in China piece- probably pleasant sounding but if it breaks I doubt you'd find anyone to fix it. For $20.00 it seems a good deal.

That sure looks like the one, good job finding it Estott - thanks!

Great info, thanks guys! I got sidetracked with my shed project today so I am going to go pick it up tomorrow if she still has it. She lowered the price to $10 before I
said a word, so seems like more than fair for a repro. I would really like to get
an original Regina some day but they tend to be pretty pricey. Should be a nice entry level machine to play around with.

If you can't afford an older Regina or Symphonion music box you can always do what I did and settle for a Thorens Music box for now. I paid a little over $100 for one on Ebay with all of its teeth and several discs and plays great. I watched them for several months and for $100-$120 you can consistantly get a nice one that doesn't need any work.
Its like music boxes for beginners!

Of course I would love a double comb Regina. One of these days......

I have one of these. It's a cheap Chinese product, but it actually works well. The comb is relatively large compared with the typical Thorens so it has a lower-pitched tone. It's very pleasant sounding. The discs are plastic, but they don't seem to be unduly stressed in this application so I don't expect them to wear quickly. Definitely worth a few tens of bux as an inexpensive first step into the world of music boxes.