O waw, yes, it is a piano with pipes. Not just any pipes, they are of the best voiced pipes in the world. Sounding like real violins or klarinets. This kind of instruments are called orchestrions. How I would love to have one like those!!!!
I'm not well versed enough in these instruments to make a qualified comment, but at a guess I'd say it isn't WurliTzer, as the name doesn't appear on the front and WurliTzer didn't usually miss an opportunity for publicity.
VERY nice Imhof and Mukle, with a terrific roll arrangement! This is probably the best arrangement I've ever heard on an Imhof and Mukle orchestrion!
This instrument is pictured in a few old G.W. MacKinnon catalogs from the 1970s. At that time, they had it for sale in their California store. In an earlier catalog, they note how restoration is progressing, and in a later one, they say it is all done and rave about how good it sounds! Now I can actually hear it and it sounds great!
Wurlitzer cribbed the idea for their "wonderlight" from Philipps. In actuality, it was the European orchestrion makers such as Hupfeld, Philipps, Popper, and Imhof and Mukle who were all trying to out-do each other with more ostentatious and elaborately ornamented case designs.
In my opinion, Philipps and Popper emerged "victorious" in this "competition", tying neck-and-neck with respectfully, their model "Pfau" (Wurlitzer 47 PianOrchestra) and "Felix" models, each with three "wonderlights"!
Not as far as I can tell. I only had a brief time with it. It doesn't have a keyboard, so I don't think it's a player piano as such, but as an organ, it does have a piano mechanism inside it.
It is definitely a large European piano orchestrion. An Imhof and Mukle "Valkyrie" model, to be exact. (like Popper, Imhof and Mukle tended to give their orchestrion models names rather than numbers or letters). I think it has about 195 pipes.
Thats a nickelodeon
anglerfly 1 year ago
Amazing...
Wurlitzer157 1 year ago
Fantastic! Where is this orchestrion now: -Can anyone please tell me?
Rowland107 2 years ago
I'm not sure - is this the Milhous Museum?
KawhackitaRag 1 year ago
O waw, yes, it is a piano with pipes. Not just any pipes, they are of the best voiced pipes in the world. Sounding like real violins or klarinets. This kind of instruments are called orchestrions. How I would love to have one like those!!!!
princeboudewijn 2 years ago
I myself thought it was a WurliTzer due to the disco ball on the top.
ChristainPatriot01 2 years ago
I'm not well versed enough in these instruments to make a qualified comment, but at a guess I'd say it isn't WurliTzer, as the name doesn't appear on the front and WurliTzer didn't usually miss an opportunity for publicity.
wurlitzerwilly 2 years ago
You may have a point there sir.
ChristainPatriot01 2 years ago
VERY nice Imhof and Mukle, with a terrific roll arrangement! This is probably the best arrangement I've ever heard on an Imhof and Mukle orchestrion!
This instrument is pictured in a few old G.W. MacKinnon catalogs from the 1970s. At that time, they had it for sale in their California store. In an earlier catalog, they note how restoration is progressing, and in a later one, they say it is all done and rave about how good it sounds! Now I can actually hear it and it sounds great!
KawhackitaRag 2 years ago
Wurlitzer cribbed the idea for their "wonderlight" from Philipps. In actuality, it was the European orchestrion makers such as Hupfeld, Philipps, Popper, and Imhof and Mukle who were all trying to out-do each other with more ostentatious and elaborately ornamented case designs.
In my opinion, Philipps and Popper emerged "victorious" in this "competition", tying neck-and-neck with respectfully, their model "Pfau" (Wurlitzer 47 PianOrchestra) and "Felix" models, each with three "wonderlights"!
KawhackitaRag 2 years ago
There is one known "Pfau" model in a big Michigan collection, and at least one "Felix" in a big Illinois collection.
KawhackitaRag 2 years ago
Thank you sir.
ChristainPatriot01 2 years ago
Is that both a player piano and mechanical organ?
*orgasms*
tregnier279 2 years ago
Not as far as I can tell. I only had a brief time with it. It doesn't have a keyboard, so I don't think it's a player piano as such, but as an organ, it does have a piano mechanism inside it.
wurlitzerwilly 2 years ago
I can hear Organ-y sounds, in addition to piano sounds.
It could possibly (I have seen some orchestrions like this) organ pipes (up top, hence the tall case) and a piano mechinism (hammers, strings, etc.).
It also sounds like it has a zylophone/glockenspiel type device, as well.
tregnier279 2 years ago
I was just being picky about player pianos. :-)
To be a true player piano, I believe that it would have to have a keyboard and a player mechanism.
I'm certain it's an orchestrion of sorts. There are definitely pipe sounds from within it.
wurlitzerwilly 2 years ago
It is definitely a large European piano orchestrion. An Imhof and Mukle "Valkyrie" model, to be exact. (like Popper, Imhof and Mukle tended to give their orchestrion models names rather than numbers or letters). I think it has about 195 pipes.
KawhackitaRag 2 years ago