Michelsonne Toy Piano - 4 octaves - Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring

New (to me) Michelsonne Toy Piano just arrived from France. This is the super rare 4 octave (49 note) model. The design was developed by Victor Michelsonne (1904-1983) in the late 1930s, and they were available with one, two, three, or four octave, both upright and grand models. The keyboards of the upright models fold up into the instrument for transport and protection. The company built toy pianos in Paris from 1939 until 1970 when a fire destroyed the workshop.
I think this one is from the 1960s. It has clear plastic hammers whereas earlier ones had wooden hammers. The cabinet is made from either oak or ash. The plate above the keyboard is tin. The keys and action are plastic. It has metal tines which are ubiquitous to post-Depression toy pianos. (Look up my video of the antique Schoenhut to piano for an example of pre-Depression toy pianos which had metal bars akin to a glockenspiel. It is a totally different sound.) Michelsonne pianos are valued because of their careful, precise tuning and other overall quality. They far surpass any other post-Depression toy piano maker in sound. They have been called the “Stradivari of toy pianos”.
When the piano arrived in the US after it’s long journey, there were a few conditions with the action. This has mostly been fixed, but a few of the keys do not want to repeat easily. I’ll work more on this, but I couldn’t help but go ahead and post a video to show it off. I hope you enjoy!

[@henryToped]

I love old school mechanical stuffs

[@darenbanarse8924]

lovely playing, lovely piano, lovely field! I have a 30 key version, gorgeous sound

[@TheLazyProject90]

wonderfully ❤

[@yunpianist]

wow...49 key!!

[@harpsichordkid]

Yes! So fun to play with the timbre difference between the highest and lowest notes

[@fightpollution]

@@harpsichordkid it sounds heavenly delightful

[@omarnaboulsi7263]

يستحق المتابعة اشتركو عنده مبدعIt deserves to be continued, sign up with a creative person

[@dm0895]

nice video :)

[@harpsichordkid]

Thank you =D

[@joannelee3035]

wow! really beautiful sound! just wonder how much this rare 49 keys it cost? :)

[@vicomteraoul3619]

WAWWWWWWW where did you get it ?

[@harpsichordkid]

Dude in a back alley had a bunch of toy pianos in his trench coat....and one unicorn kidney 🤷‍♂️

[@vicomteraoul3619]

@@harpsichordkid yes ok nice it was on eBay ?

[@harpsichordkid]

No. I met a musician from France and she had one for sale. You might find one on eBay though.

[@AndrewJenkinsDesign]

I played this instrument in high school band, and have been trying to find out what people call it… what names do you have?!?

[@instrumentalheadquarters7062]

Not sure other than toy piano.

[@instrumentalheadquarters7062]

All though I dont really think its a toy. What did you have to play it for in highschool

[@deedee5502]

A celesta?

[@instrumentalheadquarters7062]

@@deedee5502 I can see that but it id still pretty different.

[@TheLazyProject90]

what brand is it On the piano you are using ?

[@Frenchie1116]

Michelsonne