"Clarabella" orchestrion with automaton
"Clarabella" orchestrion with automaton
Germany, Leipzig
1909–1920
Popper & Co
Wood, metal, leather, glass, fabric, plastic, mirror; Joinery, mechanical work, varnishing, wood carving, painting
245 x 148 x 94 cm, weight 450 kg
On the soundboard: a trademark depicting a seated lion with a shield featuring the letters “PCo”; above it, the inscription: “Poppers Orchestrion”. On the nameplate: “Rürollhebel muss am Ende des Stückes in den Winkel ein-fallen; er wird dadurch herunter – gezogen und öffnet das Ventil”. On the mechanism parts: “Hebel zum Abstellen des Schlagzeiges”, “Pedal”, “Xylophon”. On the motor: “Würtenberger & Haas, 75 Karlsruhe”, ”Nr. 85-258 Typ M / VA 89 HZ 50/60 / VPr. 220 Sek 14/14/22 / Apr 00.41 Sek 0,5/0,5/3.0”. On the paper music roll: “#P1 POPPER / PROGRAMM / Potpourri 1927”.
The orchestrion mechanism, housed inside the case, consists of a piano with a mandolin effect, two drums (bass and snare), a triangle, cymbals, and a xylophone. When a coin is dropped, the orchestrion mechanism is activated, a melody encoded on the paper music roll plays, and the automaton comes to life: it replicates the movement of waterfall streams, while a car, followed by a girl with a stroller whose skirt is blown up by the wind, consecutively appear on the bridge. Twenty paper music rolls are included in the set.
1680.1-4/ММП