Species of Mechanical Music Instruments
By Stan Rhine
Not to ruffle any feathers among the MMD readership, but recent postings on matters on terminology have prompted some questions. Perhaps those with more experience and greater wisdom can shed some light on what a nickelodeon is.
If an instrument does not meet the "orchestrion" criteria used by Bowers in his Encyclopedia, then wouldn't "coin piano" or "automatic piano" be preferable to designate the lower-order instrument rather than lumping them all together as "nickelodeons?"
Is the term concocted to cover store-front movie houses of the teens (nickelodeon = nickel + theatre) now used for orchestrions or other automatic instruments because the general public thinks that's what it means?
Is terminological precision as much a mandate for preservationists as remaining true to original designs and materials? Or is the term "nickelodeon" a good way of recognizing the unique qualities of the American piano-orchestrion? Or are at least some of these these just dumb questions?
Jan Kijlstra's interesting treatise on musical instruments, however, seems to suggest that any automatic piano (such as an A-roll machine, playing only piano & mandolin) could be considered as a lower species of orchestrion. Bowers' definition would then constitute the higher species (piano, percussion & other melody instruments, such as bells, xylophones &/or pipes), a truly automatic orchestra.
Could we just blame the confusion on the '50s singer who made such a hit with "Music, Music, Music?" [Oh, yeah, what was her name?? -- Robbie]
Perhaps other MMD-ers have better sources: Webster's (very abridged) Dictionary of the American Language says, "Nickelode*a*n: n. a player phonograph operated by the insertion of a nickel (Fr.)."
The Random House Unabridged says, "Nickelodeon n. 1.(formerly) a place of amusement where a film or variety show could be seen...for a nickel. 2. An early jukebox that took nickels. [nickel (def. 2)+ (mel)odeon]
Or does this clear everything up?
Stan Rhine, Albuquerque, New Mexico
[ Theory of Evolution ("Birds of a Feather"): In some circles it's
[ the tonnage, in others the price says it all...
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(Message sent Wed 29 Jan 1997, 18:12:54 GMT, from time zone GMT-0700.) |
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