Mechanical Music

The Mechanical Music auctions are extremely diverse with sections including early key-wind cylinder musical boxes and the later disc versions; fine singing birds, phonographs and gramophones; iconic jukeboxes, barrel organs and pianos; important encoding machines, mechanical and electrical calculation devices; vintage amusement machines and pre-1940 wireless and television. This department aims to please those who seek either the perfect historical gift or to bring a collection into line with an appropriate addition.

The department holds four auctions annually for an international range of clients. We very much look forward to hearing from you, should you be new to this field or an established collector.

Auctions

in Mechanical Music

Past
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A rare W & S Jones Cometarium, English, early 19th century,
A large Samuel Troll mandoline and bells-in-sight interchangeable cylinder muscial box on stand. Swiss, circa 1880
A rare Kryha-Liliput cipher machine, German, circa 1930,
30 Apr 2013 London, Knightsbridge Auction 20773
Mechanical Music & Scientific Instruments
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Gauge I Live Steam model of a LNER A2 Pacific 4-6-2 locomotive No.525 and tender A.H. Peppercorn Handbuilt by Dave Baker circa 2000
Gauge I Live Steam model of a LNER type P2 2-8-2 LNER Express locomotive No.2002 and tender Earl Marischal Built by Mr M.G Nnoakes of Atlantic Engineering 1996, modified and rebuild by Roger Marsh 2005
A SET OF FOUR LMS PERIOD 3 COACHES IN A CASE, 2 X 1ST CLASS CORRIDOR COACHES, FURNISHED, 1 X IST CLASS CORRIDOR 1/2 BREAK, FURNISHED, 1 X 3RD CLASS VESTIBULE, FURNISHED, 10MM/FT SCALE, BY PETER ROGERS
12 Feb 2013 Oxford Auction 20677
The Collectors Sale
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A Daniel Carl Muller Hippocamp
Carousel Tiger
Muller Tiger- unpainted carousel tiger- pending
4 Dec 2012 Los Angeles Auction 20419
Carousel and Circus Memorabilia and Mechanical Musical Instruments and Automata
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The Charles X gold, enamel and split-seed pearl oiseau chantant and musical portrait box.
An Enigma Code Machine in original oak case,No. 13598/jla/44
A fine veri-gold, diamond and ruby embellished singing bird box by Rochet Freres, circa 1825,
14 Nov 2012 London, Knightsbridge Auction 19799
Fine Mechanical Music and Scientific Instruments
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A fine pair of J & W Cary 18-inch terrestrial and celestial globes, English, circa 1835, (2)
An exceptional silver-gilt and enamel singing bird box, by Jacques Bruguier, circa 1830,
A rare Grand Format overture musical box, by Nicole Freres, circa 1862,
3 May 2012 London, Knightsbridge Auction 19798
Fine Mechanical Music and Scientific Instruments
A George Adams armillary sphere, English, circa 1790
A George Adams armillary sphere, English, circa 1790
A fine and rare William Harris & Co combined planitarium, tellurium and lunarium, English, circa 1825,
A very important silver standing singing bird automaton of a crow, by Bontems, circa 1890,
9 Nov 2011 London, Knightsbridge Auction 19035
Fine Mechanical Music and Scientific Instruments
A good Regina 15.5/8-inch disc musical box-on-stand,
A good Regina 15.5/8-inch disc musical box-on-stand,
An eight air cylinder musical box by Bremond, circa 1890,
A rare Columbia No. 2 typewriter, circa 1888,
17 May 2011 Knowle Auction 19310
Mechanical Music, Cameras & Scientific
Joseph-Marie Jacquard (1752-1854) - a fine woven silk La Mémoire portrait Executed in 1839 on the programmable Jacquard loom by Didter Petit et cie, Lyon,
Joseph-Marie Jacquard (1752-1854) - a fine woven silk La Mémoire portrait Executed in 1839 on the programmable Jacquard loom by Didter Petit et cie, Lyon,
Ramsden no 46 : A brass sextant in mahogany box - Please confirm price with client before cataloguing.
Autophone - automatic coin-operated phonograph, based on the Hexophone pattern.
19 Apr 2011 London, Knightsbridge Auction 19034
Fine Mechanical Music and Scientific Instruments
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An EMG horn gramophone, Mark Xa with 3/4-depth hinged lid,
A fine Polyphon 15.1/2-inch disc musical box, Style 45, circa 1895,
A rare Bryans 'Retreeva' machine, circa 1946,
7 Dec 2010 Knowle Auction 18148
Mechanical Music, Cameras, Scientific & Collectors Items
An important silver standing singing bird automaton, circa 1880, movement most probably Bontems,
An important silver standing singing bird automaton, circa 1880, movement most probably Bontems,
A rare 26-inch Fortuna orchestral coin-operated upright disc musical box, circa 1900,
A good and very early tortoiseshell singing bird box, by Charles Bruguier, circa 1819,
3 Nov 2010 London, Knightsbridge Auction 17970
Mechanical music and Scientific Instruments
A late 19th century walnut upright Polyphon 29
A late 19th century walnut upright Polyphon 29
two-per-turn m/b by Nicole Frerés
A Regina disc musical box, late-type Style 26
18 May 2010 Knowle Auction 18273
Mechanical Music, Scientific, Marine & Collectors Items
Southern Railway nameplate Queen Guinevere, ex-King Arthur Class E454 (BR30454)
Southern Railway nameplate Queen Guinevere, ex-King Arthur Class E454 (BR30454)
Southern Railway nameplate King Arthur, ex-King Arthur Class E453 (BR30453)
Ornamental Turning lathe by W J Evans, approx. 1874
12 May 2009 Knowle Auction 17187
Mechanical Music, Cameras, Railwayana, Fire Service and Police
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A fine and rare quatre-revolver 'Harpe Harmonique-Piccolo Zither' cylinder musical box, retailed by
A fine and scarce ormolu and Japaned-black Chinese Magician automaton timepiece, by E. Robert Houdin, circa 1860,
A large and important Moritz Pillischer "No. 1 First-Class" presentation compound monocular microscope, English, mid 19th century,
28 Apr 2009 London, Knightsbridge Auction 16781
Mechanical Music, Scientific Instruments and the Jeffrey Salmon Collection of Radios
The Baird Television Company; A rare wireless, marketed to receive the Televisor signal, manufacture
The Baird Television Company; A rare wireless, marketed to receive the Televisor signal, manufacture
A rare Oiseau Chantant, with timepiece alarm-actuated cylinder musical movement, Swiss, first quarte
A good Lienhart Miller ivory diptych dial, Nuremberg, dated 1622,
18 Nov 2008 London, Knightsbridge Auction 15842
Scientific, Technological and Mechanical Musical Instruments
A fine gold and enamel singing bird box by Brugier, three-quarter size,
A fine gold and enamel singing bird box by Brugier, three-quarter size,
A fine gold and enamel singing bird box by Brugier, full size,
An important and fine gold and enamel musical snuffbox in the from of a book, the movement signed Ni
19 Mar 2008 London, Knightsbridge Auction 15778
Scientific, Technological and Mechanical Musical Instruments
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Highlights from past auctions

A fine gold musical fob seal, with hidden erotic automaton, circa 1810, cushion enamel automaton late 19th century,
Sold for £10,000 inc. premium
A fine gold musical fob seal, with hidden erotic automaton, circa 1810, cushion enamel automaton late 19th century,
A very important silver standing singing bird automaton of a crow, by Bontems, circa 1890,
Sold for £39,650 inc. premium
A very important silver standing singing bird automaton of a thrush, by Bontems, circa 1890,
An exceptional silver-gilt and enamel singing bird box, by Jacques Bruguier, circa 1830,
Sold for £34,850 inc. premium
An exceptional silver-gilt and enamel singing bird box, by Jacques Bruguier, circa 1830,
Fine Bontems singing bird clock with maiden and mirror gilt appliqué
Sold for £55,250 inc. premium
A rare and fine deux-ton gilt ormolu and enamel oiseau chantant mantle timepiece automaton, by Bontems circa 1890,

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Mechanical Music (UK) Bonhams
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