Item HT 2891 Symphonion Disc - 'The Blue Danube'

Summary

Music disc for a symphonion, a mechanical music box. Tune played is 'The Blue Danube'.

The disc was one of eight purchased by Museums Victoria in 1982 to supplement the 10 discs supplied with the symphonion when it was purchased by the Museum in 1930.

The symphonion was ordered from the Symphonion Company, Germany around 1889, by Charles Bassett, head of the Music Department at Cole's Book Arcade on Little Collins Street, Melbourne. It was originally set up to play once when a penny was dropped into the slot. This activated a clockwork mechanism that rotated a thin 641mm diameter metal disc with small projections on its surface. The projections plucked the teeth of a metal comb, causing music to play. It was modified in the late 1960s for decimal currency with A 240 v electric motor drive. It has now been restored to run by clockwork, and is still in operational condition.

Physical Description

Can be played in Symphonion. Steel disc, 641 mm for Symphonion.