Evening star., 1947-10-19
Era
OF Music Box
is Recaptured
By Alice Eversmon

A voice from the past has been
introduced into this modernistic
world by the recently released album
of music box records. Here for the
first time imprinted on wax are the
tunes that sprang into life with the
lifting Of a box lid for the edifica-
ton of our ancestors. The record
ings are made by the Bornand
Music Box Record Co. of Pelham,
N. Y, where on the village main
street, Adrian Bornand, has one of
the most famous collections of rare
old music boxes in the world.
The little things that started the
development of some Of the greatest
industries in the world are all too
apt to be forgotten. The tinkling,
fairylike music confined in the
small space of an attractive acces-
sorry OF the fashionably dressed of a
century or so ago, or in. tiny birds
or ornate clocks, was the'forerunner
OF the phonograph that now, in
place OF the simple songs and dance
tunes of the music box, can record
the greatest works of the symphonic
literature. If the sophisticated
moderns are inclined to look down
on the old-time music box, they
have only to listen to the recordings
made by Mr.. Bornand to be caught
up in the charm of vanished era.
Origins in Obscurity.
Mr.. Bornand has been quietly
active for many years collecting,
repairing and selling boxes to dis
eliminating buyers. He comes from
a family skilled in this work, men,
bers .of group of Swiss artisans
who came to this country In 1888.
The 1700s saw a flourishing industry
in musical box making in Switzer-
land where, it Is claimed, the box
was invented.
However, two centuries earlier, in
the Netherlands, the Dukes of Bur-
gundy were encouraging the pro-
duction of such articles and a CEN
tury later drawings of these
mechanical toys were published in
Frankfurt. At that time musical
snuff boxes, watches and clocks
were the vogue. but with the inven-
ton of the cylinder which allowed
several notes to be played, the
mechanism was set in such varied
objects as umbrella handles, pistols,
rings, dolls and stems, while boxes
were made in the form of miniature
fans, harps, mandolins and such
like. In the beginning of the 18th
century the annual output of music
boxes in Switzerland reached the
10000 mark.
"a Collectors Recognize Worth.
With the advent of the phono-
graph the old music box, as popular
IN the United States as abroad, fell
into oblivion. But after the novelty
OF the newer machines wore off
there was a revival of interest in
Its prototype. Alec Templeton was
one OF The first to start collection
and Bing Crosby was another pur-
chaser OF Mr.. Bornand's rare pieces.
Some of these are of great value,
made of exquisite wood and with
lnlays and carvings of artistic work.
That this lovely music could be
heard by a wider public was the
Idea OF Mrs. Bornand. The major
recording companies. felt that the
demand might be too small to war
rant the outlay, SO the Bornands
made their own recordings. In the
first edition album are three discs
On which are pressed Silent Night"
NAueste Fideles,' Gounad's ave
Maria" 20 Sanctissima," three
operate ariaS and three old waltz
The melodies have rip
ping, belllike accompaniment and
the full. quaint flavor, clear and
sweet, is fully reproduced in the
recordings. 1t is planned to follow
this first set with others on which
beloved songs, both sacred and
secular, can be heard.