Name/Title
Edmond Heritage's Music Box, Ca. 1880Entry/Object ID
1981.82.1Description
Acc. No. 81.82.1
Subject Category: Music Box
Date or period: Circa 1880.
Object: A music box
Description: Box itself is constructed of exotic woods such as tulip et cetera. The lid of the box exterior has marquetry with motif of musical instruments. The interior contains brass works. The combs being nickel plated. On the lid is a lithograph plate naming twelve selections that the music box played. A glass plate covers the moving works. The trim around the glass being ebonized. On the left hand side is a pocket which contains the crank that motivates the cylinder. On the right is off and on button.
History of Object: This hundred year old music box was presented to the Alameda Historical Society by Mrs. Edmond Heritage, in memory of her late husband, Edmond Heritage. He lived in Alameda for many years and established one of the first nickelodeons (Oak Theater in Alameda, located on Santa Clara Avenue, near Park Street).
Acquired from: Mrs. Edmond Heritage
Date: December 1957Interpretative Labels
Label
3/17/2020 MvL: current label:
NICKELODEON SHOP
ARTIFACTS
Edmund Heritage owned and operated
a nickelodeon shop at 2308 Santa Clara Ave.
during the last quarter of the 19th Century.
The following items are from his shop:
+ A Tork Clock used to regulate the
light fixtures in his store. This brand of
clock was a pioneer in automatic timers.
+ A music box used to provide
background music, featuring operatic
works by Bizet, Wagner and Verdi.
