The Perfect Hobby?
The Perfect Hobby?
Is collecting vintage mechanical musical equipment and media the "perfect" hobby? Certainly not for everyone, but it just might be for me. Read on and you will find out why.
Mechanical Music is a multi-faceted hobby and many people find enjoyment in just one of the hobbies many possible activities. Not me however - I have found that nearly all aspects of the hobby closely align with my interests and talents. Below are some of the many areas that I find interesting and which can be pursued individually or collectively within the hobby of Mechanical Musical Instruments.
Collecting – Collecting is an integral part of many popular hobbies and it is human nature to collect items of interest and value. Musical instruments are the obvious item to collect, but there are numerous other items related to mechanical music that are equally collectable including music source media (rolls, cylinders, discs, etc.) and historical artifacts such as brochures, advertisements, manuals, and music catalogs.
Instrument Restoration – Most of the instruments are quite valuable and must be rebuilt and restored with care. Skills such as piano rebuilding, machining, woodworking, veneer repair, high-end refinishing and many others are needed for most successful rebuild and restoration projects. Of course if you are not interested and skilled in this aspect of the hobby, there are professionals rebuilders available for hire.
Machine Repair – Those who had an inclination as a child to take things apart just to see how they worked will enjoy this aspect of the hobby. These mostly pneumatic machines are truely amazing and when repairing and rebuilding these instruments, mechanical aptitude is rewarded as each instrument will present new and unique technical challenges during restoration.
Music Appreciation – There is a great variety of instruments and music available for your listening enjoyment. The beautiful music of a well restored reproducing piano or the powerful and nostalgic music of a large orchestrion is something that can be appreciated by nearly everyone. This makes sharing mechanical music with others a fun part of the hobby.
History & Preservation – These instruments have a very rich history and were a significant part of American and European culture during the late 19th and very early 20th centuries. I personally find researching the history of instruments, manufacturers, inventors, and musical artists to be quite interesting. Helping to preserve history by restoring a long neglected instrument or preserving music rolls through participation in roll preservation activities are aspects of the hobby that many find quite fulfilling.
Engineering and Invention – Some people are applying their engineering talents to new challenges such as designing and building new instruments, development of roll scanning and perforation equipment, or MIDI conversion of vintage instruments.
Now for the disclaimer... There are a couple of disadvantages to the hobby (at least for me), although the list is short.
Cost – Most instruments are relatively expensive. As more and more of the remaining instruments are restored, the number of unrestored instruments that can be found at bargain prices decreases. There are still good deals on some instruments however if one is patient and persistent in searching.
Storage Space – Most of the instruments are quite large and therefore even a small collection can cause space issues in the average home. Even music rolls present a storage problem as the collection grows.
Well, I guess no hobby can really be “perfect”; but for me, Mechanical Music comes very close.
Last Updated: 3 Dec 2007