20 Note Organ, 1880

Wonderful Antique The Improved Celestina organette made in solid walnut and beech wood in the USA. This item dates from 1880 and in spite of being so old it is in great condition. It works perfeclt and comes with five perforated paper rolls to be reproduced: each roll can play several songs. This is a 20-note organette, considerable bigger that the usual 14-note instrument from the same time. The article is quite remarkable because of its lovely look, with delicate hand-painted yellow filigree designs that stand out over the dark walnut wood. The 20-note Celestina organetts were produced by the Munroe Organ Reed Company, while the firm that mass-marketed them was the Mechanical Orguinette Company that was later known as The Aeolian Organ and Music Company. They were produced during the 1880s and 90s and became very popular even being such expensive items (they were sold at list price of $25 each, the equivalent to almost 4 weeks wages for the average American worker): in 1885 the company sold more over 10,000 Celestinas. The organette that we can see in these images is The Improved Celestina, an improved design. It bears the serial number 37683 engraved inside. This instrument is made of solid walnut wooden planks. It stands on a black-lacquered wooden base and, as stated before, is decorated with lovely hand-painted marquetry-like designs. The decoration is greatly preserved and so is the instruments name (THE IMPROVED CELESTINA), painted on one of the upper lids. As well as being a singularly beautiful article, the organette works wonderfully and provides a great sound. It comes with five paper rolls with songs, but its owner can buy more rolls through Schmidt Rolls web site: http://www.music-rolls.com/. Its impressive look and magnificent sound will make any lover of vintage musical reproducers fall in love with this beautiful organette. Measurements: Width: 14.9 in/38 cm. Height: 14.1 in/36 cm.