George Baker and Company were one of the leading makers of larger music boxes in Switzerland. In 1874 the company merged with Samuel Troll to become G. Baker-Troll & Co. The partnership was short lived, however, during this time some exquisite music boxes were created including novelty musical furniture.
George Baker & Co Music Box Maker’s Mark
Music box by George Baker & Co. Made c 1885-1895
This music box is significant as a fine example of music box manufacturing and technology in Switzerland during the late nineteenth century. As one of the best examples of a large sized cylinder music box in the Powerhouse Museum’s collection it exemplifies several aspects of the quality and skills that were required to make these mechanical musical instruments.
Manufactured by George Baker and Company, who were one of the leading makers of larger music boxes in Switzerland, this music box shows the quality of materials used for the casework and decoration as well as the precision used to create the mechanism and the pinned cylinder. It is also an example of more complex music boxes with a series of additional effects to enhance the tune being played. This example features chimes or bells, drums and a struck castanet.
The music box is also important as an early example of a form of recorded music which could ‘store’ popular tunes of the period and then be played back an infinite number of times. There are therefore strong parallels to the way we now listen to recorded music and are able to replay it. The information on a pinned music box cylinder is also a way of encoding musical information so again there are parallels to programmed codes used in digital music applications.
As a form of domestic entertainment music boxes were one of the first formats enabling mechanical recorded music to be played in the home. Unlike music recorded on record, CD or a digital format and replayed the music in the music box is played acoustically, activating devices or instruments within the music box to make the sound. However, the intention of having music in the home is still the same, when live musicians are not available. It is convenient and there is a choice of music that can be played, assuming the music box can play multiple tunes. Some larger music boxes were more suited for public entertainment rather than exclusively used for domestic entertainment.
Reference: Museum of Applied Art and Sciences
A Swiss rosewood inlaid interchangeable cylinder musicbox, G.Baker & Co., Sublime Harmony, circa 1890 35-cm cylinder playing one of eight melodies on a two-piece comb, mechanism with double motor and levers for repeat/change and stop/play, rosewood veneered case, the lit with mother of pearl inlay, the tune sheet signed GEO. Baker & Co. Manufacturers, Geneva, interchangeable, sublime harmony, 15714, the moulded ebonized base with a drawer containing three further cylinders length 94cm
Sold for 5,625 EUR at Sotheby’s in 2007
A Swiss musical chair by Geo. Baker, Geneva The carved seat back with applied label reading ‘Geo. Baker, Musical Box manufacturers, Geneva’ and pierced with adelvisse, foliage, goats with a herder, the seat containing a silver music box movement, 47cm wide, 40cm deep, 92cm high (18 1/2in wide, 15 1/2in deep, 36in high).
Sold for £ 400 inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2017
A Harpe Harmonique Piccolo musical box by Geo. Baker & Co. playing eight airs, with double spring motor, tune indicator, tune selector, butterfly govenor and zither on piccolo comb, in crossbanded and inlaid burr-walnut and rosewood veneered case and lid with carrying handles and manufacturers label Geo. Baker & Co. (late G. Baker-Troll & Co.) -30½in. (77.5cm) wide, the cylinder 17¼in. (44cm) wide
Sold for GBP 2,640 at Christie’s in 2005
Petite ladies secretary with built Swiss music box from Troll – Baker, Geneva to 1870/1890. Beautiful, rare specimen with body made of burl wood, with fine veneer and ebonized edges. A drawer at the base keeps the 5 cylinders (11,1 x 2,0 in), each playing 6 airs. The drawers inside the desk are made of yew wood, writing surface is covered with gold embossed leather. Very good condition . 45,42 x 36,46 x 21,3 in
Sold for CHF 16,000 at Swiss Auction Company in 2019
