Mechanical Musical Instruments and Objects
The history of mechanical music dates back to the ancient times. Emerging back in the classical times, this original area of technical progress has been developing for more than two thousand years and it has incorporated the most advanced achievements of mechanics and n atural sciences. Applied mechanics and physics were the basis for all the mechanisms of amusement industry of the past, the development of this area was going hand in hand with the scientific progress. For centuries, this area has been engrossing attention of the prominent scientists, engineers, fine mechanics' masters, musical instruments and clocks makers.
further...Musical mechanics is the centerpiece of the museum Collection repository; it is the pivot point from which the Museum started. This is the reason why the collection "Mechanical Musical Instruments and Objects" presents the whole range of self-operating musical instruments - from small barrel organs to the perfect player pianos, most complicated orchestrions and unique automata.
Despite the significant age of the exhibits, including some rare items with the history of more than three hundred years, all of them have been restored and are operational. The geography of the collection gives a comprehensive idea concerning the high level and dynamic progress of this area of engineering in the European countries and countries of the North America.
Amazing and mysterious features of these exhibits (exquisiteness of finishing, movement's perfectness, incomprehensible ability to operate without human input, unusually natural sound appearing from "the God knows where") will be of interest both for the professional experts and for a wide range of visitors of all ages.
