Go to Goodwill and get an electric can opener and pull the motor out of it.
The last one I got cost me $2...

Or the motor from an electric alarm clock - $.75 for the last one I
bought...

Or even a music box, I think I saw one for about $4, but it was a wind up
one...

"Errol Groff" wrote in message
news

A friend of the wife who does a lot of machine embroidery recently
purchased plans for a 12" carousel. She has been looking for a
mechanism to power it (think music box mechanism?).

Does anyone have any thoughts on where to find such a device?

Errol Groff