The Regina Music Box Company did not, by any means, create the first music box to play piano music by ear. In fact, the Regina company did not make their first music box until about a hundred years ago in Rahway, New Jersey. Many years before, music boxes originated in parts of Europe such as Germany, Switzerland, and Bavaria.

These tiny beauties of visual delight and mesmerizing music were sought after for at least 50 years prior to the advent of Regina music boxes. However, Regina holds the distinction of being the first music box company in America and, the majority of expert collectors believe, the finest in American music boxes. The sound quality of “Reginas,” say collectors, “remains unsurpassed in America and elsewhere as the mechanism for the instrument differs from others of the period.”

This distinction refers to the Regina music boxes that play interchangeable musical discs, not cylinders as was common during the 1800’s. A technology way ahead of its time, this gave Reginas a sound quality that was without equal. The venerable European masters were put off that the upstart Americans had beaten them at their own craft! In 1894, the Regina Music Box Company acknowledged that their box is a mechanical device that utilizes circular metal plates with holes punched through the surface. This technique is similar to that used with player pianos, and even sounds like a forerunner of today’s compact discs.

Memorable Regina Music Boxes

The word “regina” is Latin for “Queen.” Coincidence? Hardly, say music box and piano notes collectors. If that were the case, why weren’t they simply named “Rahway Music Boxes” after the town of their birth? No, Regina music boxes are indeed the monarchs of music boxes – yesterday and today.

One of the original Regina designs was a Christmas music box featuring interchangeable discs of Christmas music and intricately carved ice-skaters that twirled in time to the music. At estate auctions or sometimes on E-Bay, you might discover an exceedingly rare Japanese Regina music box overlaid with Oriental lacquer and colorful floral patterns. Last year, a completely functional Regina music box with an Irish motif and a medley of Celtic tunes sold at an estate auction for $7,000 to a collector as a gift for his beloved but terminally ill wife. Urban legend has it that his wife had always longed for a Regina music box and she watched its glimmering roses and shamrocks, listening to the Irish love songs until the day of her death. The box has reportedly been returned to Ireland, the country of the buyer’s wife’s ancestors.

Even if this account is but whimsical fantasy, there is no doubt of the distinction of one Regina music box; the tallest, most intricate Regina ever made stands over seven feet tall! It now belongs to a collector and art historian and is in full working order. To complete the distinguished history of the Regina music box and piano scales, a one-of-a-kind box displays a waving American flag, accompanied by “The Star Spangled Banner.” A fitting tribute to the nation that treasures it.

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Where do they come from, these tiny marvels of piano music and hand-made artisanship? A hundred years before radio, MTV and iPods, music box companies were enchanting the world with small miracles in a box. Beautiful to behold, mesmerizing to watch, and charming in musical details, these little boxes were – and still are- the ultimate in heirloom gifts that will delight generations to come.

The original pioneers of music box companies are reputed to be European, particularly German, Swiss and Bavarian artistry. These original antique boxes now sell on eBay and in private estate sales for as much as $4,000. Owning an intact antique music box is the equivalent of owning a vintage Rolls Royce or cloisonn? vase from the early Orient.

Fortunately, today’s modern music box companies take great pride in duplicating the craftsmanship and exquisite details of the companies of the early 1800’s. Carrying lines of modern-themed boxes as well as timeless classics, the music box masters of today continue to produce achingly beautiful heirlooms with precious, intricate carvings combined with traditional musical classics and modern melodies like play piano music by ear destined for greatness.

Explore the World of Music Box Companies

The maker of the first music box in Europe has faded into legend, although there many speculations about their original origin. What is known is that the first music box company in America, the revered Regina Company, created the first American-made music box in Rahway, New Jersey about a hundred years ago. Since that time, American artists joined the European masters in carving gorgeous and captivating creations in wood, stone, metal and now more modern materials such as clear acrylics. In music box companies of renowned repute, no part of the box is entirely mass-produced except for minor accessories like winding keys and the cloth lining. Otherwise, the constructing of the music box is accomplished by hand, down to the coordination of the music-producing elements.

Some music box companies focus exclusively on a particular type of box or piano notes, such as Thomas Kincaid, Victorian Trolley, White Christmas, Queen Anne Victorian, Mr. Christmas, and Van Gogh’s Starry Night series all center around Christmas, the era of Queen Victoria, and Impressionist painting. The Irish Blessing company uses traditional motifs of leprechauns, roses and shamrocks, along with such tunes as “When Irish Eyes are Smiling,” “Danny Boy,” and “My Wild Irish Rose.” You can even find a gorgeous Renoir La Loge music box made from mahogany, black finish, varnish, and gold risers imported from Italy!

Other music box companies may develop boxes in a series, but also create other types of boxes with differing styles of music. For example, The Elegant Music Box created a series of animal-themed music boxes with river otters, sea turtles, butterflies and hummingbirds. However, they also create Mothers’ Day boxes and boxes designed with soothing melodies for infants. The Maine Music Box Company makes a vast array of box designs and melodies as does the San Francisco Music Box Company on the other side of the continent.

From the whimsical to the spiritual, music box companies have a rich history of creating beautiful and soothing works of art, suitable for any room in your home, and for truly lasting gifts.

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