Independents

Today, collaborations are all over the place - completely commonplace.  But, over a decade ago, such collaborations weren't frequent occurrences.  Ten years ago, back in 2015; MB&F, JMC Lutherie, and Reuge made 99 of these spaceship music boxes.  A total of 99 pieces; 33 in chrome, black, and white.  My favorite color was the chrome and black one.  Since this spaceship resembled a TIE fighter, the space ship used by the antagonist in the Star Wars space opera, one had to have the more black looking one - it looked more sinister.  

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This spaceship music box is amazing.  It plays 6 different songs.  Three songs per barrel.  There are two barrels, one on each "wing."  Both barrels are attached to its own mechanism and its own 72 note comb.  Since the structure is rigid steel, there was a problem with sound transmission - as steel is somewhat heavy and dampens the sound vibrations.  The engineers at MB&F and Reuge realized they needed a third partner; the whole assembly sits on a special spruce wood base that is suspended in a way that promotes full resonance.   Some of you who own minute repeaters will recognize the name JMC Lutherie.  The wood base was engineered by JMC Lutherie and really showed a lot of engineering went behind this piece.  JMC Lutherie formerly made special soundboards for watch companies with striking watches.  

Over a decade ago, I was imploring many brand CEOs and Presidents to not only focus on watches as a core product, but to introduce other lifestyle products to create an ecosystem.  Obviously, my words were mostly unheeded; my suggestions weren't practical nor pragmatic - why would a Product Manager risk his job and bonus for something that is not his nor the company's core competency?  Also, jewelry stores may not have the physical space to showcase such large items.  And customers weren't even thinking that far out of the box to ask for something outside of a watch or clock.  Also, for a brand to have to partner with another brand to have their vision realized, it creates difficulties on how to share costs and share profits.  Despite all of these problems, MB&F realized the importance of having a fun and exciting product early in its founding.  It started the Music Machine program in 2013 with the Music Machine 1, then Music Machine 2 came out looking like a Star Trek Enterprise spaceship, and Music Machine 3 debuted in 2015.  While it is true, my suggestion of creating "lifestyle" products and creating an "ecosystem" isn't a very profitable idea for MB&F, I will say, the raw delight of seeing a Music Machine 3 still gets me excited even to this day.  And hearing how well it sounds - just goes to show - the concept was really well executed!  

Bravo to the team at MB&F!  And Bravo to 10 years to the Music Machine 3!  

Music Machine 1 Reloaded debuted in 2023

Music Machine I started the whole show back in 2013.  

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