[ Ref. Scott Currier in 17.07.22 MMDigest]

Circa 1805 the cabinet making family of Hicks in Bristol, England,
turned their attention to the building of musical instruments and
are credited with inventing and building the very first street barrel
piano in Bristol.

One George Hicks built instruments in the New York area in the
mid-1800s.  See  http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/502353 

The figures moved, but were not hand controlled and should be
considered animatons rather than puppets.  German barrel organs of
the same period often had dancing figures or tableaus.

This past weekend Jeff Vincent brought his Hicks barrel piano to the
COAA (Carousel Organ Association of America) Rally at Olcott Beach,
New York.  The instrument is inscribed George Hicks, Bristol.  It is
not clear if that is the same George Hicks who had a shop in Brooklyn,
New York.  The piano has been restored as far as the musical part goes.

The original figures are missing, but the automaton mechanism is
intact.  Jeff has constructed one figure, but has not found the time
to create a full set of about twelve.  It is a complex task since the
one he made is only about 2-1/2 inches high.

The mechanism is driven by a central shaft plus gears, cams, and
levers.  The drive gear on the shaft rests on the worm gear on the
crankshaft which also drives the barrel.  The whole "stage" lifts off
the instrument as a unit, giving access to the barrel, etc.

There is a very great similarity between this mechanism, and figures
on similar pianos, to those on the Waldkirch Figuren-Drehorgeln (Figure
Organs) of Ignaz Bruder, but we have not yet found documentary evidence
that they came from the same source.  If there is a single source, it
is probably in the Black Forest, Germany, region.

A very high resolution of the Currier & Ives print may be downloaded from
the Library of Congress at  http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2001705835/ 

Wallace Venable

 [ This shows some of the instruments which Jeff Vincent brought to the
   COAA Rally at Olcott Beach, NY in 2017. The tallest is the Hicks
   Piano.
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/17/08/03/170803_132653_J_Vincent_Instrument_Display-Olcott-2017.jpg 

 [ This photo shows Jeff Vincent holding the "stage" for his G. Hicks
   barrel piano so that the mechanism can be seen. His hand is on the
   back, and the drive gear is toward his body.
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/17/08/03/170803_132653_Vincent_Figure_Mechanism.jpg 

 [ This photo shows the "stage" for Jeff Vincent's G. Hicks barrel
   piano with its solitary new figure.
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/17/08/03/170803_132653_Vincent_Stage.jpg