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MMD > Archives > September 2008 > 2008.09.01 > 02Prev  Next


Musical Bells and Cabinet Una-Fon
By Deane Prouty

I know of an earlier set of "saucer bells" located in the organ of
the First Unitarian Church of Woburn, Massachusetts, built by Hook.
This is actually a set of tuned saucer bells located behind the
Choir keys.  When the appropriate knob is drawn, they are brought
into position to be struck by the tails of the keys.

There is also a set of saucer bells in the organ of the First Church
of the Nazarene in Spokane, Washington.  The organ was originally
installed in the Liberty Theater in Seattle, Washington.

I have a photo of William James Foley at the console of a Wurlitzer
Theater Organ with a plaque on the organ recognizing the "UNIFONE"
bells.  This spelling was Wurlitzer's name for the instrument
manufactured by Deagan, but used in Wurlitzer organs.  Foley was born
in 1895 and died in 1962.

On another note, speaking of Una-fons, I have a Una-fon that is built
into a cabinet and is played by a nickelodeon A-roll mechanism when you
put a nickel in the coin slot.

Deane Prouty


(Message sent Mon 1 Sep 2008, 17:41:28 GMT, from time zone GMT-0400.)

Key Words in Subject:  Bells, Cabinet, Musical, Una-Fon

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