Trapwork in the
Wurlitzer Style 40 Mandolin PianOrchestra
Philipps Pianella Model 40 (Celesta)
(Nethercutt collection, 1998)

View of animated scene's belt drive and electrical switching device.
The mechanism that provides the projected sense of animation for the Roman fountain scene is partially visible at left. The belt drive coming up from below wraps around a small wooden pulley on the pump crankshaft, providing motivating power. The wood reduction pulley at center, is connected to a gear that operates the animated scene's electrical switching device.

This frontal view shows portions of much of the trapwork, the animated scene's belt drive and its electrical light switching device.

Of possible interest is the main "ventil" valve in the body of the reiterating castanets action (in front of the bass drum), which is clearly visible. By means of a slider valve on top of the castanet action, the castanets are caused to continuously operate as called for by the music roll. A "single-punch" perforation would allow for only a more or less single "click-clack" on the castanets, while a long perforation would sustain this action for as long as may be desired.

The two castanet halves are tied to the action's paddle by a cord. It is this paddle, situated between the two castanets, that is rapidly swung back and forth, causing a very realistic castanet sound.

Go-Back