1860s Free reed "hurdy gurdy" in museum

[Deleted member 48]

Quick online visit of the Paris music instruments museum when suddenly...
A free reed hurdy gurdy , I didnt know this existed.
I have seen the online info about the free reed Cécilium and the free mellophone

http://collectionsdumusee.philharmo...esults:74,PageRange:3,SearchQuery:(CloudTerms:!( ),ForceSearch:!t,Page:1,PageRange:3,QueryString:accord%C3%A9on,ResultSize:50,ScenarioCode:MUSEE,ScenarioDisplayMode:display-mosaic,SearchLabel:%27%27,SearchTerms:accord%C3%A9on,SortField:!n,SortOrder:0,TemplateParamsScenario:%27%27,Scope:MUSEE,Size:!n,Source:%27%27,Support:%27%27))))

Vielle-Accordéon ou Orphei
Ligier, (firme)
vers 1860-1865
Clermont-Ferrand / Puy-de-Dôme / France / Europe

 

[Deleted member 48]

Addendum
Found only 1 video showing the cécilium being played, a free reed cello. Its a the end in this video:

La Normandie est une terre de musique. Cest pour cela que le musée des tradition des arts normands propose une exposition permanente. Loccasion de découvrir un instrument typique normand : le cecilium.

A quick YT search on mellophone or melophone but no results.
Maybe somewhere else?

 

[AccordionUprising]

Thats great, Id never heard what a melophone sounded like, this cecilium seems quite similar. The bow bellows control seems like an improvement. the photos on the museum site are gorgeous. http://collectionsdumusee.philharmoniedeparis.fr/search.aspx?SC=MUSEE&QUERY=cecilium#

The melophone is one of my favourite early free reeds. http://accordionuprising.wordpress....get-when-you-cross-an-accordion-with-a-cello/

 

[Deleted member 48]

Nice pictures on your website, like the photo of the inside showing the bellows.


Au clair de la lune joué avec un Cecilium

The cécilium, mellophone and free reed hurdy gurdy are curiosities, remains of the free reed craze of the 19th century.

The concertina and accordion proved to be much more ergonomical / practical.

The Au clair de la lune video shows the weakness of the cécilium, the bow activating the bellows is limited to the open curve.
A traditional cello has almost infinite ways of bowing.

 

[AccordionUprising]

Ancient thread, but in this translated excerpt from the first video above, a guy picks up the cecilium and plays the 1860s period piece "Smoke on the Water".

 

[Dingo40]

Fantastique!??
Here's another link:

And another: