Music box Merel for your own melody!
This music box is specially designed for this 'make your own melody mechanism' (30 tones). The wooden sound box has a slot at the front and back to feed the paper strip through. The box is made by Rob from local wood from Dutch city trees that had to go. This is their 'musical second life'.
Note:
The music boxes in the photos are an example. The type of wood depends on the current wood stock. Please contact us if you want to know in advance which tree/wood the music box will be made of. The mechanism in the photos is an older model, the renewed model has brass gears that last longer.
engraving
There is room on the inside of the music box to add a personal engraving. A rose is engraved on top as standard, but can also be changed to, for example, a blackbird on request.
Make your own melody!
A music box with which you can make your own melody! Experience with musical notation is desirable. You can get started yourself with the included card and punch pliers. The mechanism is largely chromatic.
This music box is ideal for composers and musicians and for anyone who has some knowledge of notes. Would you rather have a melody custom made by someone else? That is possible, for example here
This music box comes with one pre-punched card with a melody on it and two blank cards to put your own melody on using the supplied punch pliers. Optionally you can order extra melody and blank strips.
If you search YouTube for 'Music box 30 note hand crank' you will find numerous examples and instructions.
The best website I can recommend is this one: https://musicboxmaniacs.com/create/
They have an online tool with which you can compose yourself. There is also a variety of melodies available that you can download and use for free.
A good video with instructions can be found below:
Hanneke Debie's You Tube channel shows various videos with self-made arrangements for this music box:
Beethoven:
The mechanism is also available separately (59 euros). But in this sound box made by Rob you have an extra beautiful full sound & a wonderful gift for yourself or to give away!
Specifications of Merel Elegante:
Length: 13,2 cm
Width: cm 9,2
Height: 5,5 cm
Mechanism: Manual (30 tones)
Wood finish: Natural wood oil
Lid: Yes
Engraving examples
Examples of engravings.
The formatting of the specified text is provided separately per box. The final result depends on the amount of text and the available space. The more text, the smaller the letters. (long sentences are split)
We use 'Gabriola Regular' as the font as standard. The text will be engraved exactly as you have specified (except for long lines that can be split). An example: If you want a date written out, enter: 2 January instead of 02-01
View the examples below
You can find more examples for inspiration at this page (opens in new window)
FAQ
Delivery times and shipping costs per country/region
The expected delivery date is stated on the product page of each music box.
Note: With engraving + a maximum of 5 days extra delivery time.
Pick up in Utrecht (NL)
During checkout you can also choose to pick up instead of shipping.
You can pick up in the shop on Friday and Saturday 14-17 pm in the center of Utrecht (Donkerstraat 21). Or by appointment in the workshop at Europalaan 41
The Netherlands.
Delivery with The Bicycle Courier , DHL or PostNL (gift letter is sent for free)
5,50 € (Letterbox package) 1-2 days (excluding waiting time > see delivery date on product page)
8,25 € (Packet service) 1-2 days (ditto)
RUSH DELIVERY (THIS OPTION IS DISABLED IF IT IS TOO BUSY!):
16,95 euro. (Courier) 1-2 days> if in stock & without engraving
[Urgent delivery with engraving = 2 days extra delivery time!]
Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg
12,00 € (Regular Post / Courier) 4-6 working days
26,00 € (express service) 1 Business Days
Denmark, France, Austria, United Kingdom
15,00 – 20,00 euros (Regular Post / Courier) 4-6 working days
30,00 - 55,00 euro (Express Services) 1-2 business days
Hungary, Portugal, Sweden
16,95 € (Regular Post / Courier) 4-6 working days
18,50 € (Regular Post / Courier) 4-6 working days
32,50 € (express service) 1-2 business days
Italyë, Poland
18,00 € (Regular Post / Courier) 4-6 business days
40,00 € (express service) 1-2 business days
Europe other countries
18,00 to 29,00 euros (Regular Post / Courier) 4-6 working days
45,00 € (express service) 1-3 business days
You can also use the shipping calculator in the shopping basket to calculate the shipping costs.
Worldwide
Worldwide shipping is VAT free with regular mail or Express service. Please note that you may have to pay import duties (TAX).
United States, Canada, Mexico
27,00 € (Regular Mail) 7-25 working days depending on destination
59,00 € (express service) 1-3 working days depending on destination
Asia, Australia, New Zealand
30,00 € (Regular Mail) 7-25 working days depending on destination
65,00 € (express service) 1-3 working days depending on destination
Other countries worldwide
35,00 € (Regular Mail) 7-25 working days depending on destination
75,00 € (express service) 2-4 working days depending on destination
You can also use the shipping calculator in the shopping basket to calculate the shipping costs.
All prices including 21% VAT if applicable.
Open Days in Utrecht:
I am open twice a week at a beautiful location in the heart of Utrecht. There is a wide choice of music boxes available for direct sale. View the agenda for all dates.
Stock in the workshop:
Due to the many orders, there is no stock present in the workshop.
Other sales points
There are a number of sales places in the Netherlands where you can buy the music boxes. They usually have a very limited stock of especially small music boxes. Click here for an overview of these sales spots.
Unfortunately it is not possible to request a different melody.
This is because I only purchase from the supplier a few times a year, and have to purchase at least 100 pieces per melody, which is expensive.
You can buy a music box without a mechanism from me and put in the mechanism that you have bought yourself somewhere else through me or yourself. Please note that the model is identical, otherwise it will not fit.
To have a mechanism made with your own melody, see the question 'can I have my own melody made'
If you have your own composition that you would like to have on mechanics, or a piece of music that does not yet exist on mechanics, then there are the following options:
Small winding mechanism with 18 notes
For each music box made for small wind-up mechanism (18 notes) you can have your own melody made based on a music fragment (e.g. from a YouTube video). On the product page of the chosen box, choose the option 'melody' > 'Custom Tune', and follow the instructions. Costs: 180,- euros incl. 21% VAT. (this is on top of the price of the box) Delivery time: 2 months. Choose a box
If you are going to make the arrangement yourself, keep the following in mind:
Large manual mechanism to program yourself
Another possibility is a 'make your own melody' set. If you are musically inclined you can make your own melody with the punch pliers and the supplied paper strip. This mechanism has 20 or 30 tones and a very nice warm sound. It is manual, which means that you have to keep running to let it play. On this website, the mechanism is available both separately and with a wooden sound box. Here for sale (SOLD OUT)
Large runs for small mechanics with 18 tones.
The small machine heads with a self-supplied melody can also be made in large quantities: From 1000 pieces the price per hand mechanism is approximately 2,50 ex. VAT. plus 250 euro development costs and shipping costs (varies) Delivery time: approximately 8 weeks. For wind-up machine heads (18 tones), the minimum order is 250 pieces and the price is approximately 10 euros ex. VAT per piece. Delivery time: 8 weeks. (prices are only for the machine heads, without wooden sound box)
Large winding mechanism with custom melody
For a large, luxurious mechanism with 30 tones, it is possible to have an arrangement made of a piece of music that you supply yourself. This can be an audio file, (you tube) video or sheet music. Ideally both audio / video + sheet music. The mechanism fits a maximum of 35 seconds. So indicate with your application exactly which piece it is of a maximum of 35 seconds.
Costs: 250 euros (excluding music box). Only possible in combination with a music box for luxury mechanics. If you are interested, please contact Rob or order a music box directly. On the product page you can choose the last option 'Custom Tune' at 'Melody' and fill in the details. In the webshop menu, go to music boxes 'Met Luxemechaniek'. The delivery time for this music box with its own melody is approximately 8 weeks.
The difference is that a manual mechanism you have to turn the lever to make the music sound. This lever is always on the side and is visible. Depending on the melody, it is silver-colored with a red ball or completely gold-colored. A manual mechanism has 18 tones.
A wind-up mechanism plays by itself for a few minutes. You just have to wind it up, the further you wind it the longer it plays. The winding key is at the bottom of the box, out of sight (except for Piccolo, who has it at the top). A wind-up mechanism is available in various versions. The smallest has 18 tones. Larger, more expensive machine heads have 30,36,50 or even 72 tones.
This indicates the number of notes that are on the mechanism.
To be more precise; The mechanism has a comb with teeth that are tuned from high to low. There is also a rotating cylinder with pins, the position of these pins determine the melody, and every time a pin hits a tooth, a tone is heard.
The smallest and most sold mechanisms have 18 tones. (music box Piccolo, Lude, Celesta, Robin, Tamino) There are also larger machine heads with 30 (Tamino, Calandra) and 50 tones (Orpheus, = temporarily unavailable).
You can imagine that the more tones there are, the nicer it will sound, because it is closer to the original. The mechanism also plays longer and contains a larger fragment of the original piece of music. The quality of the materials is better and so is the sound.
I do not yet know the text for engraving.
For example, if you want the box to be delivered quickly before a birth, but you do not yet know the name and date of birth, it is best to order the box (with engraving, fill in: 'text will be later') due to delivery time / availability . As soon as you know the text for engraving, email this to me. Then I can usually engrave it within a few days.
Can I have my own logo / image engraved?
Yes, that's possible. Keep in mind that the engraving is black / white. So if a logo / image is graphic then we can usually engrave it. When a good quality file is supplied in pdf, the price is 15, -. If the file still needs editing then 10-20 euro is added. Send the file by e-mail for a quote.
Can I have multiple surfaces engraved?
Yes, that's possible. First choose the area before the first engraving and fill in the desired text. After this an option for a second engraving for another plane appears. If you want a third engraving, please contact us.
Layout of text
By default we use the font 'Gabriola Regular'. Subtle, elegant and with beautiful sleek lines, perfect for engraving. (a different font is possible on request if it is in our 'font' collection)
The layout is provided by us by engraving. How this will look depends on the number of characters and the available surface. It is therefore possible that texts with long sentences are divided over multiple lines. If you would like to have an example of this in advance, let us know.
Shipping costs & times
What are the shipping times and costs? Delivery times and shipping costs per country/regionThe expected delivery date is stated on the product page of each music box.Note: With engraving + a maximum of 5 days extra delivery time.Pick up in Utrecht (NL)During checkout you can also choose to pick up instead of shipping. You can pick up in the shop on Friday and Saturday 14-17 pm in the center of Utrecht (Donkerstraat 21). Or by appointment in the workshop at Europalaan 41 The Netherlands.Delivery with The Bicycle Courier , DHL or PostNL (gift letter is sent for free)5,50 € (Letterbox package) 1-2 days (excluding waiting time > see delivery date on product page) 8,25 € (Packet service) 1-2 days (ditto) RUSH DELIVERY (THIS OPTION IS DISABLED IF IT IS TOO BUSY!): 16,95 euro. (Courier) 1-2 days> if in stock & without engraving [Urgent delivery with engraving = 2 days extra delivery time!] Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg12,00 € (Regular Post / Courier) 4-6 working days 26,00 € (express service) 1 Business Days Denmark, France, Austria, United Kingdom15,00 – 20,00 euros (Regular Post / Courier) 4-6 working days 30,00 - 55,00 euro (Express Services) 1-2 business days Hungary, Portugal, Sweden16,95 € (Regular Post / Courier) 4-6 working days 18,50 € (Regular Post / Courier) 4-6 working days 32,50 € (express service) 1-2 business days Italyë, Poland18,00 € (Regular Post / Courier) 4-6 business days 40,00 € (express service) 1-2 business days Europe other countries18,00 to 29,00 euros (Regular Post / Courier) 4-6 working days 45,00 € (express service) 1-3 business days You can also use the shipping calculator in the shopping basket to calculate the shipping costs. WorldwideWorldwide shipping is VAT free with regular mail or Express service. Please note that you may have to pay import duties (TAX). United States, Canada, Mexico27,00 € (Regular Mail) 7-25 working days depending on destination 59,00 € (express service) 1-3 working days depending on destination Asia, Australia, New Zealand30,00 € (Regular Mail) 7-25 working days depending on destination 65,00 € (express service) 1-3 working days depending on destination Other countries worldwide35,00 € (Regular Mail) 7-25 working days depending on destination 75,00 € (express service) 2-4 working days depending on destination
You can also use the shipping calculator in the shopping basket to calculate the shipping costs. All prices including 21% VAT if applicable. |
Are there music boxes currently in stock? Open Days in Utrecht:I am open twice a week at a beautiful location in the heart of Utrecht. There is a wide choice of music boxes available for direct sale. View the agenda for all dates. Stock in the workshop:Due to the many orders, there is no stock present in the workshop. Other sales pointsThere are a number of sales places in the Netherlands where you can buy the music boxes. They usually have a very limited stock of especially small music boxes. Click here for an overview of these sales spots. |
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