This antique 25-key Barrel Organ was found in our attic. We are told by Melvyn Wright (http://www.buskerorgan.com/) that "it was almost certainly made in Germany. The paper label was probably added by the American dealer." The organ, which still works, has probably been in our attic since the house was built in 1953.

The crank pumps a bellows to supply air to the pipes, and also turns a wooden barrel by means of gears. Driven into the barrel are brass pins and staples with which the pieces of music are encoded. Suspended over the barrel is a bar carrying wooden keys connected to valves by vertical wooden rods. As the barrel turns, the pins and staples lift the keys, in turn opening the valves to let air into the pipes, which are located at the rear of the instrument. Tunes are selected by first lifting the bar carrying the keys, then shifting the barrel along its length. This brings a different set of pins and staples in line with the keys.

There is a piece of paper pasted inside the top lid which has a list of the seven musical pieces. The paper also says, "Siedle & Bartberger, Pittsburgh, PA."  No information has been found about this reference.