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Polyphon

HERMANN
JUST

1890

Herman Just
discover

The Polyphon 'Hermann Just' is the first coin-insertion model of automated performance machines that was produced by Polyphon. The disc mechanism enabled the shift of the music box into more commercial surroundings.

14 REEDS
12 DISCS
AUTOMATICALLY INTERCHANGEABLE
94”5 x 26”7 x 23”2

Polyphon
Leipzig, Germany
Europe

Manufacturer

The beginning of the 20th century marked the end of the age of large cylinder instruments. The newly developed disc-type music box was mainly made by 'The Big Three': Polyphon, Symphonion and Regina.

Gustave Brachhausen and Paul Riessner founded Polyphon Musikwerke around 1890 and went on to produce various instruments with a wide array of disc sizes and different cabinet styles.

sources
Regine Music Box Company factory, New Jersey, around 1900.Polyphon factory, around 1895.
Regine Music Box Company factory, New Jersey, around 1900.Polyphon factory, around 1895.

technique

The music played by this type of music box, is programmed by punching perforations into a disc. The disc causes a music comb to be plucked by means of intervening levers. As with most music boxes of this kind, the discs change automatically in the ‘Hermann Just’ which holds 12 discs. The desired selection can be made by placing the sliding indicator on the appropriate tune card on the front of the machine.

sources
Nicole Frères ‘6 revolvers’ Music Box
Nicole Frères
‘6 revolvers’ Music Box
1870
G. Baker-Troll & Co. Tsar Nicolas
G. Baker-Troll & Co.
Tsar Nicolas
1878
Roullet & Decamps Monkey Smoker
Roullet & Decamps
Monkey Smoker
1880
Jean-Marie Phalibois Monkey Orchestra
Jean-Marie Phalibois
Monkey Orchestra
1888
Polyphon Hermann Just
Polyphon
Hermann Just
1890
Mermod Frères Grand Stella
Mermod Frères
Grand Stella
1890
Paillard Helicoidal orchestra
Paillard
Helicoidal orchestra
1890
Malke & Oberländer Fortuna Duplex Disk
Malke & Oberländer
Fortuna Duplex Disk
1905
Aeolian Solo Orchestrelle
Aeolian
Solo Orchestrelle
1906
Hupfeld Phonoliszt Violina
Hupfeld
Phonoliszt Violina
1910
Edison Opera Phonograph
Edison
Opera Phonograph
1912
Victor Talking Machine Company Victor V Gramophone
Victor Talking Machine Company
Victor V Gramophone
1920
Chickering & Sons Ampico Grand Player Piano
Chickering & Sons
Ampico Grand Player Piano
1924