Symphonion “Eroica” Hall Clock Made by Symphonion-Fabrik A-G, Gohlis, Leipzig, Germany c. 1898-1910 The Murtogh D. Guinness Collection Morris Museum

An imposing presence, the Symphonion “Eroica” combines a Lenzkirch clock (made in Germany’s Black Forest region) with a music box that plays three discs simultaneously. Though disc music boxes were developed in Germany in the 1880s as a lower-cost alternative to the traditional cylinder boxes, some models were still quite expensive—like the “Eroica.” This model was marketed in the United States for $300 in 1898. To get a sense of what that meant at the turn of the century, consider that the Model T Ford automobile cost $850 in 1908.

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