It takes a good restorer who knows what they are doing and can make quick repairs to keep things up until the next scheduled overhaul.
Fortunately, since most of the "fantasy music machines" at HOTR are fakes which mime along with a synthesizer, many of these can get by with very little maintenance since a few pneumatic devices not working won't hamper the sound in the least :D
The Mikado, however, actually plays. Only it's sitar and giant sheng are non-functional props.
" the Aida" Music box was off too... and the Organ room was shut down for repairs... the only working "room" was a few of the music boxes and the Red room lol
I now have Treasures checked out and can look at the scale. It is 92-keyless and uses the same paper width and hole spacing as Coinola O-rolls (and probably uses an O-roll frame), but the note layout is based on the 84-key Mortier scale with 8 bass, etc. There are 12 pipe registers, including for bass ranks not normally on register, due to the unusual new windchest construction. There is also a register for the xylophone and one for the tremolo, as well as 14 holes for percussion effects.
It used or uses a paper roll scale specially devised for the instrument and listed in the back of the book "Treasures of Mechanical Music" (which can be found at many libraries). It's been a while since I checked out the book, but I believe there are about 102 functions in the roll... next time I check it out I'll copy down the scale. The original Mortier was an 84-key book player, I believe.
The World's Largest Carousel (which, by the way, is populated with mostly new figures) has a synthesized computer sound system providing the music, with some live percussion (tympani, train bell, etc) also operated by the computer. There used to be a Gebruder Bruder organ there, but it never played until last year, when it was restored and moved to a different building.
Most of the music machines were out of tune when I visited the House on the Rock last week. I don't think the Mikado had that exact problem, though...
The off-key-ness gives the place a nice creepy atmosphere though.
Alright, I took another listen. Though I am impressed as usual with the high quality of the Mortier pipework, I definitely hear the ciphers, which, added to the dissonances written in the arrangement of "Harem Bells", make it rather hard to listen to. I visited the House in August, after you, and it played this piece fine so I think they must have fixed it by then.
Hmmmm, well listening to it it sounds like there is a cipher in one of the organ chests (a cipher is where a note is "stuck on" and plays continuously). Plus it is a bit out of tune anyway. Considering how little original Mortier is in this I am surprised there aren't more malfunctions.
0:45 REAL MORTIER JAZZ FLUTES!
GermanStreetOrgan 3 months ago
I think its a tracking error.
GermanStreetOrgan 3 months ago
They changed the rolls to play something else. This roll might have some rips.
anglerfly 3 months ago
It takes a good restorer who knows what they are doing and can make quick repairs to keep things up until the next scheduled overhaul.
Fortunately, since most of the "fantasy music machines" at HOTR are fakes which mime along with a synthesizer, many of these can get by with very little maintenance since a few pneumatic devices not working won't hamper the sound in the least :D
The Mikado, however, actually plays. Only it's sitar and giant sheng are non-functional props.
KawhackitaRag 2 years ago
This is a great sounding Mortier band organ.
anglerfly 5 months ago
Tear in roll at 1:37 Thats why they changed the rolls. Harem bells is not a good arrangement. I like the new roll posted by Wurlitzer157.
anglerfly 3 months ago
I just went there today! that was AMAIZING!!!!
timburtonfan98 2 years ago
" the Aida" Music box was off too... and the Organ room was shut down for repairs... the only working "room" was a few of the music boxes and the Red room lol
fatalframe95 3 years ago
I now have Treasures checked out and can look at the scale. It is 92-keyless and uses the same paper width and hole spacing as Coinola O-rolls (and probably uses an O-roll frame), but the note layout is based on the 84-key Mortier scale with 8 bass, etc. There are 12 pipe registers, including for bass ranks not normally on register, due to the unusual new windchest construction. There is also a register for the xylophone and one for the tremolo, as well as 14 holes for percussion effects.
KawhackitaRag 3 years ago
Oh Dear, it sounds like the roll might be ripped a little bit, and the register unit is malfunctioning...
anglerfly 3 months ago
House on the Rock is the most amazing bizaar places I have ever been too. LOVE IT!
DarkPrincess1367 3 years ago
It used or uses a paper roll scale specially devised for the instrument and listed in the back of the book "Treasures of Mechanical Music" (which can be found at many libraries). It's been a while since I checked out the book, but I believe there are about 102 functions in the roll... next time I check it out I'll copy down the scale. The original Mortier was an 84-key book player, I believe.
KawhackitaRag 3 years ago
I can say this since I actually know what these things are, and I have a sense of humor: That ending "chord" is spectacular!
KawhackitaRag 4 years ago
It almost hurts to hear it like this. :( The Mikado is by far my favorite of all the music machinesand especially this tune.
grumpybb 4 years ago
why are the music machines out of tune and why not the worlds largest Carousel?.....
nicolaj0154 4 years ago
The World's Largest Carousel (which, by the way, is populated with mostly new figures) has a synthesized computer sound system providing the music, with some live percussion (tympani, train bell, etc) also operated by the computer. There used to be a Gebruder Bruder organ there, but it never played until last year, when it was restored and moved to a different building.
KawhackitaRag 4 years ago
Most of the music machines were out of tune when I visited the House on the Rock last week. I don't think the Mikado had that exact problem, though...
The off-key-ness gives the place a nice creepy atmosphere though.
chicagocanine 4 years ago
Alright, I took another listen. Though I am impressed as usual with the high quality of the Mortier pipework, I definitely hear the ciphers, which, added to the dissonances written in the arrangement of "Harem Bells", make it rather hard to listen to. I visited the House in August, after you, and it played this piece fine so I think they must have fixed it by then.
KawhackitaRag 5 years ago
Hmmmm, well listening to it it sounds like there is a cipher in one of the organ chests (a cipher is where a note is "stuck on" and plays continuously). Plus it is a bit out of tune anyway. Considering how little original Mortier is in this I am surprised there aren't more malfunctions.
KawhackitaRag 5 years ago