Contains diagrams of the various types of mechanical movements used over the centuries, indices of manufacturers, box styles, and tune sheets, complete American and British patent lists, and tips on maintaining, repairing, and purchasing boxes. Many of the loveliest musical boxes ever crafted are illustrated in color, with hundreds more b/w photos showing their mechanical workings. 80 diagrams explaining their functions help collectors use, maintain and repair boxes in their collections.

Thirty-eight delightful designs will make you want to create a music box for everyone you know. For the holidays, reindeers paw in "Up on the Housetop", and snow gently falls for "Silent Night", while Santa bears gifts for boys and girls to "Here Comes Santa Claus". Each one is shown in beautiful full color, followed by "recipe-style" instructions with a list of materials needed for each project and simple numbered steps for easy assembly.