Details
Image(s)
TitleRoll-Playing Orchestrion 'Arburo'
CreatorArburo (manufacturer), Arthur Bursens (orchestrionbouwer), Gustaav Roels (orchestrionbouwer)
PlaceAntwerp (Belgium), Antwerp (Belgium), Antwerp (Belgium)
Year ca. 1930
Object number0021
Object categorymechanical instruments with organ pipes, orchestrions
Object nameorchestrion with organ pipes, orchestrion with roll
DescriptionThe term 'orchestrion' can still be nicely summed up in the words of Romke de Waard (as printed in the 1971 museum catalogue) who defines it as, "An automatically playing musical instrument intended to keep visitors pleasantly occupied indoors by producing music similar to that of a company of living musicians."
This particular orchestrion works pneumatically and has 88 command holes and varied instrumentation. The percussion consists of a large and small drum, triangle, cymbal and woodblock. There are also stops for violin, viola, clarinet, jazz flute, cello, celesta. Finally, there is a general tremulant and one for jazz flute. The pneumatics and percussion work on a vacuum and there is air supply for the pipe registers.
Accompanying textsObviously, the paper roll system allowed a wide variety of music to be played. On the Arburo, jazz music comes into its own particularly well. Most of the music on the accompanying rolls are Belgian songs arranged by Urbain van Wichelen (Antwerp) or supplied by Eugène de Roy. The newer rolls were produced by Maarten van der Vlught, from Tilburg, in the years 1990-2010.
The model was mass-produced in Hoboken (Antwerp, Belgium) by the firm Arburo. However, the fronts were almost all different. This particular 'Arburo' in all likelihood stood in a harbour pub in Antwerp. In the 1950s, Gijs Perlee (Amsterdam) bought the orchestrion. He loaned it out for the 1952 exhibition 'Van Muziekdoos tot Pierement', from which Museum Speelklok eventually emerged. After that, the orchestrion briefly had another owner, before it was sold to Romke de Waard, who later donated it to the museum.
The model was mass-produced in Hoboken (Antwerp, Belgium) by the firm Arburo. However, the fronts were almost all different. This particular 'Arburo' in all likelihood stood in a harbour pub in Antwerp. In the 1950s, Gijs Perlee (Amsterdam) bought the orchestrion. He loaned it out for the 1952 exhibition 'Van Muziekdoos tot Pierement', from which Museum Speelklok eventually emerged. After that, the orchestrion briefly had another owner, before it was sold to Romke de Waard, who later donated it to the museum.
Dimensions
geheel height: 265 cm
geheel width: 180 cm
geheel depth: 115 cm
geheel width: 180 cm
geheel depth: 115 cm
Digital references