Custom Music Box.

The module is seated in a fixed pocket under the lining, so it can't move against the walls. A loose mount rattles and dulls the sound, and a traditional wind-up movement goes flat if it isn't held rigid. The lining hides the works and damps any buzz from the case.

A grille panel in the lining or base lets the sound through without showing where it comes from.

A sensor switch linked to the lid starts playback as soon as it opens and stops it when it closes. The hinge has to be aligned accurately because it drives the switch, and a lid that sits slightly crooked will trip it late or not at all. We set the hinge and switch together on the sample.

The switch is also designed so the box doesn't start playing in the mail when it gets jolted.

Yes, recordable chips let the sender record a personal message, which is the most affecting use of the format. Playback length depends on the chip, from a few seconds up to a few minutes. Volume is tuned so it plays clean without distortion, even when filmed on a phone.

For a campaign using licensed music, your team clears the rights and we load the audio file you supply.

We build in paulownia, birch plywood, MDF or balsa, finished in a natural stain or paint. Paulownia is light and takes stain evenly. Birch ply gives a harder, more durable case, and MDF is the choice when the box will be painted in a solid colour.

Branding goes on by laser engraving or screen print, and felt or velvet lines the interior. Hinge lids, slide lids and a magnetic closure are all options, along with branded hardware.

Common sizes are 8 x 6 x 4 inches and 10 x 8 x 5 inches. Both leave room under the interior for the sound module, speaker and battery. Measure your keepsake or product and we'll work out the depth needed below it, then fit custom dividers if there's more than one item.

Outer sizes are given as length by width by height, with the lid closed.

We make these in runs of 500 or more. Each box has its own sound module fitted, so the order is closer to product assembly than to a packaging print run. Recordable and pre-loaded versions both start at that number.

Help with the design and dieline is free, and we ship finished boxes throughout the USA.

Standard production is 7 to 10 business days once audio and artwork are approved, and rush brings it to 5 to 7. A working sample takes 5 to 7 business days and lets you hear the playback and confirm the lid switch before the run.

The fee for the sample is credited to the bulk invoice.

The sound module is designed to lift out, so the electronics can be recycled separately and the wooden box kept. Most people keep a music box and hand it on, which is why the case gets a proper finish. Other wood species are available on request.

Batteries ship with isolator tabs fitted, so nothing drains and nothing plays until the recipient pulls the tab.