#12 • Antique “Melodia” Mechanical Organette Music Box Circa 1880s

Part of 03/22/26 Antique Treasures & Vintage Collectibles Kalaheo (Kauai) Part 1 Auction (timed auction by Malama Auctions & Realty)

High bid $24.00

Status: Sold

An authentic late 19th-century “Melodia” mechanical organette manufactured by The Mechanical Orguinette Co., 831 Broadway, New York, a firm active during the early era of mechanical music machines. These tabletop instruments were among the first widely available devices capable of automatically playing music in the home. The Melodia organette operates using a hand-cranked bellows system and perforated paper music rolls. As the crank turns, air is drawn through a series of reeds; holes in the paper roll act as valves that trigger individual notes, allowing the instrument to reproduce arranged melodies automatically. Early organettes typically featured about 14 reeds covering nearly two octaves, making them capable of playing popular songs and hymns of the period. Organettes first appeared in the late 1870s, providing an affordable way for families to enjoy mechanical music before the arrival of phonographs and player pianos. The Mechanical Orguinette Company was one of the major distributors of these instruments and later evolved into the Aeolian Organ & Music Company, an influential firm in the development of automated musical instruments.