Popper's Clarabella Orchestrion in Statesville NC

April 2013 Recording

[@barbaramoran8690]

One of the greatest toys of all time .I can’t understand why they quit making them .They are so COOL!!!

[@Danadop]

I beg your pardon for the words I'm about to use but it's most likely because they were hard as fuck to build and expensive as hell. These instruments were used around 1800, and back then it was much easier to build and pay for an machine that plays for an entire band alone than having an entire band. Nowadays we can listen to music whenever we want to, anywhere we want to, but that wasn't a reality in the old days. A lot of people would never even hear a instrument for their entire lifes, and those who did had the luck to be around a band or rich enough to hire a band (belive me they were really expensive). And to deal with the difficulty to decorate perfectly more than 20 pieces without missing a single note, these music automatons does not require rest, practice, or even time to preparate. But I do have to agree that is a shame no one else in the world makes them. I don't think you can even find someone to build one. God knows how much joy it would bring me to have one of these at home.

[@Qeswara]

It is not a " toy "

[@Kate-zw5oe]

D.C. Ramey Piano Company, based in Ohio, still makes orchestrions (what the company calls "automatic musical instruments"), and they also restore old ones. There are a number of videos of a Ramey "Banjo-Orchestra" machine playing different tunes, for example at kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5-laKtteNKZeNk

[@larryjohnson6385]

Can you imagine how much they would cost?

[@masklavier]

@@Danadop They were used from around 1900 to the late 1920s before the phonograph took their place. Also, there are a few people who still actively restore and repair these instruments. I'm currently in the process of building my own orchestrion out of a player piano. A fully restored Clarabella would cost around 50,000 to 80,000 USD depending on the make and model. Some of them had complicated lighting fixtures, and some had more simple cabinets.

[@boombox4037]

I just love how these things work it’s like clockwork

[@Whosback1]

Wonderful arrangements using all numatic units and with flare.

[@KawhackitaRag]

This looks like a real fun instrument. Can't wait to hear it once restored! It doesn't sound like it needs much here!!!

[@billsoper1411]

I recovered the pump and all pneumatics in 1975 and the valve leather facings 2 years ago.

[@larryjohnson6385]

Love this😍😍totally awesome 👍😎

[@gregoryagogo]

Great strong sound, and cute song!

[@CoinolaRus]

Very lively tune. This is a very nice arrangement.

[@CRH1A-1145]

Do you know the title of the piece?

[@tussetuss]

"Little Tin Soldier" @@CRH1A-1145

[@CRH1A-1145]

Thanks but by whom?

[@Pianosyncrazy]

and this is before restoration... sounds great !

[@colsanjaybajpai5747]

Beautiful tune and wonderful organ

[@RobertsRestorations]

This unit is now being totally restored by Roberts Musical Restorations. Go there to follow progress.

[@Keith-re2nw]

Marx Brothers playing together!

[@CRH1A-1145]

WORK LIST: 00:00 = Siegfried Translateur: Hochzeitszug nach Liliput Restored: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bmHXhoupqaqLa5Y 04:00 = Ludwig Siede: Chinesische Straßenserenade Restored: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gWrKcqCcnNSld8U

[@antoinebihr8921]

Does anybody know the name of the song ? I know it'a also featured in Disney's Silly Symphony "Santa's Workshop", but I can't seem to find its name ...

[@CRH1A-1145]

I wished to know it too! The factory scene is amazing.

[@traubeminze810]

0:00 Hochzeitszug nach Liliputt 4:00 Chinesische Strassenserenade

[@CRH1A-1145]

@@traubeminze810 Many thanks for this! Finally revealed.

[@billsoper1411]

It is a Bacigalupo (Excelsior) roll arranged for Popper so I don't think it has a Popper roll number.

[@jadengilbert7819]

Amazing 🤩😍

[@traubeminze810]

0:00 Hochzeitszug nach Liliputt 4:00 Chinesische Strassenserenade

[@billsoper1411]

Thank you !

[@CRH1A-1145]

Really appreciated! Finally revealed.

[@KawhackitaRag]

Is this it playing on its original cloth and leather, or did it have one rebuild at some point in the past?

[@punkkyle99]

Where is this?

[@wigwagstudios2474]

>8O

[@236483]

What roll number is this?

[@jaredharris1940]

I dare you.to.keep your feet still!!!