Imhof & Mukle Orchestrion 1879 ~ ~ 'Irish Airs'
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- The orchestrion is the property of Birmingham Museums, the recording is from 1967.
The instrument was originally made in 1879 for the Blackpool aquarium at a cost of £3000, when the tower was erected in 1894 the orchestrion was installed in the tower buildings. The inststument is housed in a wooden case with glass panels and measures 13ft. high, 9Ft. wide, and 6Ft. deep. When the orchestrion fell into decline at Blackpool it was dismantled and taken to Birmingham. ~ • Imhof & Mukle Orchestr...
It is very sad that such a beautiful instrument with such varied sounds and moreover very beautiful musical arrangements, remains locked up in cases and that nobody can hear it, what a shame!
I remember this mechanical music machine when I was a youngster in the late 1940/50s. We would be taken to the Tower Aquarium and would proudly put in a Penny to set the Orchestrion playing. We particularly liked watching the drums play.
It brings back memories. I thought of going to Birmingham to see it "in the flesh" until I heard here of its current plight.
I hope it will be resurrected and that I live to see (and record) the day.
Très AGREABLE, cette musique créé le défilement de quantité d'image Folkloriques
J'apprécie
Very good Studio Quality recording. Thank you for sharing! This Music has its own Charme, and having an apparatus of that magnitude "fall into decline" is an indication of a century where we do not care that this Music triggers the good vibrations in some like I if not many. Kind regards from Germany.
The old museum in Newhall street was demolished to make way for development and the orchestrion was dismanteled and placed into packing cases and moved to a new location in Birmingham. It is still owned by the museum, i was told that the museum where the instrument is now has not the room to display it, its still packed up in packing cases so at least its still here but the condition is unknown!
Recent correspondence with the museum indicates that the orchestrion is packed away for 'safety'. In reality, those in charge are not interested in it and believe they are doing a great job in preserving it! We must try to get this set up somewhere where it can be appreciated and played regularly. All those interested must write to the museum to show how much interest there is in getting it back into public view and operation.
Hello - I am a Amateur Blackpool Historian also Honoury Official Friend of The Blackpool Tower - Member of Timeline.
I remember this instrument too.
I am going to contact and visit the Museum - And make it my Mission to see if we can maybe loan and return this Historic Piece to The Blackpool Tower - I will report back with my efforts.
They had a second Imhof orchestrion,one of the most important instruments in existence,but it has not played for over 55 years !! Both these organs are crying out for restoration.
karl, is the second organ you referring to the one which was at the great exhibition in the crystal palace - which orde-hulme says is the spiegelhalter euterpeon (which got such a rottten newspaper review at the time "groans" "din"? listening now to the "minstrel boy to the war has gone" and other irish airs this one sound good!
A Pretty Maid (or Girl) Milking her Cow is one of my most favorite old tunes. Just wish this lovely instrument had been better adjusted and tuned, but it's still a fantastic thing to hear
Tragically now in packing cases. Still owned by Birmingham, who seemingly want nothing nothing to do with the instrument :-(
Interesting music.
I found a similar instrument in hotel Villa Imhof in Bloemendaal, Netherlands
The owner is a collector, I don't know if it works