Village Squire, 1975-07, Page 4Photo by Jim Fitzgerald
Standing nearly six feet high, Murray's replica of a 1921 Military Band Organ is the star of the
show. Running from perforated tape and air lines, the organ plays a wide range of tunes on its 100
organ pipes, drums and cymbals. The sound of the organ playing a waltz, a polka or a march sends
a chill down the spine of any musical enthusiast.
Murray Draper has a one-man musical museum
BY ELAINE TOWNSHEND
"I saw a disc music box; I liked it and
wanted one, so I looked around until I found
one that suited me." 'That's how Murray
Draper of Clinton began collecting music
boxes 20 years ago. Now he can describe and
demonstrate the progression of mechanical
music from the 1800s to modern day.
The first instrument to bring mechanical
music into the home was called the "cylinder
music box." It originated during the 1820s.
Each soundbox contained a brass cylinder
powered by a spring motor. The cylinder held
thousands of pins, which were marked and
placed by hand. Beside the cylinder lay a
steel shaft shaped like a comb. As the
cylinder slowly revolved, the pins struck the
teeth of the comb sounding the individual
notes of a tune.
Most cylinder boxes originated in
Switzerland, but American subsidiaries were
soon established. The Swiss cabinets were
•carved from European wood, similar to our
?, VILLAGE SQUIRE/JULY 1975
walnut and oak. In the United States,
mahogany and walnut cases were used.
As more manufacturers entered the music
field, the business became competitive and
specialized. Each maker searched for
innovations that would attract the public to
his product. This practice resembled today's
auto industry.
The oldest cylinder music box, that Murray
Draper owns, was created in 1828. It is the
smallest of the original boxes and plays four
tunes on a delicate mechanism. In 1964,
Murray purchased an 1840 model, featuring a
larger cylinder and specializing in overtures.
His 1860 music box plays eight tunes. At the
conclusion of the eight selections, the cycle
begins again.
1875 to 1880 represented the peak
production period for the cylinder boxes.
During that time, the "mandolin zither" was
introduced. In addition to the ordinary
cylinder tone, a mandolin effect was attained
with a paper cover on the metal bar. Murray's
r
"mandolin zither" plays eight tunes,
including "Home Sweet Home."
By 1880, bells, drums and castanets had
been added to the cylinder box. Murray owns
two 1880 models. One contains a short steel
comb at each end, a small organ in the middle
and a row of bells at the back. Atop each bell
perchs a tiny bird carved from metal.
Murray's second 1880 model was known as an
"orchestra box" because it included drums
and castanets.
A cylinder alone cost between $100 and
$300; the price of a complete cylinder box
often reached $500.- an exorbitant price in
those days. Thus cylinder boxes were
purchased primarily by wealthy people.
Meanwhile organettes provided musical
entertainment for the less affluent families.
Costing approximately $5.00, an organette
could be found in almost every home during
the years 1850 to 1880. Two companies -
American Organette and The Gem Roller
Company - vied for the public's attention.