Lot Essay
At 19 inches, this is probably the longest cylinder size used on a forte-piano musical box. It is also very unusual to find the forte-piano arrangement on an example of this date.
Details
A Forte-Piano interchangeable cylinder musical box
by Nicole Frres, No. 52785, with three cylinder playing six airs each (Nos. 16, 70, the third un-numbered), with tune indicator, tune selector, nickel-plated double-spring motor with speed control and thuya-veneered case with ebonised banding and ormolu carrying handles -- 42in. (108cm.) wide, the cylinders 19in. (49cm.), circa 1895, with separate cylinder storage box and later ebonised low stand (3)
by Nicole Frres, No. 52785, with three cylinder playing six airs each (Nos. 16, 70, the third un-numbered), with tune indicator, tune selector, nickel-plated double-spring motor with speed control and thuya-veneered case with ebonised banding and ormolu carrying handles -- 42in. (108cm.) wide, the cylinders 19in. (49cm.), circa 1895, with separate cylinder storage box and later ebonised low stand (3)