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
MMD > Archives > July 1998 > 1998.07.13 > 02Prev  Next


Laterna Barrel Piano
By Rick Inzero

I saw one of these for sale two weeks ago in a souvenir ship in Tarpon
Springs, Florida (a Greek sponging- and souvenir- community).  (If you
go, it's the shop on the dock side of the street with the huge stuffed
'gator hanging up high on the wall outside the door.)

It had an old typed note on the instrument explaining what it was,
how old it was (mid 1800s), and (interestingly) that "the last person"
who could service it recently passed away (maybe the shopkeeper you
spoke to hasn't kept up on current events lately, or maybe this is all
urban legend).

The note claims that it was very rare (but of course!) it's been
restored (that might mean dusted off, who knows?), and she even let me
turn the crank and play it, but it sounded terrible to my ears.  I just
figured that it was a cultural sound, and might be music to somebody
else's ears.  Either that, or I wasn't turning the crank at the right
speed.

Anyway, the thing IS for sale, and was priced at several thousand
dollars.  (If it'd sounded better, I would've paid more attention
to and remembered more details.)

Rick Inzero,  Rochester, NY,    rdi@cci.com


(Message sent Mon 13 Jul 1998, 14:14:05 GMT, from time zone GMT-0400.)

Key Words in Subject:  Barrel, Laterna, Piano

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