What woods were used for the cases?

Cabinet makers predominantly utilised rosewood, walnut, and ebonised wood for the main body of the box. Inlay work frequently employed lighter boxwood and various tinted veneers to construct contrasting pictorial motifs.

How do you wind the mechanism?

Most nineteenth-century examples operate via a built-in handle or a separate key used to tension the internal spring. Once wound, a lever starts or stops the cylinder rotation as it engages with the tuned metal comb.

Are all the boxes Swiss made?

A significant proportion of the movements originate from Swiss workshops and manufacturers operating during the nineteenth century. These imported musical movements were then housed in decorative wooden cases assembled by regional cabinet makers.