How to use and care for your music box

Every Linh Lang music box uses an 18-note wind-up movement with three main parts:

• The spring: it stores energy when you turn the key, then releases it slowly to turn the drum.
• The drum: a metal cylinder dotted with tiny pins arranged to match the melody.
• The comb: a row of metal teeth, one note each. The pins pluck the teeth to make the sound.

The drum and comb are aligned very precisely. A single knock or a stray object can leave the melody out of tune, quieter, or stuck, so most of the tips below are about protecting those two parts. For more detail, read how a music box works.

• Turn the key steadily in the direction it winds. You'll hear a soft clicking.
• Stop as soon as it feels tight: the spring is full, and forcing it further can damage it.
• Don't force the key the other way. That direction is locked to hold the spring, and forcing it can break the catch inside.
• You don't need to wind it fully every time. A few turns are enough for a short tune.

Do

• Set the box on a flat, steady surface while it plays. A wooden tabletop also makes the sound fuller and warmer.
• Hold it with both hands when you move it, especially while it's playing.
• Let it play a tune every now and then, even if it's mostly on display.

Don't

• Touch the comb or the drum, or poke anything into them, even to test or clean them.
• Stop the drum with your finger while the music is playing.
• Take the movement apart, oil it, or spray lubricant inside.
• Drop it or knock it hard: one impact is enough to throw the drum and comb out of line.
• Let water, drinks or damp get into the box.
• Leave young children to play with it unsupervised.

Your box is made of natural wood, so damp and heat are its worst enemies.

• Keep it somewhere dry and airy, away from direct sun, stoves, heaters and air-conditioning vents.
• In humid weather, keep it in a closed cabinet or next to a silica gel pack. Wood that soaks up moisture can swell, then shrink and crack as it dries.
• Dust it with a soft, dry cloth. Never use a damp cloth, alcohol or cleaning products on the wood, the engraving or the printed panel.
• For long-term storage, wrap it in a cloth bag or keep it in a paper box so dust can't reach the movement.
• The wood's colour may shift slightly over time and with light. That's the nature of real wood, not a defect.

• Film yourself opening the parcel and trying the box. We can only handle after-sales and warranty requests with a clear, unedited video.
• Wind it and play a tune straight away, then check the wood and the engraving closely.
• If you find a technical fault, such as cracked wood, a movement that won't play, or engraving that doesn't match what you approved, tell us within 7 days of delivery.
• If it was damaged in transit, photograph the parcel and the piece and send them within 3 days of delivery.

If the fault is on our side, we remake, replace or refund it. See our Refund policy for details.

• Wind a few turns and listen again. Often it has simply run down.
• Check for wrapping paper, packing foam or anything else caught around the movement. If you see something, ease it out gently without touching the comb's teeth.
• A buzzing or off-key sound may mean the drum and comb were knocked out of line. Don't try to adjust or open it yourself.
• Still no luck? Film a short video while you wind it and send it to us through the Contact page. We'll take a look and tell you what to do next.