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Disk music box

The invention of disk music boxes made it affordable for many people to enjoy a variety of songs played on a music box at home. Disk music boxes worked on principles similar to the cylinder music box, but disks were much less expensive and could be easily changed.

Changer

Today, if you can't get enough music, you get a CD changer. If you couldn't get enough music 120 years ago, you got - a disk music box that could hold and play several disks.

How does it work?

Disk music boxes actually worked in a way very similar to a cylinder music box. Musical notes are represented by raised projections on a metal disk. Disks are cheaper to make and easier to change than cylinders.

New disks

This disk doesn't just look shiny, it is brand new. While not as widely made today as cylinder boxes, music box disks are still produced.

Instruments: Margaret Bisberg and Richard Van Metre

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Automatic Musical Instrument Collectors' Association,
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Page last Updated: Wednesday, July 09, 2008 06:51 AM

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