Details

The sound sources of this orchestrion are strings, struck by felt-covered wooden hammers, a metallophone, and a xylophone. The piano? has 54 keys. The accompanying cylinder was programmed by Alexander Cornand, the son-in-law of builder Pierre Paul van Roy. The 10 musical arrangements are of very high quality.

Café music has always been a big part of Belgian life. The cylinder programme was still used in village cafes long after the introduction of the paper role. Named ‘Tingeltangel’ after the typical sound they make, these musical instruments were still widely loved. The instrument, consisting of a piano, tone bars and xylophone, was built in Aalst by Pierre Paul van Roy. His son-in-law Alexander Cornand provided the arrangements on the music cylinder. After inserting a coin, you could listen to one of the ten tunes. The spring motor had to be wound up every five songs or so by the café owner.

The peak of popularity of this type of instrument was between about 1880 and 1905. However, production also took place before this and continued for a long while after. The instruments were intended for use in venues such as dance halls, pubs and restaurants. This example stood in a Belgian café near Aalst. And, like most orchestrions of this type, this 'Tingel-Tangel' also features polished mirror panels with angled corners, carvings and inlays in the panels.

Café music has always been a big part of Belgian life. The cylinder programme was still used in village cafes long after the introduction of the paper role. Named ‘Tingeltangel’ after the typical sound they make, these musical instruments were still widely loved. The instrument, consisting of a piano, tone bars and xylophone, was built in Aalst by Pierre Paul van Roy. His son-in-law Alexander Cornand provided the arrangements on the music cylinder. After inserting a coin, you could listen to one of the ten tunes. The spring motor had to be wound up every five songs or so by the café owner.