Search the collections
Similar items over time
Cash Drawer Key - Symphonion, Cole's Book Arcade, circa 1889
Reg. No: ST 018124 13
- Summary:
- Cash drawer key for a symphonion, a clockwork mechanical musical box for playing 25 1/4 inch (641 mm) diameter perforated metal discs. This type of instrument was developed by Paul Lochman of Leipzig, Germany, in 1885, and may be regarded as a forerunner of the juke-box. The symphonion and other mechanical music boxes were very popular in Europe and North America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
This symphonion was ordered from the Symphonion Company, Germany around 1889, by Charles Bassett, head of the Music Department at Cole's Book Arcade on Little Collins Street, Melbourne. It was originally set up to play once when a penny was dropped into the slot. This activated a clockwork mechanism that rotated a thin 641mm diameter metal disc with small projections on its surface. The projections plucked the teeth of a metal comb, causing music to play. It was modified in the late 1960s for decimal currency with A 240 v electric motor drive. It has now been restored to run by clockwork, and is still in operational condition.
Cole's Book Arcade closed in 1929, and the symphonion was acquired by Museum Victoria shortly afterwards. - Description:
- Metal key for cash drawer behind the disc bin. Key has a head with an oval hole in it.
| Discipline: | Technology |
| Dimensions: | 1.6 cm (Width), 4.4 cm (Length) |
| Dimension Comment: | Duplicate keys have different dimensions. |
More information
| Tagged with: | advertising, booksellers, mechanical musical instruments, music boxes, musical instruments, retailing |
| Themes this item is part of: | Cole's Book Arcade Collection, Information & Communication Collection, Leisure Collection |
| Primary Classification: | MUSIC & MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS |
| Secondary Classification: | Playback Devices - Mechanical |
| Tertiary Classification: | perforated disk players |
| Maker: | Symphonion Company, Germany, circa 1889 |
| Inventor: | Mr Paul Lochman, Germany, 1885 Inventor Paul Lochman is credited with inventing the symphonion but it is not entirely clear whether he manufactured this instrument. There are no obvious maker's markings on the instrument. |
| Date Purchased: | Cole's Book Arcade, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, circa 1889 This symphonion was ordered from the Symphonion Company, Germany around 1889, by Charles Bassett, head of the Music Department at Cole's Book Arcade on Little Collins Street, Melbourne. |
| Place & Date Used: | Cole's Book Arcade, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, circa 1889-1920s Previous owner. Father of donor, and former employee of Cole's Book Arcade from 1903 to 1929. |
| References: | THE PROVENANCE OF THIS OBJECT IS RECORDED IN "COLE OF THE BOOK ARCADE - A BIOGRAPHY OF E.W. COLE", BY COLE TURNLEY. |
Themes
This item is part of the following themes:
Related items
There are 1 other items that specifically relate to this item
Previous Page
Next Page
Add your question or comment