Wooden casing, brass, steel, sheet metal, etc.
Germany, Leipzig, around 1910
Kalliope Musikwerke AG, Leipzig – Producer of disc-type music boxes, established in 1880 by Paul Ehrlich
Cylinder musical mechanism, combs with 60 reeds on heavy gold-plated cast mounting
Serial number: 124520
Dealer’s plaque ‘Hermann Augustin / Musikalien- u. Instrumente / BERLIN C. Gertraudtenstr. 10/12‘
Spring movement (functional), pluggable crank for winding at the disc hub
Bright wooden casing with ebonized edges, colored floral marquetry on the lid, lithograph of a coastline on the inside of the lid, casing lockable with lock and key, turned wooden feet, sideways sliding handle for switching on and off
In a separate more modest box with handles on the sides, 132 (!) perforated discs, the inside of the box lined with floral printed paper
Original catalogue of the dealer, music directory and ‘Technische Rundschau’ [Technical review] for the production of perforated discs from the 9th of April 1924
Diameter of discs: 34 cm
Dimensions of music box: 40 x 19 x 38 cm
Very good, almost brand-new original condition, beautiful sound
Wonderful calliope from Leipzig with very many discs, a classical collector’s item for lovers of traditional technique!

This playful Art Nouevau music box by Kalliope Musikwerke AG Leipzig, serial number 124520, was produced around 1910 in Germany, Leipzig. It is fitted with a cylinder musical mechanism as well as a comb with 60 reeds on a heavy gold-plated cast mounting. The calliope is driven by a spring movement. The disc hub has a pluggable crank for winding. A bright wooden casing with ebonized edges and colored marquetry on the lid encloses the calliope. The inside of the lid is decorated with the framed lithograph of a coastline. The casing that is resting on turned wooden feet is lockable with lock and key. Furthermore the casing bears the dealer’s plaque of ‘Hermann Augustin / Musikalien- u. Instrumente / BERLIN C. Gertraudtenstr. 10/12‘ as well as a sliding handle for switching on and off. In another separate and more modest box are 132 further perforated discs. A paper with floral imprint coats the inside of the box, the exterior bears a handle on each side. Included is the original catalogue of the dealer as well as a music directory and the ‚Technische Rundschau‘ [Technical review] from the 9th of April 1924 with an article on the production of perforated discs.

The calliope is in a very good, almost brand-new original condition with minimal signs of age and wear. The sound of the music box is very mellow and melodiously. The diameter of the plates is 34 cm, while the music box measures 40 x 19 x 38 cm.

Kalliope Musikwerke AG

On the 9th of April 1880, the instrument maker Paul Ehrlich established the AG Leipziger Musikwerke with 90 employees and a monthly production of 1500 instruments. Staff and output figures increased quickly, because the calliope-music boxes, on whose fabrication the company focused, were very popular. From 1895 the company took out patents on a special damping device on perforated discs and challenged the manufacturers Symphonion and Polyphon. The continuous popularity of calliope-music boxes is also revealed by the advertisement of Ernst Holzweißig from Berlin, proving the demand for perforated discs still in 1921: “We again offer calliope-discs.” (nlu)

Shipping costs excl. statutory VAT and plus 2,5% (+VAT) shipping insurance.