State

Maestro of the Music Machines .Mr. Mcl'.i Hand's workshop is a won¬ derland of nickelodians, orches- I relies, calliopes, coinolas and other marvels of the pre-juke box age. By T. II. PEARCE E. H. McFarland, of Louisburg. is a man who loves music. Or ii might be more accurate to say that he loves music-making machines. Over the years, since his retirement in 1960, he has accumulated a collection of musi¬ cal devices that must be seen to be believed. His particular interest is in player- pianos and organs, the type that was so common fifty years or more ago, op¬ erated by pumping the foot pedals while the rolls of music played. McFarland has a number of these instruments in several variations, along with more than one hundred fifty music rolls for them. One of these variations is a combination, player piano-organ, which he has rebuilt and equipped with a mechanical device of his own design that eliminates the tiresome pedal pumping. This particular instrument can be played as cither a piano or or¬ gan and. in addition to being a superb musical instrument, is a beautiful piece of furniture that would enhance the decor of any home. It was manu¬ factured in 1901. The Old Nickelodians While McFarland loves all musical instruments, it is obvious that his fore¬ most interest is in the early day. coin operated pianos and organs and their variations; orchestrons, orchcstrellcs, coinolas. and the many other fancy names that graced them — the original nickelodians of that pre-juke box era. Most of the machines were in sad states of repair when he obtained them, but he has painstakingly rebuilt them, piece by piece, making parts when the 'upper i McFarland it working on a self- playing dc*icc for hit calliope, which he frequently hoult to poradet. • center) Ployer pianot ond organs, operated by pumping the pedalt while the rolls of mutic ployed, were common fifty yeort ago. • below) Ployer-piano-organ combination.— I All photot by T. H. Pearce.) originals were beyond repair, but al¬ ways ending up with a music machine in perfect mechanical order. He is cur¬ rently rebuilding an orchcstrelle. A coin operated machine that played regular rolls of music, but with added orchestral sound effects. Made at the turn of the century, it is complete with stained glass front and other examples of the fine craftsmanship of that period. Another recently obtained item in his collection, and also in the process of being restored is a Peerless player- piano. This was one of the very first coin operated music machines made and includes cymbal and mandolin ac¬ companiment. McFarland is particu¬ larly proud of this acquisition having long sought one of these first models. Horse Race Machine Of all his two dozen or so player- pianos. organs, orchcstrellcs, and varia¬ tions, the item in his collection that probably attracts the most attention from visitors is a player-piano-horse race machine manufactured around six¬ ty years ago by the Western-Electric Piano Company. This machine was originally made as a gambling device with musical ac¬ companiment. It was manufactured to grace saloons and other less savory establishments that were hangouts for members of the sporting set. In addi¬ tion to the regular player-piano mecha¬ nism. this one contains eight small metal race horses that are put into motion when a nickel is put into the slot. The coin causes the music to start and the horses to whirl madly around their small track. After the initial start, the horses move as the result of a free wheeling mechanism until they coast to a stop. A sign on the front of the machine states that the horse with its nose closest to the finish line is the winner. One can easily imagine the frenzied betting that went on in front of this machine while the music played in THE STATE. NOVEMBER 15. 1971