For three centuries, music automatons have provided entertainment in both the private and public spheres. The world of music automatons is fascinating and extraordinarily diverse. Automatons are a feast for the eyes, even when at a standstill. We really take them to our hearts when we see them in action: that’s when they show us their hidden abilities and arts, surprising and astonishing us in turn and holding us in their spell.
The following small selection of films invites the viewer to pay a brief visit to the enchanting world of music automatons with performances by animated figures, railway station automatons and music boxes from the collection of the Museum of Music Automatons in Seewen, Canton Solothurn.
Railway station automaton “Swiss Idyll”
Station automatons boasting a variety of features helped keep Switzerland’s railway passengers entertained in waiting rooms.
The six-bell musical mechanism of the “Sublime Harmonie” plays one of eight melodies on insertion of a 10-centime coin.
Manufactured in Sainte-Croix (Switzerland) ca. 1890. - Width 86 cm
Collection of the Museum of Music Automatons in Seewen SO – Switzerland (MMA-71730).
Bird automaton featuring three birds
The three birds in the gilded cage chirp one after the other, moving their heads, beaks, wings and tails. Manufactured in Paris, France by Blaise Bontems at the end of the 19th century. This automaton maker specialised in creating perfect imitations of birds and their chirruping. - Height 52 cm.
Collection of the Museum of Music Automatons in Seewen SO – Switzerland (MMA-71790).
Music box "Sublime Harmonie, Tambour, Timbres”
Splendid Swiss music boxes found audiences among up-and-coming manufacturers and medium-sized businesses during the latter half of the 19th century. This music box’s five interchangeable cylinders offer a wide range of music comprising 40 examples of opera, operetta and light music. The large “Sublime Harmonie” musical mechanism is accompanied by a drum and six little bells, which are struck by little bees.
Manufactured by Mermod Frères, Sainte-Croix (Switzerland) ca. 1880. - Width 104 cm
Collection of the Museum of Music Automatons in Seewen SO – Switzerland (MMA-71793).
“Gisèle” – music box with dancer
Music boxes featuring pretty melodies and even prettier dancers in lovely dresses were of appeal to more than just little girls.
Manufactured in Paris (France) ca. 1910. - Height 27 cm.
Collection of the Museum of Music Automatons in Seewen SO – Switzerland (MMA-118049).
Animated figure “Herdsman Drinking”
This contented Fribourg herdsman is holding a glass and a bottle. He drinks with relish and refills his glass regularly knowing his bottle will never empty...
Manufactured by Michel Bertrand, Bullet (Switzerland) ca. 1970. - Height 108 cm.
Collection of the Museum of Music Automatons in Seewen SO – Switzerland (MMA-71715).
Carousel automaton
Inserting a coin makes the carousel turn and the puppets dance. A concealed cylinder musical mechanism in the base plays two of six melodies alternately. What could be nicer? These popular automatons were found in cafes and restaurants.
Manufactured by Bornand Frères, Sainte-Croix (Switzerland) ca. 1880. - Diameter 57 cm.
Collection of the Museum of Music Automatons in Seewen SO – Switzerland (MMA-71619).
Railway station automaton “Sublime Harmonie”
Six ladies with braided hair in the station automaton dance to local melodies played by two foreign-looking musicians sporting moustaches.
Manufactured by Paillard, Sainte-Croix (Switzerland) ca. 1890. - Width 88 cm
Collection of the Museum of Music Automatons in Seewen SO – Switzerland (MMA-115371).
Animated figure “Pierrot Writing”
Pierrot in nightgown and cap writes at night, accompanied by two melodies. He nods off and his oil lamp almost goes out. Waking up a little later, he lengthens the lamp wick to brighten the flame and continues his letter.
Manufactured by Léopold Lambert, Paris (France) ca. 1875. - Height 59 cm.
Collection of the Museum of Music Automatons in Seewen SO – Switzerland (MMA-71614).
Christmas tree stand
This Christmas tree stand, driven by a mechanical spring mechanism, rotates the Christmas tree and a musical mechanism plays four familiar Christmas carols one after the other.
Manufactured by Adrien Lador, Lador SA, Sainte-Croix (Switzerland) ca. 1920. - Diameter 36 cm.
Collection of the Museum of Music Automatons in Seewen SO – Switzerland (MMA-111707).
Mantelpiece clock with musical mechanism
Fine-looking objects like this served as decoration for the mantelpiece. Owners of this clock enjoyed a melodious tune every hour, played by an early Swiss cylinder musical mechanism hidden in the base. It plays three melodies on a tuned steel comb comprising 44 teeth in a V-shaped arrangement.
Probably manufactured ca. 1820 in Geneva and La-Chaux-de-Fonds in the Swiss Jura. - Height 49 cm.
Collection of the Museum of Music Automatons in Seewen SO – Switzerland (MMA-177450).
Early cylinder music box
In order to play longer melodies, the music is spread over two rotations of the cylinder. This mechanism plays two long melodies over four rotations of the cylinder.
Manufactured in Geneva ca. 1825. - Width 30.4 cm.
Collection of the Museum of Music Automatons in Seewen SO – Switzerland (MMA-157750).
Toy carousel
The carousel and its music are operated by turning a small crank.
Manufactured by Matthe, Berlin (Germany) ca. 1890. - Height 36 cm.
Collection of the Museum of Music Automatons in Seewen SO – Switzerland (MMA-71603).
Music box “Automatic Drum”
This music box plays eight melodies, with hidden drum and six bells. As an additional attraction, the mechanism features an animated drummer figure in oriental dress.
Manufactured by B.A. Brémond, Geneva (Switzerland) ca. 1865. - Width 61 cm.
Collection of the Museum of Music Automatons in Seewen SO – Switzerland (MMA-71678).
Animated figure “Whistling Boy”
The boy whistles while moving his head, eyelids and right arm.
Manufactured by Phalibois, Paris (France) ca. 1900. - Height 95 cm.
Collection of the Museum of Music Automatons in Seewen SO – Switzerland (MMA-71811).
“Ballet-Musik-Automat”
Inserting a 10-centime coin makes the curtain rise to reveal three puppets dancing in a hall of mirrors to the playing of a cylinder musical mechanism. When the music ends, the curtain lowers; time for another coin...
Manufactured by Samuel Karrer, Teufenthal (Switzerland) ca. 1900. - Width 63 cm.
Collection of the Museum of Music Automatons in Seewen SO – Switzerland (MMA-71616).
Music box “Musique à Expression”
This beautifully appointed Swiss music box plays eight melodies in exceptionally lively arrangements. The steel comb’s teeth are plucked with utmost precision by the cylinder’s ultra fine pins.
Manufactured by Paillard Vaucher fils, Sainte-Croix (Switzerland) ca. 1875. - Width 64 cm.
Collection of the Museum of Music Automatons in Seewen SO – Switzerland (MMA-173246).
Animated figure “Piano Watteau”
The piano player moves gracefully as she “plays” her four melodies. The music comes from a small cylinder mechanism.
Manufactured by Gustave Vichy, Paris (France) ca. 1880. - Height 86 cm.
Collection of the Museum of Music Automatons in Seewen SO – Switzerland (MMA-94438).
Music casket with dancing couple
“An der schönen blauen Donau” (The Blue Danube) – the lilting waltz played by this new music box still makes us briefly forget time in the 21st century.
Manufactured by Reuge, Sainte-Croix (Switzerland) 2015. - Height 9 cm.
Collection of the Museum of Music Automatons in Seewen SO – Switzerland (MMA-169994).
Television spot "Glockenspiel" (german)
Television spot "Piano" (german)
Television spot "Organ" (german)