Purchase or inquire about this item, Twelve Inch Mira Miraphone Music Box for sale$2500
The example here is not just a 12 inch Mira, but a 12 inch Miraphone, that is, a mechanism that was originally a combination phonograph and music box. Toward the end of the music box era, a few manufacturers put extra gearing in their motors to allow the machine to be fitted with a turntable, tone arm and reproducer. Miraphones are very rare, and in over 30 years of dealing music boxes I have never seen one that was indisputably complete and original. The consensus among collectors, however, is that the Miraphone took some variation of Victor parts.
This machine is an excellent example of the outstanding, brilliant Mira sound. It is one of those rare machines where you can truly say, 'Single comb sounds like double.' There is no damper squeak and it is a pleasure to listen to. Because it is a Miraphone rather than a regular Mira it uses a phonograph type governor rather than a typical music box air brake, and so there is slightly more noise than normal from the governor assembly, but this is not audible once the notes begin to play. I tried making four or five recordings of this box (you can click on the button below to hear one) and although you can get a fair idea of what the box sounds like somehow my microphone can't capture the complete depth of sound on this machine.
Why does the case say Empress if this machine is a Mira? Well, Lyon and Healy in Chicago, which was a giant music supply house, sold the Mira under the name of their house brand, Empress. The only difference is the decal inside the lid. Technically, this machine would have been called a Duo Empress because it also had phonograph parts.
The mahogany case has been nicely refinished and looks good.There's evidence of a few old scratches, and the case has had some repairs (if the details are important to you ask and I'll enumerate them) but the important thing is that the case is structurally sound and has integrity, so that it enhances the sound. The integrity of the case is as important to the sound as the tuning of the comb.
I don't have the phonograph parts (nobody does) but you could adapt something if the phonograph components are truly important to you. I owned this mechanism for 15 years waiting for the right case to come along. So although this Miraphone wasn't originally purchased in this case, it is a 12 inch Mira sitting in a 12 inch Mira case, so it is an original case.
This machine is small enough to easily and safely ship FedEx or UPS anywhere in the US. Send your zip code if you want a shipping estimate. Includes ten nice clean original discs, and should be relatively easy to get additional records for.
$2500 
to this machine (mp3)
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