A music box is a device which automatically plays music when wound. It first appeared during the 19th century in Switzerland and came in all shapes and sizes. The box create music when the raised pins on a rotating metal (usually brass) cylinder hit the teeth of a steel comb causing them to vibrate and produce different notes. The cylinder turns when a spring mechanism is wound.
Antique music boxes are typically made of wood and feature intricate designs. They can be small enough to fit on the palm but there are also large pieces that look like furniture. Apart from wood, plastic and cardboard are common materials used for making modern music boxes. Music boxes that double as jewelry boxes are popular gift items for women particularly little girls.
Because of its fragile components and delicate inner workings, a music box must be properly packed prior to shipping. Here are some tips on how to properly pack and ship a music box to ensure that it arrives in excellent condition and continue to fascinate the recipient with the melody it produces.
Make sure that the spring mechanism has ran out and the song has completely finished before packing the box so that all the pins on the cylinder no longer lift up any tooth on the comb. Also wrap any accessory, such as a ballerina figurine, in tissue paper before placing inside one of the compartments of the box. Use pieces of bubble wrap to prevent the ballerina or other loose accessories from moving around inside the music box.
Close the lid and wrap the box in tissue paper. Then wrap the entire box in a couple of layers of bubble wrap, paying extra attention to edges and corners which are prone to damage. Use packing tape to keep the wraps in place.
Place the music box inside a shipping box with a layer of packing peanuts at the bottom. The item should be in its upright position, otherwise, the musical mechanisms might get damaged. Fill empty spaces on the sides and top of the box with more packing peanuts to make sure that the item will not move around during transit. Close the box and seal with packaging tape.
Double box an antique or highly valuable music box to lessen the chances that it will get damaged during transit. It should be packed well without any movement from inside. Secure the package with heavy duty packaging tape.
Address and label the package accordingly and take to your local post office of shipping company. Consider buying insurance for valuable shipments.