The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I chased down a lead yesterday for this music box. It is a Criterion model and came with about 20 very nice disks. I don't know much about this music box but I had to go after it. It doesn't look like a hack job electrifying it. The motor and control looks very old. If anyone has information about this model and the electric modification, please let me know. It also looks like it was a coin operated model originally.

By way of background information, the Criterion was manufactured by F.G. Otto & Sons of New Jersey.
It was first marketed in November 1896 through M.J. Paillard of New York.
Six basic sizes of disc diameter have been identified :
8.75" 22.2cm.
10.5" 26.7cm.
11.7" 29.5cm
14" 35cm.
15.75" 40cm.
20.5" 52cm.
The makers of the Regina disc musical box challenged Otto over patent infringements, and the Criterion was withdrawn from sale.

Thanks for the information. Do you have any information on the electrical modification? It looks pretty old with the cloth covered wires. I can't believe it was done by a tinkerer.

Ken, that’s definitely an aftermarket modification. To my knowledge Otto never electrified any music box.

Raphael

Raphael,
Thanks for the reply. It doesn't look like a hacker did this. Hopefully someone might have information on this modification. The motor, control, and wiring look period to the 20's or 30's.
Ken

They used the original motor chassis as a start. Removed just about everything else.

Ken, These Critrerion music boxes show up at auction fairly often and go for cheap money. If I were you, I'd keep an eye out for a short-bedplate model like yours that has a bunch of broken teeth, then swap out the components so that you have one complete, good unit.

Raphael

Thanks for the advice. It is a 20" disc model. If you come across a basket case one with a good motor, please let me know.
Thanks, Ken

Not bad advice. Or, you could just enjoy it as-is, assuming it plays well.

I have an upright 20" Criterion and an upright Yale Automatic Cashier and Discount Machine (incomplete) with a Regina Bell Box Mechanism that is driven by an electric motor (don't believe it was original to the case) but things do turn up. Criterion and Olympic music boxes were both made by Otto.