University of Michigan Stash / Music Box That Plays “The Victors” March

THE MIDWEST. 
Wood Music Box, c. 1990s. 

(Play video to listen to "The Victors." Make sure to turn audio on.)

Score a big win by getting this college collectible that has a place for keeping treasures on one side of its interior and a music box on the other. Decked inside and out with UMICH’s school colors and sporting the signature ‘M’ logo on its lid, it’s an outstanding piece. And the music box plays “The Victors” - official march tune of the Michigan Wolverines football team. Composed in 1898 by a student of the college, it caught the attention of John Philip Sousa, leader of the United States Marine Band. The “March King” held the song in such high regard he played it at an 1899 event in Ann Arbor. This was a huge feather in the cap for the community in general and for the U-M student who wrote it in particular. Louis Elbel composed “The Victors” on a train ride back to Ann Arbor after his team’s gridiron win over the University of Chicago. School fight songs written for marching bands had only recently come into vogue. Boston College can claim to be the first to perform one at a football game played in 1895. Elbel’s two-minute composition not only earned praise from John Philips Sousa, it also continues to top the list of great college fight songs. Wolverines football players and everyone who plays or pulls for the Maize and Blue has reason to cheer for “The Victors” march. This memento box is in excellent shape, with a few flaws on its lacquer-on-wood coating surface. A clear plastic panel has come loose on the gold felt interior, so the workings of the music box itself are exposed, but a partition will keep stored items safely on their own side. It sits on four ball feet. 

Condition: Used Very Good. 
Sports Related. 
Dimensions: 4.5” wide x 3” high x 3.5” deep / 9 oz