Concert Roller Organ
Concert Roller Organ
- Description
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This roller organ was most likely made by the Autophone Company in Ithaca, New York, around 1885-1899. It is a Concert 20-note model, with 20 reeds and a hinged glass front cover. This roller organ plays a metal-pin-studded wooden cylinder also called a “cob.” A hand crank activates the vacuum bellows and turns the cylinder. When a pin in the roller comes in contact with the hinged end of one of the organ valves it causes the valve to lift, allowing air into the reed chamber and sounding the desired note. Printed paper directions are attached to the inside of the rear cover. Accessioned with 28 wooden rolls (MI.74.11a.01-.28). Stencilled on top of the roller organ:
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Concert Roller Organ
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Object Name
- roller organ
- date made
- 1885-1899
- user
- Meggers, Edith R.
- place made
- United States
- Physical Description
- wood (overall material)
- metal (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 12 1/2 in x 18 1/8 in x 18 1/4 in; 31.75 cm x 46.0375 cm x 46.355 cm
- ID Number
- MI.74.11
- catalog number
- 74.11
- accession number
- 314637
- Credit Line
- Bequest of Edith R. Meggers
- See more items in
- Cultural and Community Life: Musical Instruments
- Music & Musical Instruments
- Mechanical Musical Instruments
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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