How to Repair a Music Box

One of the most beautiful gifts that someone can give another person, especially a wife or daughter, is a music box. Through the gift of music, they will be able to keep a person’s memory alive through the music of the music box, which can play on for decades.

Music boxes, sadly, can also break down. So, to maintain the music that may mean so much to the person who received the musical gift, it may be required that you begin to learn about repairing a music box.

Most problems in music boxes are caused by a malfunction in the starter of the music box. Thankfully, this can often be repaired at home without having to get it repaired at a shop. There are three different types of starters for music boxes, and knowing how to fix each one will make you very versatile. As well, always remember to be very delicate as you could cause more damage to a music box in your attempt to repair it.

Wire Starter

This type of music box plays when the lid is opened and pressure is released on a metal stick, and stops when the lid is closed. When the pressure is released on the metal stick, a spring pushes the spring up and moves a connected wire down, which releases an air brake and causes the music box to play. These are the types of music box movements you need to be aware of to repair it.

You should try changing the angle of the spring with pliers. You may have to adjust it quite a bit, up and down, left and right, depending on if the music starts, doesn’t start, or starts but won’t stop.

You can also pull the metal stick, which may be caught on something or slightly bent. If bent, it should be replaced.

Button Starter

When a button is pushed on the box, a metal plate moves the starter mechanism, which releases a latch from the wheel of the cylinder in music boxes. This releases the air brake that allows the box to play.

In these, check to make sure that the button mechanism does not have a loose nut, and if it does, tighten it. This will hopefully allow it to connect with the metal plate to start the music. You can also adjust the plate and move it closer to the starter button.

Pin Starter

These are used in toy music boxes, where the pin blocks the air brake. When pulled, the music plays, when pushed, the music stops.

If the box does not play, make sure that the pin blocks the air brake and that when it is pulled, it releases the air brake. The pin should not be too long and if it is, it may need to be filed down. If it won’t stop playing, then adjust the position of the movement and make sure that the pin is not too short. If it is, put some tape on the end to lengthen it.

Summary

Music boxes are wonderful gifts for someone you love, but like anything, they can break down and it is important that when you have a music box, you know how to repair it. Thankfully, many are easy to repair and all it takes is a basic knowledge of the inner-workings of music boxes and other types of musical gifts.

It is easy to do, people love them and you can really shine with a well-made music box, so why are you not making music boxes yet? You may find that when you give a musical gift like music boxes, that you have developed a love for putting music boxes together and it could turn into something you do a lot more. It could end up being one of your favorite hobbies in fact.

Everyone loves music, everyone loves the gift of music and there isn’t a person on the planet who will not appreciate the gift you have given them when you take the time to put it together for them. Two centuries after they began to be mass produced, it is still a gift that warms the hearts of millions.

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