Regina Upright Music Box

An extraordinary and rare coin-operated Regina Sublima upright music box crafted by the Regina Music Box Company, one of the most recognized music box manufacturers in the world, complete with 17 discs. The fine oak cabinet with a glazed glass panel and gallery, holds additional discs in a drop-down drawer at the front of the box. The sound quality of this wonderful music box is superb and and the cabinet remains in excellent condition.

The advent of the disc playing musical machines in 1886 ushered in a new day for music lovers around the world. Prior to this new German invention, the only alternative to live music in the home or business was the cylinder music box, and though the sound produced by these gems was sweet, the music itself was very costly. Elaborate cylinders played a set number of airs, or tunes, and once a family or business patrons had tired of them, it was indeed a pricey endeavor to add cylinders to the music collection, with some cylinders costing more than most workers' entire year's wage. in addition, the number of songs available was limited by the very nature of the complex production of the cylinders.

The disc players solved these problems. They were considerably less expensive to manufacture and much easier to produce. The musical disc players were an overnight sensation. Average, upper-middle class families could now enjoy these musical treasures and, with thousands of titles being released each year, the music industry was off and running.

In 1894, the Regina Music Box Company was founded by Gustav Brachhausen in Rahway, New Jersey. They quickly gained national attention and acclaim for their superb music boxes and were an overwhelming success in America. Brachhausen brought with him years of experience and talents honed at the Polyphon Factory in Germany where he was in charge for years. Under his direction, the Regina Music Factory created a series of music boxes whose smooth, rich sound was unsurpassed. Even today, Regina music boxes, such as this incredible example, are considered among the very finest ever created.

Circa 1895 

70 1/2" high x 33" wide x 14 1/2" deep

Discs: 20 3/4" inches