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MMD > Archives > July 2002 > 2002.07.31 > 03Prev  Next


Unknown Roller Organ Cobs Are Gem
By James Jelinek

In regard to Jim Smith's wooden music box rolls:  These are cobs or
rollers for a Gem Roller Organ.  These instruments played reeds rather
than music box combs.  There are lots out there and even several have
appeared on eBay for sale.

Made around the turn of the 19th century and the early part of the
20th, these were manufactured as home entertainment devices mostly for
rural areas of the country.  They were available in all the catalogs
like Sears and Wards, so the farmers could buy them by mail and the
various cobs as well.

Three basic models were produced but only two played the cobs mentioned
by Mr. Smith; the third model played much larger ones and this
instrument was called the Concert Grand organ.  The rolls or cobs for
this one were several inches longer and played for a longer time with
much more ambitious pieces of music.

You can see photos of these instruments in the "Encyclopedia of
Automatic Musical Instruments" by Q. David Bowers.

Jim Jelinek


(Message sent Wed 31 Jul 2002, 14:22:28 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  Are, Cobs, Gem, Organ, Roller, Unknown

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