Tangible Media: Removable Storage of Image, Sound, Motion and Data
Tangible Media: Removable Storage of Image, Sound, Motion and Data
Tangible Media: Removable Storage of Image, Sound, Motion and Data
Pins
Mermod Frères

Date:

c. 1890

Material:

Steel

Dimensions:

11 in. (28 cm)

Company:

Mermod Freres

Location:

St. Croix, Switzerland

An interchangeable 6-tune cylinder for a Mermod Frères music box. The pins for all 6 tunes are interleaved so that nudging the cylinder along its axis selects the next tune.

St. Croix was a center of fine watchmaking and the Mermod family had been watchmakers there since the late 18th century. Swiss watchmakers were the first to make music box mechanisms in the early 18th century.

Entire shiny metal cylinder showing gear at one end and axis at other end
Closeup of gear
Another view of gear
Closeup of axel at other end of cylinder
Head-on view of gear
Head-on view of axis
Full view of mechanism with cylinder, crank and comb
Closer view of metal comb
Closeup of metal comb showing weights soldered to tines to achive lower notes
The speed control
Selector for which tune to play of the six different tunes on the cylinder
Close up of metal plaque with patent information on it