Need Help

[Paul Douglass]

I started this little project last week



Project going fine, horses top and bottom pieces all cut out. Fact it is going so well I thought today I had better order the music/turn mechanism. I have hunted for hours today on the internet. but have found not found one that I feel will turn it and pay anything close to carousel music... I mean winnie the pooh or white Christmas just do to fit. Anyone know of a site that sells something that would work? I'm really not sure I am calling it the right name. Music box mechanism with turntable? Can any one send me in the right direction? When I started this I laid awake at nigh thinking up how to make this with the horses going up and down as it turns.. I think I have figured that out, and how to add lights got that.. but now I think I will just follow the plan and be satisfied. I have so many other thing I want to delve into and time is getting short. I have to try double bevel marquetry and kumiko yet. So many things, so little time.

 

[Darren Wright]

This is probably too small, but is made to attach to the top half and spin it, and use the top for winding.
Carousel Music Box Forward Movement Mechanism CASTLE IN THE SKY SONG DIY Special Customized Gift Toy https://a.co/d/3udGg52

 

[Darren Wright]

Another, maybe more sizable.

18 Tone Alloy Top Rotated Wind Up Musical Movement Mechanism Parts Fitting DIY | eBay

Material Zinc Alloy. -We really need your supports.

www.ebay.com

 

[Ryan Mooney]

Boy, tricky one!

What Darren linked is .. probably not what you want. The "Carousel" mechanism basically replaces the winding key so you'd have to rotate the whole mechanism backwards to wind it.

Disassemble one out of an existing toy maybe? I have no idea how hard it would be to reclaim the movement/music box out of one of these..

https://www.amazon.com/Musical-Carousel-Horse-Clockwork-Mechanism/dp/B06ZY5B9QT?th=1

I'm thinking you want two parts, a motivating system made out of a small motor or hand cranks, maybe some gears/pulleys... and a music box that is either triggered by the same setup as the motivating system (electric), or is driven by it directly...

Interesting electric mechanism.. I think this is reproducible, it looks like something they assembled out of their gear kits.

another explanation of the "big carousel" design

How carousel is made - history, used, parts, structure, product, industry, machine

A cardboard version with an variable under rod pusher.

Most of the music box movements are wind up... but there are some continuous, I believe this is belt driven

Amazon.com: Carousel Music Box Forward Movement Mechanism CASTLE IN THE SKY SONG DIY Special Customized Gift Toy : Home & Kitchen

Buy Carousel Music Box Forward Movement Mechanism CASTLE IN THE SKY SONG DIY Special Customized Gift Toy: Musical Boxes & Figurines - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Ok.. I think we're narrowing in.. "hand crank music mechanism".. Looks like you can just snip the crank off and add a small pulley wheal..

So there seem to be two options.. "hand crank music box movement" which would be a manual setup you'd convert to a pulley..

or "music box module" which is what the electric "movements" are called.

Musical Hand Crank Mechanisms | The Music Box Company

Classic old fashioned hand crank music box. Encased in clear plastic for durability and you can watch the music play. Fun little gifts for children and adults.

themusicboxcompany.com

Not sure I'm loving the selectionthere.. but... the idea seems better...

Maybe not for this, but a punch tape mechanism, cool!

https://www.amazon.com/Wingostore-Notes-Crank-Movement-Copper/dp/B0774TSP3T

The digital ones I'm finding are less cheap than I am...

Custom Sound Module - DIY Digital Music Box Module ONLY

The DIY music box module is a digital option that can hold up to 30 songs. Upload and change music whenever you want with this specialty component today.

www.musicboxattic.com

Uh.. holy smokes! I dunno what kind of music box this goes in haha

Grandest 144 Note Reuge Swiss Music Movement

Buy Grandest 144 Note Reuge Swiss Music Movement for only 3714.17 and get free shipping on your order at MusicBoxAttic.com

www.musicboxattic.com

 

[Ryan Mooney]

I'm not sure what music would be acceptable here, I've never seen a real carousel... Obviously "carousel waltz" seems prefered?

If you're willing/able to take off the spring mechanism and replace it with a drive.. this might become easier..

Carousel Waltz | The Music Box Company

18 note musical mechanism that you can purchase to build your own music box, repair one that you own or install in one of our Italian Jewelry boxes.

themusicboxcompany.com

 

[Ryan Mooney]

Side hijack, but I had to find out what the 144 note movement sounded like.. wow

 

[Paul Douglass]

Well! thanks for the help. Some of those I had already looked at but guess I did not understand what I was looking at. Also watched some the videos and know my thoughts on making the horses go up and down would work, but like I say, just not enough time to play with it now. The music mechanism are cheaper than I thought so I will order one, not be out much if it does not work..

Want to show my little herd of horses I have cut. I made more than I needed because they are fragile and I will probably break something while sanding them. Besides they are fun to make...

 

[Ryan Mooney]

Yeah the mechanisms are just a barrel with nubs that rub against spring fingers to make the tones. Basically a semi-automated Kalimba (there's another one for the list haha). The trick here seems to be getting the motivating force to work with your rotational mechanism which might take a bit of modification and futzying.

People have 3d printed them

Parametric Music Box by wizard23

CUSTOMIZER CHALLENGE CONTEST WINNER - Artistic Category This is a 100% printed customizable music box! Only 3D printed parts are used in the design and it can be assembled and disassembled via printed snapping mechanisms. The project originated when a friend of mine said that he'd only be...

www.thingiverse.com

3D Print a Programmable Musical Instrument

3D Print a Programmable Musical Instrument: This Instructable is for you to build a 3D-printed programmable musical instrument. I was inspired by the beautiful sound from a real music box so I designed, printed and assembled a 1:1 model. This is an interesting project for us to apply mechanic…

www.instructables.com

But the tone quality seems generally poor (plastic fingers, plastic tones..) and for the price I think rebuilding a premade likely gives a lot better durability.

 

[Mike Stafford]

You got a nice herd of prancing ponies there.

 

[Darren Wright]

Sorry, it was late last night when I posted, but meant to say that is a great looking project. I hope you can make one of those work. For the size they may not without some roller supports or something to cut down on friction.

 

[glenn bradley]

Someone may have already hit on this but "Over the Waves" is the melody that I associate with my childhood Merry-Go-Round experiences.

 

[Paul Douglass]

I really appreciate all the help. I agree with your "over the waves' music @glenn bradley . but is that, hear me singing,,,, "when you are in love, it's the loveliest time of the year, stars twinkle above like, something something" darn that is all I remember. Is that over the waves?

So what I ordered is, I went to Cherrytree toys, which is where the author of the pattern said she got hers. I did not find one but the chat lady, suggest one they had for a carousel, it is wind up with a key, plays for 3 minutes, and has a turn table. I do not even know what tune it plays!. I will probably get something like my folks got one year, they owned a couple flower shops... the Christmas mechanize can in. they purchased one piece that was the "singing nuns". You wind it up and they sang "Dominique", a big hit back then. They decided to test them before putting them on the shelf to sell. One they wound up and it started playing "roll out the barrel"! They got all kinds of offers for that one,, but they kept it.

 

[Ryan Mooney]

I really appreciate all the help. I agree with your "over the waves' music @glenn bradley . but is that, hear me singing,,,, "when you are in love, it's the loveliest time of the year, stars twinkle above like, something something" darn that is all I remember. Is that over the waves?

This discussion of all brings back a memory. I bought my mom a music box jewelry box for her birthday once years ago. The place I bought it from had quite a selection of tunes to pick from and I managed to find one that had this little ditty on it...

She not only recognized it, but thought it was a lot less funny that I did for some reason.