In much the same way that huge tower clocks were eventually miniaturized into precision pocket watches, the 15th century carillon was eventually miniaturized into the modern music box. Early attempts at mechanization included the medieval glockenspiel, and the music machines created by the Renaissance Augsburg craftsmen. Antoine Favre, a Swiss watchmaker, is generally credited with replacing bells with pretuned metal strips, and his invention continued to be refined into a rotating brass barrel with pins that plucked the teeth of a sound comb - each tooth being a different note.

Over a century ago, more people owned music boxes than any other type of automatic musical instrument. The industrial revolution and other world events resulted in a decrease in music box manufacture, but there has been a steady resurgence in quality music box production since World War II. The Japanese world class music movements used by Heirloom Musical Creations are the epitome of precision, mechanical music making.

Choose today from our inventory of David Boxes or Grand David Boxes, or let us handcraft your very own personalized musical box!

You decide how your instrument will look based on your choices from available selections of wood, stain, music box movements, and melodies. We do the rest!

Add engraving and glass etching for that final elegant touch. Custom music boxes will make an extraordinary special occasion gift and can be used for retirement gift ideas, graduation gift ideas, unique wedding gifts, a unique musical gift, and anniversary gifts.