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 > January 2021 > 2021.01.22 > 03Prev  Next


Orchestrions With Multiple Clockwork Drives
By Nicholas Simons

In answer to Christian Tedesco's question [210120 MMD], a second
clockwork drive was regularly used to operate the bass drum beater.
In Imhof orchestrions the barrel and feeders were operated from
the main drive, using a large weight behind the instrument. To my
knowledge, all instruments of this type used a single drive to run
the feeders and barrel.

The bass drum was hit by a pair of hammers, alternating in their use,
and set by a smaller weight driven motor. The barrel's key would
trip the mechanism, allowing the next hammer to hit the drum under
the influence of a strong spring, and then the motor would slowly
pull the hammer back into its ready position for its next hit. Two
hammers were used in case the time between bass drum hits was less
than the time to reset the mechanism.

The side drum was usually operated by a four-way cam, allowing
four hammers to repeatedly hit the drum when set off by the barrel.
This cam was continuously rotated by the main drive, by means of
a chain.

Nicholas Simons, UK


(Message sent Fri 22 Jan 2021, 09:34:23 GMT, from time zone GMT.)

Key Words in Subject:  Clockwork, Drives, Multiple, Orchestrions

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