Time to get some accesories!

MTA · Time to get some accesories!

As mentioned elsewhere on the forum, I bought a music box from Forest Classics today. Here are a couple of pics. Not as good as mine usually are, but I cycled home in the pitch black and it is rather cold outside!

The tune it plays is 'La vie en rose'. Apparently there are three tunes:

Happy birthday (which Phil of Forest Classics doesn't bother ordering)
Fleur de Lise
and the one I have

I suspect I won't run this with the oscillators as the noise from the engine will mask that from the music box

I intend to get more accesories for my engines, so watch this space

Lewis

i love that

does forest sell them ? if so i may have to get one

MTA

steamyjim

Very nice MTA!

Manxman

You can get those in lots of places and with a whole range of tunes. I've brought a few in the last couple of years. And you can pay less than £10.00. Just do a quick eBAy for music box. One of those is up in 30 mins, currently at £3.29 and playing The Entertainer.

As for noise level. MTA try it on a biscuit tin or sweet tin. You'll be surprised how loud you can get them.

MTA

It was one of those 'impulse' buys Chris, and no-one was selling them at the show so I bought it

Thanks for the tip about using a tin, I will have to try that

James

Looks great MTA!

£10?

What does the tune sound like? Video?

MTA

James

O aye lad I know what you mean!

Bit stiff!

H2o vapour

Hi,

Manx is dead right , these are available in many types and tunes, look up Hobbies.

They have them where you can have different spools fitted that play several tunes. They are a bit more expensive though. Also, I think that these need to be played at a constant and critical speed, so you may need to look at that.

The other point that Manx made is again very sailiaent, they need to sound box to play on. Their sound will amplify greatly if they have a sound box, try it!!

Good luck!!

H20

Reid

Whoa for a second: H2O and Manx, are you saying that you can buy a variety of different movements, all outfitted to be belt driven as MTA's is?

I see his movement is without the usual spring motor, reduction gears, butterfly governor.

His movement is simplified, fitted by the factory for worm drive of the cylinder.

I have here an uncased toy music box of the wind up variety.
I will photo it in a minute and show how different it is from the ones Forrest Classics is offering.
His are ready to work models. The example here is a wind up music box movement---and so, how would one easily convert it to steam engine drive?

(video in half an hour)

Reid

PS: the model will best resonate on any light (not dense nor terribly heavy) surface, the larger the better.

A tissue box or a tin or---many things.

Resonance: the tiny teeth of the box cannot stir much air.
But they do put their energy into the relatively massive frame.

Now, the frame, too lacks ability to move much more air;
it's not much of a speaker 'cone' so to speak (see how it all works now?)

So, if we couple the music box frame to a relatively vibrate-able surface:
the coupled, large, object will be able to MOVE the air and make a big sound.

exampling an older wind up movement and resonance effects

The more resonant and large your sounding board, the greater the volume from the tiny music box.

I you have an acoustic guitar around, try pressing the toy music box movement to its back or front board. It will fill the room with sounds,
energy afforded by the tiny vibrations of stiff steel tines.
Pianos work on this same principle.

redryder

MTA, that is a great idea !

Gil

Reid

I think its grand. I did not know they had these naked movements all ready to sell hook up.
What fun!

Mister Occlusion

I've got one of those, but with a little crank handle on it driving the movement via worm gear.

I had always imagined running one from a stirling engine.

Nick

Can't wait for a video of this one.

Cranko

Me Too

MTA

Seeing as I am not at ModelWorld today, watch this space

Although annoyingly I think I don't have any fuel for the engines

Atticman

Shouldnt have drunk so much before you pedalled home last night Si

MTA

Shush!

steamgranny

Have exact same one with exact same tune, mounted on a wooden sounding box that really helps but can't gear it down enough to drive at any sort of sensible speed despite multiple transmission units, using biggest pulleys

Will be interested in your results MTA.

MTA

Thanks steamgranny.

A video is being uploaded as I type this

Annoyingly the main part of the video when the TE1A was running in forward gear was 'corrupt' and my PC won't read it

So the video is shorter...

MTA

Atticman

Nick

I like the sound of that and enjoyed seeing how it worked. Thanks!

MTA

steamyjim

Runs well MTA!

You can run the worm drive in both directions...BUT you cant back drive the worm eg drive the worm from the gear

From memory the music box you have has a ratchet in so as only to allow it to turn 1 way

MTA

You are right Jim, it does have a ratchet.

This is presumably so that the tune will play in the right order. Or, as Eric Morecambe once said:

The right notes but not neccessarily in the right order

steamyjim

That is sooooooooooo funny!

johnreid

Reid

Yes, it has to have a ratchet to prevent wrong way drive.

To drive the cylinder backwards would at best damage the cylinder pins, the drive, and the comb.

I'll run a show-and-share on basic music box movement construction in tech tips.

The tune wants to be played way, way slower, the slower the better,
but you know that already!

Good show. Excellent speaking voice.
Do you give diction lessons to Northerners by any chance?
I'll tell James to take a listen, ha ha! It's fun to rub James, good sport.

MTA

No, I never had diction or elecution lessons.

My dad uses large words like myself, oh, and I was born in Surrey and lived there until I was 6...

Sandman

I had electrocution lessons at one time.

Shocking they were.

MTA

James

Tis I that talks proper

Urgh A/A* GCSE English

MTA