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Polyphon

Case veneered with mahogany, crossbanded on the front door and decorated in the top corners with fretwork designs. Central window flanked at either side by a turned, baluster-shaped column. Top section decorated with a fan-shaped mount, flanked by turned finials. Large mainsprung-driven mechanism, with date of manufacture stamped on it, enclosed in removable glass 'box' inside case and activated by handle at right-hand side. Speed governed by centrifugal fly. Single vertical comb on vertical metal bed plate. Slot for pennies and box to collect them located on right-hand side of case. Case stands on square, mahogany-veneered cupboard, supported by two turned, bulbous 'feet' at front and by shaped wooden block at back. Cupboard has two doors, flanked by turned, baluster-shaped pilasters, and 12 interior divisions to hold the metal discs. Four turned feet. Case and cupboard may not be original match.

  • Date:
    1897
  • Maker:
    Polyphon-Musikwerke AG [Corporation]
  • Collection:
    National Museums Liverpool
  • Inventory number:
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  • Place of production:
    Leipzig (Timezone: Europe/Berlin)
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  • Inscriptions:Label: "Polyphon / Automatic Musical Instrument / Made in Leipsic" on metal strip above door.|Stamp: "William Lea, 50 & 52 Church St, Liverpool" in gold letters
  • Hornbostel-Sachs category:
  • Repository:National Museums Liverpool
  • Measurements:Height (without baluster supports) 1860mm, width 690mm, depth 580mm