At the turn of the 19th to the 20th century, a curious marvel of German engineering emerged—the polyphon. It was more than a device; it was a conjurer of music from bare metal. Invented by Paul Lochmann in Leipzig, its magic lay in the way melodies were imprinted onto thin metal discs. As the disc rotated, tiny protrusions beside delicately punched holes would pluck the steel teeth of a musical comb. Each tooth sang a different note. And once set in motion, the result was like an angelic orchestra performing from inside a box.

That box, by the way, was a beauty in its own right. It resembled an elegantly decorated jewelry case—but instead of gems, it held a different kind of treasure.