Santa's toy workshop music box survived a flood and held immense sentimental value for a client whose parents were the original owners.
Materials
Processes
music and movement
It is always wonderful to see the finished product. We feature it before the story because it is so delightful to see it in action. The music and movement came together beautifully.
This music box played music and also controlled the movements of the various elves and toys. It needed a complete overhaul to restore the music and movement.
CLICK ON THE VIDEO. UNMUTE THE SOUND. AND ENJOY!
A complete overhaul
This music box played music and also controlled the movements of the various elves and toys.
It needed a complete overhaul to restore the music and movement.
several steps
There were several parts to this restoration. The gears needed to mesh correctly, the music box needed cleaning and light lubrication, and the spring needed loosening.
As always, cleaning was the first step, using a three-in-one brand of white lithium grease that immediately loosened up the workings.
The metal comb in music boxes
The music comes from the roll and pins, and the comb brushes against these pins and creates the sound.
The spring and governor, another work for speed regulator, are located in the black plastic box next to the music roll.
Luckily, the metal comb in this unit was in pristine shape. If the metal combs bend because of wear and tear, they need straightening, and that's a tedious process that takes a lot of patience.
a tight spring
Traditional music boxes, like this one, have a spring that you wind up with a key. As the spring unwinds, it turns the cylinder.
In this case, the flat spring was so tightly wound that it had nowhere to go. Fortunately, it was neither broken nor fatigued.
By using the governor (speed regulator) and some dry compressed air to unwind the toy several times, it came loose.
AND FINALLY, SUCCESS!!!