MUSICAL BOX TUNE SHEETS ON-LINE
Brought to you by MBSGB
Work to collect and identify images of cylinder musical box tune sheets was begun by the late H.A.V. Bulleid with results published at intervals in “Mechanical Music”, the Journal of The Musical Box Society International [MBSI]. In 2000, with the permission of the MBSI Trustees, the 216 Tune Sheets identified were published in booklet format by The Musical Box Society of Great Britain [MBSGB] with the captions revised under the editorship & guidance of Ted Brown, then president of MBSGB. A First Supplement, with 34 Tunes Sheets came in 2001; a Second Supplement with 70 in 2005, a Third with 80 in 2008 and a Fourth with 114 in 2015.
Explore our tune lists using the below links
MBSGB is keen to ensure that the Tune Sheet Project remains ongoing and its
integrity intact, according to the wishes of its initiator, the late Anthony Bulleid who
passed responsibility for continuing the project to Timothy Reed in 2009.
The provenance and value of a cylinder musical box can be enhanced if the maker can be
identified and/or an appropriate tune sheet identified, should one not be present. Tools to
help owners in this respect are the original set of “Musical Box Tune Sheets” and its four
supplements, the present online equivalent, and the AD Cunliffe Register of Cylinder
Musical Boxes. Together, these could help determine or confirm the maker/agent and date
of manufacture, and/or the correct tune sheet with titles and composers of the music pinned
on the musical box.
Images of unrecorded cylinder musical box tune sheets are welcome and should be
sent to The Society contact details.
The A D Cunliffe Cylinder Musical Box Register
This register of cylinder musical boxes has been compiled by its originator, Arthur Cunliffe, over a period of more than 40 years, and contains details of over 11,000 individual cylinder musical boxes.
These details include, where known, the make, type, date, serial and gamme numbers, musical repertoire, dimensions and descriptions of the boxes and additional notes of any unusual features.
Maintained by the Registrar of The Musical Box Society of Great Britain, it is a unique record of data, and is not only an invaluable research tool, but can assist with reporting and recovering stolen property. From the information held it is often possible to determine the date, make and place of manufacture of a box if this is otherwise unknown, and to identify the tunes where a tune sheet is lacking.
Researchers with a query for the register should contact the registrar.
Registration is anonymous and no record is kept of the person owning/registering a box.
To register a box and obtain its unique identifying registration number send a completed form to:
The Registrar
The Musical Box Society of Great Britain
Aeolian Court
Station Hill
Chudleigh
Newton Abbot
Devon
TQ13 0EE