Fusee Musical Box by Martinet et Benoit, c. 1830

Geneva, No. 3940, playing four airs, with fine comb of 89 squared teeth with short tips (complete) and numbered comb screws, stamped "Martinet et Benoit", brass bedplate, fusee spring and instant-stop, in stained fruitwood case with exposed controls, dark-red interior, manuscript tune-sheet, the underside with indistinct ink inscription and No. 5943, wd. 11 ¼ in. (28.5 cm), cylinder 6 ¼ in. (15.8 cm) x approx. 1 ½ in. (4 cm) diameter, good playing condition, a few dampers in need of adjustment. With size 16 steel key. – The program offers three operatic airs by Rossini and an unidentified air (Track 2). 1: Serenade from "The Barber of Seville", 2: "Il Bronze a dell Copodia du", 3: an air from "Semiramide", 4: an air from "L'Inganno Felice". – Case and movement are in good, unrestored original condition. The music is pleasingly arranged and the overall effect and the tone attractive. One revolution lasts for around one minute and fifty seconds. – Background: According to research by Luuk Goldhoorn, the firm of Martinet et Benoit was active in the horological branch in Geneva during the first half of the 19th century. Patrizzi's "Dictionnaire des Horloges Genevois" lists Benoit et Martinet as "Établisseurs" (manufacturers) at No. 10 Rue Neuve in Geneva in 1828. – Goldhoorn concludes that Martinet was the business man and Benoit the maker; a Louis Benoit (1732–1825) decorated the automata of Jaquet-Droz and Maillardet and a Gebel Benoit made singing bird boxes. – Production: In addition to watches, the firm also produced a small number of high-quality musical boxes. At present only some dozen snuff boxes and three other signed cartel musical boxes by Martinet et Benoit have been identified. The cartel musical boxes (two of which also feature works by Rossini) bear serial numbers in the same digit range as this example (3725, 3830 and 3948) and date from the 1830s. To date, No. 3940 is the only known fusee box by this maker. – Literature: Luuk Goldhoorn, "Martinet & Benoit", "Music Box Journal" Volume 25/4, pp. 137–144; Chris Fynes, "A Martinet et Benoit Overture Cylinder Box", "Mechanical Music World", April 2016. – A rare musical box of early Geneva production.

布雷克拍品等级是为了方便竞买人判断拍卖品的成色而设置的。布雷克等级用1到6级来标注外观和功能的成色，(从非常好到非常差)。 在目录图册里用括号里的2个数字来表示，前一个数字表示外观成色的级别，后一个数字表示功能成色的级别。如(3/2)表示外观成色是3(满意的)，功能成色2(好)。 成色 定义参照下列标准： 1 - 非常好 (未使用过，没有使用痕迹) 2 - 好 (新，极少的使用痕迹) 3 - 满意的 (普通的使用痕迹) 4 - 及格的 (明显的使用痕迹，某个非主要部件是后配的) 5 - 有缺陷的 (极明显的使用痕迹, 某个主要部件是后配的，功能上有缺陷，需要修理) 6 - 非常差 (严重破损, 缺少重要部件)