Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info

End-of-Year Fundraising Drive In Progress. Please visit our home page to see this and other announcements: https://www.mmdigest.com     Thank you. --Jody

MMD > Archives > July 1998 > 1998.07.09 > 01Prev  Next


Tweeting Bird Automaton at Bucherer's, Lucerne
By Bill Finch

I recently saw a "tweeting bird automaton", similar to the one Brian
Chesters described, on the top floor of Bucherer's in Lucerne.  They
are a watch manufacturer and seller but also carry several lines of
newly made Swiss automata and music boxes.

They had a newly manufactured interchangeable cylinder music box
(for $9,000) with 5 bells, and drums with bumblebee drumsticks for
the drums.  I've seen this kind of box in antique collections but had
no idea that they were still being manufactured.  They had several
varieties of newly manufactured birds, one like you describe.  They
also had organ clocks that played music composed by Mozart (in 1778)
and Beethoven (in 1794) for the organ clock.

Bucherer is not an antique dealer.  I was quite surprised to see that
these kinds of devices are still being manufactured.  They also had a
line of the usual Reuge boxes.

If you find yourself in Switzerland, Bucherer's is worth a visit, but
be forewarned, you will likely leave the building with a new watch,
the place is so tempting.

Bill Finch


(Message sent Thu 9 Jul 1998, 03:25:20 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  Automaton, Bird, Bucherer's, Lucerne, Tweeting

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page