Tips for Collecting Music Boxes

(431 Words)
Music boxes make lovely pieces to add to a collection. They provide not only a beautiful sight, but lovely music as well. You will find many different choices of music boxes. The following tips can help you start such a hobby.
Decide what type of collection you want to have
You might choose to have an eclectic collection with many different pieces from different time spans. You may not have a lot of money to spend and instead decide to look for modern and inexpensive pieces. Finally, if you have the money, an antique collection may be for you. Get an idea as to the budget that you want to spend. Think about what you are looking for and where you are going to put the collection. Make sure that you have enough space where the music boxes can be kept in good condition.
Do your research
If you choose to look for antique or more collectible music boxes, then you will want to do your research. Different time periods produced different music boxes. Information is widely available on the Internet at websites such as those of the Music Box Society International and Automatic Musical Instrument Collector’s Association. You can look up specific music boxes that you wish to pursue or get an idea of a music box that you are considering. You can also purchase books for more information.
Be careful when purchasing on the Internet
Many people choose to purchase music boxes from eBay. According to Collector’s World, Inc., you should be extremely careful when doing so. Unfortunately there are a lot of dealers who advertise a music box as authentic or antique when instead it is a replica or knock-off. They may truly be unaware of some of the problems of the music boxes. For instance, an antique music box may lose value if its case is replaced. They may not even know this is the case and market it as completely original. To protect yourself, work with a dealer that has a lot of good feedback. You can also pay with a credit card or Paypal to give you added protection.
Look at all the sources for music boxes
There are many other places where you may find beautiful music boxes. Garage and yard sales may turn over something. Antique shops provide an advantage over the Internet since you can actually feel and hear the box for yourself.
Collecting music boxes can be a very enjoyable hobby and provide a beautiful addition to your home. The above tips can help you make a beautiful collection.
Resources:
http://www.collectorsworldinc.com/about.php