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Music Box, Before Treatment
This music box presented a number of condition issues: besides overall soiling and flaking paint, many elements of the lid's diorama were broken or missing, and the music box mechanism was unplayable. Additionally, the box's hinges and lock plates were distorted and misaligned, keeping the lid from closing properly.
Music Box, Before Treatment
X-radiography revealed the internal structure of the music box, including the placement of the nails and locking mechanism.
Music Box, Before Treatment
Photographs with UV-Induced Visible Fluorescence show brightly-fluorescing areas where adhesive originally held pieces of the diorama or box.
Music Box, During Treatment
Solubility tests were done in multiple areas of the box, including the diorama (test spots labelled here). This was done to find suitable solvents for cleaning, reducing old adhesive, and in-painting. Some elements, such as the blue plate on the shelf, were covered in a severely discoloured, orange varnish that was reduced by gentle swabbing with acetone.
Music Box (Diorama), During Treatment
After cleaning, broken fragments of the diorama were re-adhered using B-72 in acetone.
Glue scars and adhesive fluorescence under UV revealed that there was a missing piece in the roof above the clock. Research suggested that similar music boxes have rafters in this location, so a replacement rafter was carved out of balsa wood. Several different in-painting mediums were tested to find an appropriate match for the rest of the diorama.
Glue scars and adhesive fluorescence under UV revealed that there was a missing piece in the roof above the clock. Research suggested that similar music boxes have rafters in this location, so a replacement rafter was carved out of balsa wood. Several different in-painting mediums were tested to find an appropriate match for the rest of the diorama.
Music Box (Mechanism), During Treatment
Next, the music box mechanism was addressed. The mechanism was screwed into a piece of wood, which had split into the four parts shown in this diagram.
Music Box (Mechanism), During Treatment
These fragments were joined with B-72 and left to set under pressure.
Music Box (Mechanism), During Treatment
Once the wooden fragments were joined, the music box mechanism was examined and cleaned.
Music Box (Mechanism), During Treatment
An initial mechanical cleaning of the music box mechanism dislodged large clumps of grease and debris. This allowed the music box to be wound up and played, albeit unevenly and slowly. A second cleaning was done with isopropanol to further solubilize remaining chunks of grease in the bushings and around the worm gear of the governor, which controls the speed of the music.
After cleaning, a petroleum hydrocarbon clock oil was used to lubricate the bushings, and governor. The music box played much more quickly and evenly after lubrication. This lubricant was recommended by a watch repairman, and the client will need to regularly lubricate and maintain the mechanism to keep it running smoothly.
After cleaning, a petroleum hydrocarbon clock oil was used to lubricate the bushings, and governor. The music box played much more quickly and evenly after lubrication. This lubricant was recommended by a watch repairman, and the client will need to regularly lubricate and maintain the mechanism to keep it running smoothly.
Music Box, During Treatment
The lid's two hinges were badly distorted and misaligned, preventing the music box from closing properly. The hinges were removed from the box, cleaned, re-shaped, and re-installed.
(Top: Detail photo of hinges from the back of the music box, before treatment.
Bottom: Detail photo of hinges from the back of the music box, after treatment.)
(Top: Detail photo of hinges from the back of the music box, before treatment.
Bottom: Detail photo of hinges from the back of the music box, after treatment.)
Music Box, During Treatment
Small chips and losses were filled with an acrylic spackle and in-painted with dry pigments in Soluvar Matte, thinned with mineral spirits.
Music Box, After Treatment
Music Box, Song Excerpt
Music Box
This music box is a client's family heirloom. The main goals of this treatment were to repair the broken parts of the diorama and recreate any missing elements. Additionally, the client also hoped that the music box mechanism could be repaired so that it could be played again.
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