Reuge vs Sankyo

Originally written: 11/28/06
Updated: 7/5/2008

For those of you who would like to know some of the major differences between large Reuge and Sankyo movements, the following discussion will prove to be worthwhile. This article does not address movements that have combs with less than 50 teeth (“50-note” movements).

There was a time, during the early '50s, and '60s when Reuge was not the only company making music boxes. However, by the mid '70s, Reuge appears to have been the only company making larger music boxes in Switzerland, or for that matter, in the whole world. The only exception to this would be a 9-inch disc music box that was being manufactured in Germany and the better-known Porter disc music box being made in the United States.

The early Reuge music boxes were excellent, top-notch products by any standards.

During the late '80s Reuge's quality began to gradually decrease. At first, it was only a small amount at a time, but later the quality began to change more specifically. For example, the treble teeth on the combs were slightly heavier than they had been before. This means that the high notes would not have as delicate of a sound as they once did. Also, I have had to adjust the combs on new Reuge movements on at least three occasions. This in itself would have been extremely unusual for the old Reuge.

Reuge’s attitudes and policies toward the public have greatly changed as well. Reuge used to openly sell movements to anyone who wanted them. Now they have become closed-minded, and only sell complete music boxes, and at greatly increased prices - far beyond what they should be.

Sometimes people who are interested in fine music boxes have the notion that only the Swiss music boxes are worthwhile. However, that is not the case with Sankyo. Their quality is unmistakable and though it is true, they have only been making movements for about 30 years or so, they are developing and improving, and are a great source for any serious music box collector.

Even the Swiss bear this out, as Jobin now purchases the main parts from Sankyo and produces “Swiss-made” movements, which they sell in Switzerland and export to other parts of the world.

You see, the Japanese are known for precision manufacturing. Sankyo is well-known for robotics as well as musical movements! Their modern engineering and automated manufacturing allows them to offer exceptional music box movements featuring rich tone and a very polished appearance at unreasonably low prices.

I've heard some concerns about Sankyo's use of plastic and “rubber” parts, and I'd like to address it. Sankyo uses modern engineering, and chose state-of-the-art materials that are better suited to the specific application than metal parts, and will actually hold up better. In testimony to this, one of the rubber parts is used also on Reuge movements (on the "feather"), but Sankyo's kind of “rubber” has proven to last longer. The comb dampers that Sankyo uses also last much longer than Reuge's dampers.

Sankyo’s handicap has been the oriental musical perspective. However as Japan has changed over recent years, their ability to understand and appreciate Western music has also developed. It is no exaggeration to say that many of Sankyo’s arrangements are every bit as good as most of Reuge’s arrangements.

Sankyo is now producing much better combs than Reuge. The treble notes ring a little more delicately than those that Reuge is now making.

It’s important to state that Sankyo’s movements are not an attempt to copy Reuge, but rather a different musical movement. They are more reminiscent of an antique German or Austrian music box than a Reuge. When properly adjusted, Sankyo’s comb is louder than a properly adjusted Reuge comb, as Reuge’s comb is incapable of playing as loudly as Sankyo’s. This difference of volume and musical texture is not a matter of quality, but rather allows for personal preference or taste: some folks prefer Italian food, while others prefer Spanish food. Both new Sankyo movements and pre-80's Reuge movements (if in good condition) are great movements.

Rick Epperly
Founder, BetterMusicBoxes.com