A fabulous Victorian Polyphon dating from the late 19th Century. It is contained within its original walnut box, inlaid with a boxwood strung border and cartouche. Below the lid is a paper insert showing a traditional scene of cherubs playing music.
The music player is operated by a clockwork mechanism and even after 120 years or more the sound is beautiful. It plays 8" discs and has 40 teeth on a 3 1/2" steel comb. It is wound using the lever on the front of the box and it has a knob on the front which you pull out to start and push back in to engage the auto-stop. It comes with one original metal disc.
The mechanism has been thoroughly cleaned and serviced and is in good working order, playing the most intricate of discs effortlessly.The teeth are all intact and in good condition and a video can be provided of it playing. The stop lever on the side of the box has been disconnected at some point, usually done to prevent a disc being stopped part way through at the risk of damaging the teeth. This doesn't affect the functionality at all.
The box itself is also in good condition with no major damage and a lovely patina. There are a few small knocks and light marks commensurate with age but nothing detrimental.
