Antique Thorens Switzerland 4 1/2 Metal Disc Player Walnut Music Box – Works. The wood box case measures 6 1/4″ x 10 5/8″ and 4 high closed. Box is solid & sturdy with minor wear to the finish. I carefully wound the player and it started working fine when I switched to on position. Comes with the single disc shown that has wear but works. The comb appears to have 1 broken tine. See my detailed photos. In 1883 Hermann Thorens began making music box mechanisms in Sainte-Croix (Ste-Croix), Vaud, Switzerland. An initial producer of musical boxes and clock movements (which they were still producing in the 1950s), they started producing Edison-type phonographs in 1903. The firm produced musical movements and music boxes until 1985, when their music box department, was bought by Reuge SA. Known for its modern cylinder movements, which are found in many popular collectors’ items, such as wooden boxes with revolving tops. The revolving portion often had wooden, hand-carved figures, made by for example Anri, and the base usually had a 28-note movement. The company’s movements are also found mounted in a wide range of cases, ranging from simple, well-finished plain boxes to boxes with ornately decorated wooden inlay designs. The company was bought by Paillard after WWII, and Jean Paul Thorens opened a factory in L’ Auberson to produce movements under the trade name Melodies. The oldest of the Thorens Disc Boxes have open movements. These boxes will date before 1930. The oldest of the disc players also have a single piece swing arm which was in use until the mid to late 1950’s.