Images(19)

Barrel Organ

Date1805 to 1820

Artist/Maker Clementi & Co.

OriginEngland, London

MediumPrimary: Mahogany; Secondary: Oak and Deal framework and interior supports; iron and brass hardware; wood barrels with brass pins

DimensionsOH:54 1/2"; OW:25 1/8"; OD:17 1/4"

Credit LineGift of Mr. and Mrs. Harry V. Long

Object number1933-487

DescriptionMade in two sections. Upper section: flat top, hinged at center and rear to allow access to interior; top has molded edge on three sides; straight sides with slightly projecting moldings on sides; square door on left side opens downward so that barrels may be loaded and unloaded from machine; brass lever on right exterior raises and lowers teeth inside so that barrels may be easily inserted; straight front with large, stopfluted pilasters on either side; central panel contains an open, caned oval with painted oval medallion in center; fans radiate from each corner of central panel around oval; keyhole at top to lock top; crank to turn barrels inserted in hole in center of right pilaster (missing in 2014); six stop knobs below central panel on front; the stops are labeled below thus: "Drum, St. Diapason, Principal, Twelfth, Fifteenth, Triangle."

Lower section: slightly wider than upper section with molded upper edge on three sides; straight sides with full door on left side which hinges downward and reveals slotted compartment to accommodate two barrels, front composed of a large, central lunette panel, molded around edge, with central carved oval sunflower; fans extend from two upper corners of front to edge of lunette; slightly arched front skirt; square-section front legs tapering to base with fluted front surface; small carved rosettes at front of legs where leg extends downward from skirt; plain, tapering square-section rear legs.

Interior houses four ranks of fifteen pipes each (60 pipes total), the back (St. Diapason) rank of wood, the other three (Principal, Twelfth, and Fifteenth) of lead alloy; rectangular drum head stretched across frame attached to top and played by two beaters; triangle with two iron beaters attached to right front of interior.

Barrels: Each barrel composed of a large, wood cylinder lined with paper and covered with brass staples corresponding to notes of tunes to be played; at one end of barrel smaller wheel is toothed to fit into worm gear, which is turned manually by crank; brass pin at end contains ten slots, the positioning of which permits a particular tune to be played; barrel sits in simple wooden frame.

Storage Boxes: A pair of original storage boxes, made of deal, and with slotted interiors accompany the organ and hold two barrels each.
Label TextBarrel organs produced music on demand, like a juke box or record player. The user had to continuously crank the barrel organ’s handle for the tunes to play. This barrel organ with 60 pipes hidden in a mahogany cabinet with gilded “dummy” pipes was a luxurious addition to any home. It has 7 barrels, each playing 10 tunes. They include marches, anthems, country dances, and religious psalms. The crank attached to a barrel with pins. As the barrel rotated, the pins activated the sound much like a player piano. Barrels could be changed out for others that played different songs.

InscribedOn painted oval medallion at lower center of upper section of case: "Patent/ Clementi & Compy/ London."
MarkingsThe numbers 447 and 326 are stamped on the top of the panel with the hand stops. The number 995 is stamped on the back of the case (proper right side).

For transcription of lists of tunes appearing on underside of lid and on rolls see Object folder.
ProvenanceGift of Mr. and Mrs. Long of Cohasset, MA, "who owned it for some time" before they offered it to CW in 1933. The Longs were the parents of Mrs. Nash (of Perry, Shaw, and Hepburn).

Exhibition(s)